Def Jam Vendetta II [PS2]

Method Man, Redman, and the Def Jam crew are back with gigantic chips on their shoulders. In Def Jam Vendetta, these rappers turned into wrestlers -- thanks to famed wrestling game developer AKI -- and brought hip hop and fighting games together. In Fight For NY, the rules have changed and a whole lot more celebrities showed up to brawl.

Def Jam has been taken out of the wrestling ring, and moved to underground fighting arenas. So, instead of being in a squared circle, you're usually surrounded by an angry mob. The controls have totally switched, too. While you won't be Irish whipping opponents or diving off the top rope, strategy still reigns supreme. Grapples, strikes, and blocks create a kind of rock-scissors-paper mechanic that works really well. Being able to throw your opponent into the crowd or mash them against a wall adds a new dynamic to how you play as well.

Each character gets his or her moveset from one of five fighting styles, ranging from strike-heavy kickboxers to submission experts. This means you have a variety of techniques to master and defend against. It really is different going up against Danny Trejo's streetfighting than Method Man's wrestling. Winning against anyone takes some skill. In this sense, the difficulty may be a little tough for more inexperienced players.

On the presentation side, the "Mature" rating is used to its full potential. You'll hear some nasty language and see a few faces that look like ground chuck. Ultimately, it's good for EA to let the series grow up; otherwise, it'd be like a censored version of Ice T's "OG" album. Incidentally, Ice is one of the 74 playable characters included.

Story mode hits hard with more drama and deeper interaction. It starts strong with a clever way to craft your character -- by describing the perp (you) to a sketch artist. The tale revolves around you joining up with D-Mob's gang and earning a reputation with your fists at different locales. Snoop Dogg is trying to be the new don of the district, and you'll get into plenty of scraps with his crew. Also, you hook up with a hottie, and take control over her to (literally) fight off potential suitors.

Each fight earns you both cash and skill points. Hit Henry Rollins' gym to boost your stats and pick up new finishing moves, or visit one of the many shops to buy new threads, hairstyles, or jewelry. We had almost as much fun picking out how to dress for the next fight as we did actually kicking butt; the options are near limitless. You also unlock new fighters, songs, and venues as you progress. These little things motivate you to keep playing -- not that you need much coercing in the first place.

Fight For NY has some legs in multiplayer, so your friends won't get bored watching you mack on Carmen Electra while they sit on their hands. Battle mode is full of exhibition games with different parameters. Up to four people can fight in a free-for-all, or you can duke it out in matches where a ring-out means defeat.

Later, you earn wilder match types, like trying to toss your opponent into the path of a subway train. Some of these contests earn unlock points, with which to buy even more venues and fighters. Internet play was originally talked about in the early stages of development, but never came to fruition.

The moves department is one place that may attract complaints. While the game now has an individual button for punches and kicks, the arsenal is still pretty thin, especially if you're expecting either deep grappling variety like a wrestling game or amazing combo strings like a straight-up fighter. The number of fighting styles and the interactive environments both alleviate some of the problem, but it's still noticeable.

The level of work that went into this game is way beyond the norm. It's obvious that no expense was spared in making Def Jam Fight For NY a big-time title. It shows maturity over the last game, while appealing to a broader segment of gamers. It appeases both single-player peeps and those who play in groups. In short, it's one the most polished fighting games available. You won't see this many artists and celebrities in any movie, song, or music video. They're all here because they want to be, and when you pick up Fight For NY, you'll quickly see why.

[Also on Games Domain: Interview with Redman -Ed]