Def Jam: Icon

"Good premise wasted by sloppy gameplay"

Upon first sight of Def Jam Icon, one expects a brawler with slick graphics and over the top, brutal gameplay found in the first two Def Jam titles. However, once you start playing the game, you'll see that some of EA's drastic changes have taken the series a step back rather than forward.

Visuals: 8/10

The first thing the player notices is the game's graphics and presentation. Though the menu interfaces can be a little clunky, the presentation is nice. During gameplay, the graphics are some of the best on the system. The rappers for the most part look just like their real life counterparts, and the environments are all extremely well done. The problems start with the animation, however, as the game moves at an incredibly slow pace. As the environments bounce along to the beat of the background music, the fighters themselves move like they've got their feet in cement, at times almost appearing to be in slow motion. This, combined with an overall lack of diverse animations and moves, hinder the overall graphical presentation.

Sound: 8/10

What would a Def Jam game be without a great licensed soundtrack? With such bangers as "The Champ" by Ghostface Killah and "One Blood" by The Game, the soundtrack is definitely a highlight of the game. This fact, combined with the gameplay's dependence on the soundtrack during fights add to the soundtrack's impact on the game. The voice acting is solid, if not a little stiff at times. The rappers themselves are entertaining enough, and provide a little bit of fun with their trash talking and whatnot.

Gameplay: 5/10

The best way to describe Icon would be to call it a broken Fight Night 3. The combat is all analog based, with directional attacks mapped to the right analog stick. Though this system works at times, it often lets you down when it matters most, proving to be unresponsive during the tougher fights in the game. This, combined with the AI's ability to consistently move faster and attack with more efficiency than the player add to the level of frustration. The other major issue comes in the form of the music based combat. The environment moves along to the song, providing an edge to whichever player has his song playing at that time. This leads to several unbalanced fights, as the computer is constantly turning the tides by starting his song whenever he gets behind.

Overall: 6/10 (Not an average)

In the end, Def Jam Icon is a disappointing entry into the Def Jam franchise. While the story and career mode can be fun enough, the gameplay drags the whole experience down, nearly completely draining the game of it's fun factor. Even with solid graphics and a great soundtrack, Icon can't live up to the standards set by Def Jam: Fight For New York, or even the game it ripped it's gameplay from, Fight Night: Round 3.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 05/14/07