Perfect Stu
01-22-2003, 08:11 PM
http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1419529.jpg
Def Jam Vendetta Preview
Perfect Stu – PS2 Lead
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: AKI Corporation, EA Canada
Genre: Wrestling/Fighting
Current Release Date: 18/03/03
Intro: Your friend owes a large sum of money to an underground fighting circuit. He has to drop out of the tournament from an injury, and you are given the task to replace him. You probably wouldn’t be up to it if it weren’t for the fact that the fighting circuit’s boss is a kingpin gang overlord named D-mob who’s been hanging around your old girlfriend. So what are you going to do? It’s quite simple. Win the tournament, lay out D-mob and reacquaint yourself with your old girlfriend Angel. Sounds like fun.
http://www.game2extreme.com/news/screenshots/868/1.jpg
You’ve entered the world of Def Jam Vendetta, a wrestling/fight club creation from the minds of EA Canada, AKI Corp. and Def Jam Records. Instead of most wrestling games (which feature real life pro wrestlers), Vendetta features a dozen Def Jam Record artists such as Redman, Method Man, Ludacris, DMX, N.O.R.E., and Scarface, as well as 30+ original characters. The animations and grappling engine are being handled by AKI, the respected developer of successful N64 grapplers such as WCW vs. nWo and WWF No Mercy. Those familiar with AKI’s N64 projects will feel right at home when they start playing Vendetta.
Control
Move your character around fighting area with the left analog stick. ‘X’ acts as the grapple button, press lightly for a light grapple and press hard for a strong grapple. From there, you’re given the option of pressing a wide variety of button + D-pad direction button combinations for a vast array of moves. Hit the square button, and you strike your opponent with a punch, forearm, kick, etc., hit ‘O’ to run, triangle to leave/enter the ring or to climb to the top rope, and R1 acts as the block button. You can also taunt your opponent in a comedic fashion by moving the right analog stick. Your character acts accordingly to your actions, and button placement is spot-on. I haven’t experienced any problems with the control in the demo that I’ve played.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/6.jpg
Gameplay
Vendetta focuses primarily on the single player aspect. The concept, if I had to describe it, is hip-hop meets pro wrestling meets fight club. In the tournament (mentioned in my intro), you will be matched up against a wide variety of interesting characters. Each character is unique, and has their own style and attitude. You may find yourself up against a huge foe that will try to pound you down with his strength for the KO, or you might face a smaller, more agile opponent who uses a more martial-arts-esque fighting style. Be prepared to hear plenty of smack talk as you move your way through the game’s ten levels, which all end in a boss battle (all bosses are Def Jam Artists). After each level you will witness a cut scene, which further explains the story as it progresses. Although the story is linear, the game will break off into side quests such as girl fights and a tag team match against Method Man and Redman. These side quests mix things up without interfering with the story. Not much has been revealed as far as the plot goes, but I can tell you that the story includes some crazy twists and a love triangle.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/7.jpg
When in the ring, you have 3 ways of defeating your opponent: pinfall, submission and KO. Each is pretty self-explanatory. In order to put yourself in a position to win, you must use many of the game’s 1,500+ moves against your opponent. As your momentum grows and your opponent starts to weaken, your BLAZING meter will rise. Filling up the BLAZING meter will give you the opportunity to perform a finishing move on your opponent. These finishers are insane. You may find yourself grabbing your opponents by the legs, picking him up, and throwing him into the canvas in a ridiculously over-the-top fashion. Most of the game’s move animations are right out of the traditional pro-wrestling playbook, but the finishers are pure EA BIG (of SSX and NBA Street fame): thoroughly exaggerated but undeniably impressive.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/4.jpg
Graphics/Sound
From the videos I’ve seen and the demo I played, the game’s graphics are visibly well done. When playing, the image on your TV will consist of smooth characters models and crisp animations in the ring, and a surrounding area full of movement and life (people cheering, walking around, etc.). Facial animations are noticeably impressive, and voice work is very good. The soundtrack consists of various Def Jam artists’ tracks. The music gets louder when the action intensifies in the ring, and in turn lowers a few notches if your characters are separated. EA BIG games have been known for their quality sound, and this game looks to be no exception.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/9.jpg
Def Jam Vendetta looks like it might be one of those uncommon games that appeal to both the hardcore and casual gamer. Whether or not it will really find its audience is unclear at this point, but EA Canada, AKI and Def Jam Records have undoubtedly created a quality brawler that no wrestling/fighting game fan should miss. I know I’ll be playing the demo right up until the game’s release this spring.
Def Jam Vendetta Preview
Perfect Stu – PS2 Lead
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: AKI Corporation, EA Canada
Genre: Wrestling/Fighting
Current Release Date: 18/03/03
Intro: Your friend owes a large sum of money to an underground fighting circuit. He has to drop out of the tournament from an injury, and you are given the task to replace him. You probably wouldn’t be up to it if it weren’t for the fact that the fighting circuit’s boss is a kingpin gang overlord named D-mob who’s been hanging around your old girlfriend. So what are you going to do? It’s quite simple. Win the tournament, lay out D-mob and reacquaint yourself with your old girlfriend Angel. Sounds like fun.
http://www.game2extreme.com/news/screenshots/868/1.jpg
You’ve entered the world of Def Jam Vendetta, a wrestling/fight club creation from the minds of EA Canada, AKI Corp. and Def Jam Records. Instead of most wrestling games (which feature real life pro wrestlers), Vendetta features a dozen Def Jam Record artists such as Redman, Method Man, Ludacris, DMX, N.O.R.E., and Scarface, as well as 30+ original characters. The animations and grappling engine are being handled by AKI, the respected developer of successful N64 grapplers such as WCW vs. nWo and WWF No Mercy. Those familiar with AKI’s N64 projects will feel right at home when they start playing Vendetta.
Control
Move your character around fighting area with the left analog stick. ‘X’ acts as the grapple button, press lightly for a light grapple and press hard for a strong grapple. From there, you’re given the option of pressing a wide variety of button + D-pad direction button combinations for a vast array of moves. Hit the square button, and you strike your opponent with a punch, forearm, kick, etc., hit ‘O’ to run, triangle to leave/enter the ring or to climb to the top rope, and R1 acts as the block button. You can also taunt your opponent in a comedic fashion by moving the right analog stick. Your character acts accordingly to your actions, and button placement is spot-on. I haven’t experienced any problems with the control in the demo that I’ve played.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/6.jpg
Gameplay
Vendetta focuses primarily on the single player aspect. The concept, if I had to describe it, is hip-hop meets pro wrestling meets fight club. In the tournament (mentioned in my intro), you will be matched up against a wide variety of interesting characters. Each character is unique, and has their own style and attitude. You may find yourself up against a huge foe that will try to pound you down with his strength for the KO, or you might face a smaller, more agile opponent who uses a more martial-arts-esque fighting style. Be prepared to hear plenty of smack talk as you move your way through the game’s ten levels, which all end in a boss battle (all bosses are Def Jam Artists). After each level you will witness a cut scene, which further explains the story as it progresses. Although the story is linear, the game will break off into side quests such as girl fights and a tag team match against Method Man and Redman. These side quests mix things up without interfering with the story. Not much has been revealed as far as the plot goes, but I can tell you that the story includes some crazy twists and a love triangle.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/7.jpg
When in the ring, you have 3 ways of defeating your opponent: pinfall, submission and KO. Each is pretty self-explanatory. In order to put yourself in a position to win, you must use many of the game’s 1,500+ moves against your opponent. As your momentum grows and your opponent starts to weaken, your BLAZING meter will rise. Filling up the BLAZING meter will give you the opportunity to perform a finishing move on your opponent. These finishers are insane. You may find yourself grabbing your opponents by the legs, picking him up, and throwing him into the canvas in a ridiculously over-the-top fashion. Most of the game’s move animations are right out of the traditional pro-wrestling playbook, but the finishers are pure EA BIG (of SSX and NBA Street fame): thoroughly exaggerated but undeniably impressive.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/4.jpg
Graphics/Sound
From the videos I’ve seen and the demo I played, the game’s graphics are visibly well done. When playing, the image on your TV will consist of smooth characters models and crisp animations in the ring, and a surrounding area full of movement and life (people cheering, walking around, etc.). Facial animations are noticeably impressive, and voice work is very good. The soundtrack consists of various Def Jam artists’ tracks. The music gets louder when the action intensifies in the ring, and in turn lowers a few notches if your characters are separated. EA BIG games have been known for their quality sound, and this game looks to be no exception.
http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november02/defjammulti/9.jpg
Def Jam Vendetta looks like it might be one of those uncommon games that appeal to both the hardcore and casual gamer. Whether or not it will really find its audience is unclear at this point, but EA Canada, AKI and Def Jam Records have undoubtedly created a quality brawler that no wrestling/fighting game fan should miss. I know I’ll be playing the demo right up until the game’s release this spring.