Def Jam Vendetta
| Def Jam Vendetta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Aki Corporation/EA Canada |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports BIG |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, GameCube |
| Release | US: March 3, 2003 JP: August 21, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Wrestling |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Def Jam Vendetta is a professional wrestling video game that combined hip hop with pro wrestling. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It was Electronic Arts' first attempt at a wrestling game since the widely-panned WCW Backstage Assault. The game's engine was originally designed for use in a sequel to EA's WCW Mayhem, but EA lost the WCW license when the wrestling company was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation in 2001.
Gameplay
The game features a largely unmodified AKI "engine", used in other AKI wrestling games Virtual Pro Wrestling, Virtual Pro Wrestling 2, WCW vs. nWo: World Tour, WWF WrestleMania 2000, and WCW/nWo Revenge with some minor "button mashing" elements added and significantly speedier gameplay. 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.
Reaction
The response to the game was, surprisingly, mainly positive, with fans citing the basic game play and presentation as superb, but many lamented the loss of key AKI features such as "gimmick matches" like the ladder match and the cage match, plus the lack of any true create-a-wrestler mode. Many negatively comment on how they use trademarked wrestling moves from the WWE (e.g.: Pedigree, Last Ride, etc.)
Story
You have a choice between 4 street fighters: Briggs, a dishonorably discharged soldier; Proof, an ex-superbike racer; Tank, a massive Japanese fighter; and Spider.
When you choose your character you are called to help out your friend Manny by taking his place as a street fighter. Once you've won some fights, you'll go against Scarface. Once you beat him you'll get your first girlfriend, Deja. Other girls will come up to you evey few fights and you have to choose which one you prefer as your girlfriend and they'll fight each other.
Eventually, N.O.R.E. will challenge you to a fight at Grimeyville. Before the fight, you arrive with a new set of clothes and almost get in a fight with D-Mob. Not long after the fight, Manny signs you and him up for a tag team tournament. After a while, you will be challenged by Ludacris to a fight in Club Luda. When you get to Club Luda, your girlfriend leaves with a girl named Carla to find someone better. After the fight, D-Mob claims that you 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 you to stop fighting, but you ignore him.
DMX challenges you but first you have to overcome what the Dragon House has to offer. Once you have done that, you take on Method Man and Redman in the finale of the tag team tournament. After that, you fight DMX with the protective gear sent to you by Angel (your girlfriend who was taken by D-Mob). Once you have defeated DMX, you receive an e-mail from Angel saying that they need to talk. When you arrive at The Face Club, it is revealed that D-Mob has sent House, Pockets and Snowman to stop you from coming to the Def Jam tournament (possibly D-Mob got a hold of Angel's 2-way). You defeat them, but just as you are sighing in relief, Manny knocks you out with a baseball bat and joins D-Mob's side against his will.
At the tournament, Manny and Angel are distraught, until you come walking through the door towards the ring (D-Mob is, of course, furious). You fight his four best men: (Keith Murray, Capone, WC, and Ghostface Killah) one-on-one, and finally get your chance. You and D-Mob have an exchange and Angel leaves him to go to your side. Now, with the crowd laughing, he pulls out a gun, causing the crowd to panic. Attempting to kill you and Angel, Manny tries to wrestle the gun from D-Mob, but is accidentally shot in the ribs. This causes you to tackle D-Mob over the rail. After the fight, D-Mob is knocked out, and the police are around him. You then approach Angel, and as you walk out hand in hand, you smile and wink to the injured Manny, who smiles back and the paramedics take care of him.