Def Jam Vendetta

"If your turning away from this cause of the Rapping, DON'T!"

At first, me, with a bunch of other people, were turned off by this at first sight. The news with AKI, the best wrestling game makes returning to make a game. Everyone jumped for joy. They stopped when they heard it would feature rappers. Some kept jumping, some stoped, including me. It was still AKI, and knowing I didn't follow rapping much, to me most of the rappers were original guys so it would be an original game. There were only 4 rappers in the game I actually recogonized, and they are hidden at the start anyway. I rented this game just KNOWING it was AKI, and I love it. The most addictive game I've played *in a rental anyway* in 3 months of rentals. If you love wrestling but hate rapping. Get this game. If you love rapping but hate wrestling, just try it for the rapping. It doesn't play a big role, but its there. =P

Story - 7/10
Most of the time, a wrestling game with a story is pretty much considered crap. This one is actually pretty neat though. Some big guy, by the name of D-Mob, leads a underground fighting league called Def Jam Vendetta. At first, you start fighting in the place of Manny's place, but as he heals to join you in Tag Action later on, you decide to keep going for the money, and the women.

Graphics - 7/10
The graphics are in this game are REALLY GOOD. There are a few flaws though. The clothes, as in most games, don't even move in the wind and getting beat up. Not even tears. Now that I think about it...how do the guys with hats never lose em? Getting tossed around like that, is it glued to their head or something? A real neat thing about this game however, is the crowd is real 3D. If it's not 3D, it got me fooled. The guys in the back look pixaliated, but the guys up front look real 3Dish.

Sound - 9/10
Well, knowing I hate rapping normally, this is a 9 for a reason. The lyrics IN the game, are no lyrics. The only rapping you hear is in the main menu and stuff. At the start of a fight, if your character has one, will say a quick trash talk line. As far as the music in the fights are concirned: they have actual rapper's music, however, the lyrics are not there. Since I hate rapping, that's what raised the score.

Control/Gameplay - 10/10
Rapping + AKI = ??? Don't worry, the ??? can be considered kickass, awesome, whatever you wanna call it. If you've played No Mercy, you know damn well what to expect. The only problem I have are lack of certain things. They don't have many gimmick fights, such as Cage or Ladder. They have 1vs1, story, survival, triple threats/four corners, and that's it. Not even weapons...that would make the game a lot better.

Difficulty - 6/10
The most unavoidable flaw in this game. Even on easy, the AI will counter and reverse almost every move you do. At the start, they do reverse, but not alot. As you get to the first ''Boss'' fight though, you will realize the pain of a cheap ass who will counter nearly every move. You will have to rely on KOs the ENTIRE time, since you can never win with a pin. >_<

Overall - 810
If you loved the games by AKI, including WCW/NWO World Tour, Revenge, WWF Wrestlemania 2000 and No Mercy, don't worry about the rapping and get it. Considering you don't like it. If you like the rapping, then, well, just go get it as well. Great game, not one to be missed. You will love this game as much as I do.

Recap
Story - 7/10
Graphics - 7/10
Sound - 9/10
Control/Gameplay - 10/10
Difficulty - 6/10
Overall - 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/12/03, Updated 04/12/03