Def Jam Vendetta

Last updated

Def Jam Vendetta
Def Jam Vendetta - Front Cover - NTSC - Gamecube.jpg
Developer(s) AKI Corporation
EA Canada
Publisher(s) EA Sports BIG
Director(s) Hideyuki Iwashita
Producer(s) Josh Holmes
Writer(s) Mark Sawers
SeriesDef Jam
Platform(s) GameCube, PlayStation 2
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: April 1, 2003 [1]
  • PAL: May 23, 2003
  • JP: August 21, 2003
GameCube
Genre(s) Sports, fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Def Jam Vendetta is a 3D professional wrestling fighting video game developed by AKI Corporation and EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label. It was released for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in April 2003. The game is the first main installment in EA's Def Jam -licensed hip-hop video game series. It was also the publisher's first attempt at a wrestling video game since WCW Backstage Assault . Several Def Jam hip-hop artists were featured in the game, including DMX, Method Man, Redman, Ludacris, N.O.R.E., Capone, Scarface, Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray, WC, Joe Budden and DJ Funkmaster Flex. Singer Christina Milian was also featured in the game as "Angel". It was followed up by a direct sequel in 2004, titled Def Jam: Fight for NY .

Contents

Gameplay

The game features a largely unmodified AKI engine, used in the company's Virtual Pro Wrestling games and its spinoffs with some minor "button mashing" elements added and more of an arcade than a simulation. The game plays very similarly to WWF No Mercy , and features a lengthy story mode that allows you to level up and enhance one of four player characters in your quest to become the most well known star in the urban fighting league and fight the undefeated underground boss, D-Mob (voiced by actor Christopher Judge).

Players can win in one of three ways; pin, submission or KO. Pins are done by pinning the opponent for 3 seconds before he can kick out. The player can trap opponents in holds that gradually weaken one of their body parts (head, body, legs and arms). This hold can be broken by touching the ropes. If one of those gauges reaches empty, the bones get broken and that player submits & automatically loses. Players can attack their opponent to build up a power gauge, letting them activate 'Blazin' mode. If the player successfully grabs an opponent in this state, he can perform a special move. If the opponent's health is low enough, they will be KO'd.

Characters

The game features 46 playable characters, including real-life hip hop artists signed to Def Jam at the time, as well as original characters. Christina Milian appears as Angel Rodriguez, a non-playable character. Japanese rappers Dabo and S-Word appear exclusively in the game's Japanese release.

D-Mob's CrewFighters
  • Arii
  • Briggs
  • Carla
  • Chukklez
  • Cruz
  • Dan G
  • Deebo
  • Deja
  • Drake
  • Headache
  • House
  • Iceberg
  • Manny
  • Masa
  • Moses
  • Nyne
  • Omar
  • Opal
  • Peewee
  • Penny
  • Pockets
  • Proof
  • Razor
  • Ruffneck
  • Sketch
  • Snowman
  • Spider
  • Steel
  • T'ai
  • Tank
  • Zaheer

Plot

The player has a choice between four street fighters: Briggs, a dishonorably discharged soldier; Proof, an ex-superbike racer; Tank, a massive Japanese fighter, and the DJ Spider, although the story is the same for each of them.

When the player chooses their street fighter, they are then called up to help out their friend Manny by taking his place in a street fight. Once the player wins a certain number of fights, they'll go against the rapper Scarface. Once the player beats his character, they'll get their first girlfriend, Deja. Other girls will come up to the player every couple of street fights, and then eventually, the player will have to choose which one should be the street fighter's new girlfriend, from which they'll all fight each other.

Eventually, N.O.R.E. will challenge The Protagonist to a fight at Grimeyville in LeFrak City, Queens, New York City. Before the fight, The Protagonist arrives and almost gets into a fight with D-Mob (Chris Judge). Not long after the fight, Manny signs The Protagonist and him up for a tag team tournament. After a while, The Protagonist will be challenged by Ludacris to a fight in Club Luda. After the fight, D-Mob claims that The Protagonist and Manny are nothing. He says that if anyone in the club wants the power and respect, they have to beat him at the Def Jam tournament. Manny tells The Protagonist to stop fighting, but he ignores him.

DMX challenges The Protagonist but first the character has to overcome The Dragon House's offer. Once they have done that, they take on Method Man and Redman in the finale of the tag team tournament. After that, The Protagonist fights DMX. Once The Protagonist wins, they receive an email from Angel (The Protagonist's girlfriend taken by D-Mob) saying that they need to talk. When they arrive at The Face Club, it is revealed that D-Mob has sent House, Pockets and Snowman to stop them from coming to the Def Jam tournament. The Protagonist defeats them, but Manny knocks him out and joins D-Mob against his will. Soon The Protagonist wakes up and enters the tournament and defeat their best fighters. D-Mob then attempts to shoot The Protagonist but Manny takes the bullet and survives. Your character triumphs over D-Mob and gets back Angel. While The Protagonist is walking out, D-Mob is arrested, leading up to the events of Def Jam: Fight for NY .

Reception

By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of Def Jam Vendetta had sold 750,000 copies and earned $30 million in the United States. Next Generation ranked it as the 82nd highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined sales of the Def Jam series reached 1.8 million units in the United States by July 2006. [23]

The Cincinnati Enquirer gave it a score of all four stars and stated: "Electronic Arts deserves kudos for breathing new life into the aging fighting genre with this title's fresh approach". [21] However, The Village Voice gave it a score of six out of ten and said: "If only DMX could sic his pit bulls on you, Funkmaster Flex burst your eardrums ID'ing himself, or Redman burn you with a blunt". [24] Entertainment Weekly gave it a C+ and called it "an uninspired wrestling title that lacks Def Jam's trademark sheen". [22]

GameSpot named Def Jam Vendetta the best PlayStation 2 game of April 2003. [25]

During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Def Jam Vendetta for "Console Fighting Game of the Year", "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Female" for Christina Milian's vocal role as Angel, and "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Male" for Method Man's vocal portrayal of himself. [26]

Related Research Articles

<i>Sonic Heroes</i> 2003 platform video game

Sonic Heroes is a 2003 platform game developed by Sonic Team USA and published by Sega as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The player races a team of series characters through levels to amass rings, defeat robots, and collect the seven Chaos Emeralds needed to defeat Doctor Eggman. Within each level, the player switches between the team's three characters, who each have unique abilities, to overcome obstacles. Sonic Heroes downplays the action-adventure and exploration-based gameplay of its predecessors Sonic Adventure (1998) and Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in favor of returning to the linear style of Sega Genesis-era Sonic games.

<i>Enter the Matrix</i> 2003 video game

Enter the Matrix is a 2003 action-adventure video game developed by Shiny Entertainment and published by Infogrames under the Atari brand name. It was the first game based on The Matrix film series. Its story is concurrent with that of the film The Matrix Reloaded and features over an hour of original footage, written and directed by the Wachowskis and starring the cast of the films, produced for the game.

<i>... And Then There Was X</i> 1999 studio album by DMX

...And Then There Was X is the third studio album by American rapper DMX. The album was released on December 21, 1999, by The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, and Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2001 Grammys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Milian</span> American actress and singer (born 1981)

Christina Milian is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but raised in Maryland, she signed a contract with Murder Inc. Records at the age of 19. In 2001, Milian released her self-titled debut album, which featured the singles "AM to PM" and "When You Look at Me"; the former charted within the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and both peaked in the top three on the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, she performed the theme song "Call Me, Beep Me!", for Disney Channel's animated series Kim Possible. In 2004, Milian released her second studio album It's About Time, which provided her first major U.S. hit, "Dip It Low", which reached number five on the U.S. Billboard chart. "Whatever U Want" was released as the album's second single. Both singles charted within the Top 10 of the UK chart.

<i>Tony Hawks Underground</i> 2003 video game

Tony Hawk's Underground is a 2003 skateboarding video game and the fifth entry in the Tony Hawk's series after Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2003 for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance. In 2004, it was published for Microsoft Windows in Australia and New Zealand as a budget release.

<i>Soulcalibur II</i> 2002 video game

Soulcalibur II is a 2002 fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco and the third installment in the Soulcalibur series of weapon-based fighting games. It is the sequel to Soulcalibur, which was released in July 1998. Originally intended to be released on Sega's NAOMI board, the game was released on the Namco System 246 arcade board before being ported to the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox in 2003.

<i>True Crime: Streets of LA</i> 2003 video game

True Crime: Streets of LA is a 2003 open world action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in November 2003, for Microsoft Windows in May 2004, and by Aspyr for Mac OS X in March 2005. A mobile phone adaptation was released in November 2004. The game tells the story of Nicholas Kang, an uncompromising LAPD detective who is recruited into the Elite Operations Division in order to investigate a series of bombings in Chinatown. As he delves further into the case, he discovers it may be connected to the disappearance of his police-officer father twenty years previously. The game features a 240-square-mile (622 km2) re-creation of a large part of Los Angeles, including most of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, with most street names, landmarks and highways reproduced accurately.

<i>Star Wars: The Clone Wars</i> (video game) 2002 video game

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a video game set in the Star Wars universe developed by Pandemic Studios and published by LucasArts for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It consists mostly of vehicular combat using clone warships, starfighters, speeder bikes and tanks, as well as missions where players can control Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Mace Windu on foot. The game is set in the Star Wars prequel trilogy era, with the first level encompassing the Battle for Geonosis from Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The game also features multiplayer modes for up to four players in splitscreen, or online via Xbox Live for the Xbox. It holds aggregate scores of 73 out of 100, 72 out of 100 and 71 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, respectively.

<i>The Urbz: Sims in the City</i> 2004 video game

The Urbz: Sims in the City is a video game for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo DS. It is the third Sims game for video game consoles and is the second Sims game not to be released on Microsoft Windows, after a planned PC port and sequel were both cancelled due to mediocre sales. The next release for consoles and handhelds was the console port of The Sims 2.

<i>Dragon Ball Z: Budokai</i> (video game) 2002 video game

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai, released as Dragon Ball Z in Japan, is a fighting video game developed by Dimps for PlayStation 2 release in 2002 and GameCube release in 2003. The first game in the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series, it is based on the Japanese anime series Dragon Ball Z, part of the manga franchise Dragon Ball. It was published in Japan by Bandai and in North America by Infogrames, and was the first console Dragon Ball video game in five years since Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout (1997).

<i>Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2</i> 2003 video game

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, released as Dragon Ball Z2 in Japan, is a fighting video game developed by Dimps based upon the anime and manga series, Dragon Ball Z, and a sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. It released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and for the GameCube in 2004 and was published in Japan and Europe by Bandai and in North America, Australia and South Africa by Atari SA.

<i>Capcom vs. SNK 2</i> 2001 video game

Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 is the sequel to the fighting game Capcom vs. SNK. It was originally released on NAOMI hardware in arcades, with Sega handling the American arcade release. As in the original, players select a team of fighters from various Capcom and SNK games then fight other teams, winning each battle by defeating all the opponents from the other team.

<i>Def Jam: Fight for NY</i> 2004 video game

Def Jam: Fight for NY is a 3D fighting video game developed by AKI Corporation and EA Canada and published by EA Games. It was released for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox on September 21, 2004. The game is the second main installment in EA's Def Jam-licensed hip-hop video game series, and the direct sequel to Def Jam Vendetta. It was ported to the PlayStation Portable under the title Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover in 2006, and was followed up by Def Jam: Icon in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Def Jam Recordings</span> American record label

Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.

<i>Fight Night Round 2</i> 2005 video game

Fight Night Round 2 is the sequel to Electronic Arts' Fight Night 2004. It was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube consoles in 2005. It was the only game in the series to be released on a Nintendo platform. The GameCube version also contains Little Mac from Nintendo's Punch-Out!! series as a playable character. This was part of a deal Nintendo had with EA Sports to have Nintendo's intellectual properties appear in EA franchises.

<i>Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover</i> 2006 video game

Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover is a 3D fighting video game developed by AKI Corporation and EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation Portable. It is a port of Def Jam: Fight for NY, and a prequel to Def Jam Vendetta. In addition to nearly all of the features seen in Fight for NY, the game introduces new dirty moves, four new venues, and 68 playable characters.

<i>Def Jam: Icon</i> 2007 video game

Def Jam: Icon is a 3D fighting video game developed by EA Chicago and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 2007. The game is the third main installment in EA's Def Jam-licensed hip-hop video game series, and the first game in the series to not be developed by AKI Corporation. Unlike its predecessors, Def Jam Vendetta and Def Jam: Fight for NY, the game's soundtrack is completely changeable.

<i>Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is a first-person shooter video game based on the film of the same title, with elements of hand-to-hand combat in the third-person perspective. It was developed by Black Ops Entertainment, with assistance work done by other Atari-owned subsidiaries. The game was published by Atari for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2003. An isometric shooter version was released for the Game Boy Advance during the same year. A puzzle game was also released for mobile phones. The game was also going to be released for GameCube, but was eventually cancelled.

<i>Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers</i> 2002 video game

Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers is a fighting video game developed by VIS Entertainment, published by NewKidCo for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. It is the sequel to the 3D cartoon fighting video game Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry for Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It allows up to four players to play simultaneously. It is the only NewKidCo game and the only Tom and Jerry game, released to receive a T rating. The PlayStation 2 version was released in all major regions, and the GameCube and Xbox versions were only released in North America. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with Metacritic scores of 63/100, 64/100, and 50/100 on PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, respectively.

References

  1. 1 2 I. G. N. Staff (April 1, 2003). "Def Jam Ships". IGN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "GameCube Australian Release Dates - News". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Def Jam Vendetta Critic Reviews for GameCube". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Def Jam Vendetta Critic Reviews for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ Scott Alan Marriott. "Def Jam Vendetta (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ EGM Staff (April 2003). "Def Jam: Vendetta (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 165. p. 114. Archived from the original on April 6, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  7. ↑ Ronan Jennings (June 9, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta Review (PS2)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Def Jam Vendetta (GC)". Game Informer . No. 120. April 2003. p. 88.
  9. ↑ Justin Leeper (April 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 120. p. 81. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (April 1, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro . Archived from the original on March 9, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (April 1, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Ben Silverman (March 4, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Alex Navarro (April 1, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ Matt Freeman (April 12, 2003). "GameSpy: Def Jam Vendetta (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on June 30, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ Matt Freeman (April 12, 2003). "GameSpy: Def Jam Vendetta (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ Carlos McElfish (April 15, 2003). "Def Jam VENDETTA - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  17. ↑ Natalie Romano (April 10, 2003). "Def Jam VENDETTA - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  18. 1 2 Jon Robinson (March 31, 2003). "Def Jam Vendetta". IGN . Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Def Jam Vendetta". Nintendo Power . Vol. 169. June 2003. p. 137.
  20. ↑ "Def Jam: Vendetta". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . April 2003. p. 86. Archived from the original on April 6, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 Marc Saltzman (April 15, 2003). "Virtual getaways await in 'Primal', 'Vendetta'". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 Noah Robischon (March 21, 2003). "Rhythm & Bruise (Def Jam Vendetta Review)". Entertainment Weekly . No. 701. p. 120. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  23. ↑ Campbell, Colin; Keiser, Joe (July 29, 2006). "The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century". Next Generation . Archived from the original on October 28, 2007.
  24. ↑ Nick Catucci (March 25, 2003). "In Da Fight Club". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  25. ↑ The Editors of GameSpot (May 3, 2003). "GameSpot's Month in Review: April 2003". GameSpot . Archived from the original on November 13, 2004.
  26. ↑ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Def Jam Vendetta". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.