Def Jam: Fight for New York
Brandon Sears
After leaving the business of creating video games for WWE, AKI was left with not alot to do. After all, making wrestling games had been the biggest thing they were known for. Therefore AKI did the only thing any other company would have done if put it that position..thats right..team up with EA to create a game in which hip-hop artists beat the holy hell out of each other to no ends.
With the unexpected success of "Def Jam Vendetta" comes the second game in this great series, "Def Jam: Fight for NY". Basically this game picks up were the last left off. It shows a clip of "D-Mob" (the rival boss in the first game) being cuffed and taken away. However, the cop car gets blindsided by an unknown driver. The driver turns out to be you as you team up with D-Mob to regain his lost stance as the "King of NY".
Boasting a much more impressive roster of 80 fighters, a much improved storyline and the real hip-hop entertainers (names changed to fit storyline) voices and appearances, Def Jam brings it to the table and brings it BIG TIME. The enviroments are more interactive then before complete with a crowd surrounding the area as your boundries that can punish you or your opponent if given the chance. The crowd isn't the only thing that can work to your advantage. In select stages you can utilize a parked SUV, wooden posts and even an oncoming subway train to take it all to your advantage. Another new addition to this years game is the option to create-a-fighter (needed for story-mode). You can either select a premade template or create your own from scratch. As your created player you can earn money from the several fights which you can use to buy yourself some new gear, style your hair and buy some "bling" so your fighter looks like he be dippin' in some mad coin. Another use for the money would be to visit your good pal Henry Rollins at the local gym in order for stats upgrades and to learn new finishers.
Unfourtunatly, I did not get to finish the game but from what I have heard from the several reviews and from fellow BSE correspondant, Matty, the game boasts one of the most entertaining stories to date and has high replay value. With the last game as well..you can still recognize some of the old No Mercy code still lingering around with familiar moves and manuerisms.
I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to playing it again.
Brandon Sears is an insurance salesman by day and a superhero by night (not really). He has been writing for Modern Distraction since 2004. He lives in Sydney Mines with his wife, Ashley and his dog Toby.