def jam: fight for new york review

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Average Ratings

Addiction Level	9/10
Graphics	9/10
Value for Money	8.7/10
Reviewer Rating	9.3/10
Overall Rating	7.8/10

100% Recommended3 out of 3 Reviews

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By blahdeblah on 26th Jan 2005

blahdeblah's Ratings

Addiction Level	8/10
Graphics	9/10
Multi-player	Yes
Value for money	7/10
Overall value	9/10
blahdeblah's recommendation

Good Points

Reeks of quality and absolutely stinks of playability - EA's best game, by far, of 2004. Buy it ASAP-even if it means spending your gas bill money!

Bad Points

A story lacking in depth is Def Jam's only real downfall; it would've benefited from a more open-ended structure.

General Comments

Let us start off by saying, we love Def Jam: Fight For New York. Ultra-violent matches and top-notch graphics make this game an absolute stunner. No, no, in fact, it's 'blingin', beating its predecessor in every respect. If you like a game with meaty gameplay, this is where you'll find it. EA's giant games castle has astonishingly whipped up some marvellous work (contrasting to the 'GoldenEye want my money back: Rogue Agent')- they should be proud.
Typically, Def Jam is up against some tough competition, with the arrival of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw and Mortal Kombat: Deception proving an admirable challenge. However, Def Jam, to our genuine delight, successfully fends them off with a unique fighting system and fast-paced action. There are plenty of brutal match types varying from Cage matches and Inferno matches (the latter containing you in a ring of petrol-fuelled flames), to the truly inimitable subway match-loser gets crushed by a subway train. Ouch! In fact, Fight For New York (FFNY) at times tends to feel extraordinarily reminiscent of the film Fight Club; fights illegally taking place in riotous surroundings to the eagerness of a bloodthirsty crowd. That's no bad thing, though, since we like a game with bona fide, senseless violence (don't quote us on that). Ultimately, though, FFNY excels unexpectedly in many departments. Which? Read on
The game relies heavily on the 'Gangsta Rap' theme, and naturally, the fighters follow the same trend. All of the top rappers are here, from Method Man, Xzibit, Ludacris and the infamous Snoop Dogg. And they're all waiting to be bashed about with glass bottles and Baseball bats. Pleasingly, there are over 70 fighters available (some real, some made up), each with their own individual fighting style, be it streetfighting, martial arts, kickboxing, submission or wrestling - there'll probably be a style to suit your taste. Gladly, they're all voiced by their real-life counterparts, so expect an ample amount of incoherent blubberings from Fat Joe along the way.
Initially, FFNY feels like the best thing since sliced bread. The attractive assortment of moves on offer all seem to have a dramatic effect. Each and every move looks really painful; the shattering of bones and 'splurgey' sounds of blood oozing from open wounds create an uncomforting cacophony of realistic violence. Every landed move producing a wince and every cheap shot to the giblets resulting almost in actual tears. Buckets of blood flow from mangled mouths after a hefty smash into a concrete wall and legs horribly contort during a particularly vicious submission attack. It's hardly politically correct, but then again neither was The Wizard of Oz, and that was never frowned upon. The resultant 18 certificate of FFNY somehow seems fitting here, hmm
Where the real steak and chips of this game lies is in the story mode. Continuing immediately from where the previous game, 'Vendetta', left off, it follows the proceedings of posse leader D-Mob being led to prison after enduring an illegal underground fight with a rival. Luckily, a helping hand is at, erm, hand by means of D-Mob's secret saviour: you. Crashing the prison van off the road, D-Mob is able to escape pretty much unscathed. Proceeding back to the hood, D-Mob hooks you up in a stylish pad and gets your foot on the ladder in your first illegal fight. From here on in, the game revolves around you winning matches to acquire cash to purchase apparel, tattoos, haircuts, and, most importantly, that elusive bling. Hey, they say variety is the spice of life! The story makes sense and feels good, especially since your character is amalgamated seamlessly into the many cutscenes. You'll be compelled to play to the very end and that deserves plaudits in its own right.
The create-a-fighter system takes place in the form of a police identikit and culminates in the final physical appearance of your hip-hop warrior. For example they ask you to recall the type of hair, eyebrows, eyes and mouth the suspect (you) had. All of this splices your character together. And while there's clearly not as much intricacy as the Smackdown! series, the welcome addition of licensed clothing (Fila and Reebok anyone?) adds a sense of authenticity to the game.
The developers, wrestling game experts AKI, have taken the fighting game to new extremes. Similar to Vendetta, special moves are executed in the form of 'Blazin' moves. But, fresh to FFNY, are much more vertebrae-crunching versions of these with, let's say, 'less gravity restrictions' placed on them. You'll lift and throw you're opponent impossibly high in the air and smash him down with tremendous force. Impressively, sections of the moves are paused at high-impact moments (yup, like The Matrix) creating a melodramatic sense of force. Coupled with 'swooshy' sound effects as your opponent glides through the air and the special moves feel immensely satisfying to pull off; each one feels like an occasion.
Weapons are also introduced into the fray. Baseball bats, pool cues and filament light tubes provide enough head-smashing opportunities to please a yardie crack dealer.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most entertaining feature in FFNY is the implementation of realistic locations to battle in, ranging from washed-out bars to seedy underground nightclubs (one appropriately named 'Club Murder'). Not only this, but the crowd congregate around the fight area and get involved in the action. Chuck your opponent into a crowd member and watch in awe (or with offence) as the both of you smack him left and right. Oof, was that a thwack to the sweetbreads? Oh, ho, I think it was!
For the hardcore gamer, FFNY may be lacking in substance. While the fighting system is exciting, they is annoyingly no option to change individual moves, only the move sets themselves (ie streetfighting to martial arts). In addition to this, the story mode never really hits peaks and is definitely not as extensive as WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw.
Due to a lack of multiple routes through the story mode, replayability is drastically lowered; there is little incentive to trudge through a second time. Likewise, the dubious rap vibe may only appeal to a minority of gamers; we would have preferred an entirety of made-up brawlers. We don't feel there is any particular need for that 'blingin'' theme, especially since none of it is integrated into the story mode. It's about as much use as a solar-powered torch, but, we digress.
Fortunately, however, this doesn't suffocate FFNY's lifespan too much. The imaginative range of match types and dazzling visuals help create a sparkling piece of software. Look past its (very) tiny flaws and inside you'll find a solid (literally), fresh-looking beat-em-up. Authentic voice-acting and an unsophisticated fighting system cement its place as one of the best games in its genre. And, c'mon, what other game lets you fling Snoop Dogg through a window, eh? My how we laughed

Total Respect: +1