What do you get when you mix some of the hottest acts in hip hop with the finest wrestling game engine known to man? To my delight, and hopefully yours, you get a fantastic wrestling game that manages to make great use of a license. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself that there is no way on Earth that the Def Jam license can be used well in a wrestling setting, and that’s what I thought before I actually played the game. I figured that the gameplay would be the only reason to check the game out, and that the license would hinder the overall experience more than it would help it. Thankfully, the license actually enhances the experience thanks to the extensive use of licensed tunes (which add a sense of credibility to the game) and the use of rappers as boss characters (and later, playable characters) which gives players a chance to play as, or beat the crap out of a Def Jam artist of their choosing. Aki has made some fantastic changes to their classic game engine, changes that add an extra layer of depth to the already-deep gameplay.
The first key change to the engine lies in the ramped-up speed, which brings the game up to SmackDown-like levels without dropping any of the realism or psychology elements from it. Essentially, they’ve managed to speed things up without dumbing things down, and in effect, have made quite possibly the most perfect wrestling game engine ever seen due to this. You can now have a well-crafted, psychology-based match if you want. Or if you want to have a quick bout that showcases speed above all else, you can. The more versatile game engine now allows you to replicate any style of match you want, thanks to Aki, the choice is yours.
Sadly, the diverse game engine isn’t going to be showcased in too many modes in this initial game in the series. I’m really hoping there’s a follow-up to it, because the paltry amount of modes offered in the game really just leave you wanting more. Thankfully, the fantastically-crafted story mode adds some much needed personality to both the game, and the wrestling game genre in general. Aki made great use of the license by having the Def Jam artists act as antagonists to the four playable protagonists available to you in the story mode. The story has some nice twists and turns as you go along, and progresses nicely thanks to some in and out of ring interaction between you and the many women you encounter, these women tend to be attached to one of the bosses, and when you go after them, the bosses go after you. In between all that, you’ll see the women duke it out over you in the ring. In a nice touch, Aki gave the player full control over the female character of his choosing. I’m glad they did this since they easily could have taken the easy way out and made it a simple menu selection, but they went the extra mile and decided to put the wrestling engine, which is the game’s hallmark, to even more use. Aki didn’t stop adding things to mix with just the game mechanics, oh no. As per usual with them, they added things across the board. Little touches like move names being displayed as they are done (a feature that’s been in Yukes games since 1996, but this is the first appearance of the feature in an Aki game) and the addition of a health meter for each limb that you damage really help add some spark to the matches. In the latter case, it takes all the guess work out of which body parts you should go after to win the match in the fastest time. Aki has also added a nice amount of wrestling moves to the mix, including the sliced bread #2, and a tricked out version of the vertabreaker.
Now, you’re probably wondering just how Def Jam Vendetta controls since many of the Aki wrestling games were on the N64. Well, a little look back at history shows that the first Aki wrestling game (under the developmental name of Asmik at the time) was released on the PSX, which has the same control scheme as the PS2 controller, sans analog functionality. I would recommend that you give WCW vs. the World a quick play session before you get Def Jam Vendetta just so you can get reacquainted to the Aki engine without the use of the N64 pad. Once you do, you’re in for a treat thanks to the responsive controls that are complimented with a logical control scheme that really helps ease the player along in the heat of battle. After a few matches while using the PS2 pad, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
On top of all the gameplay changes, Aki has improved the graphical look of their engine by leaps and bounds. Transitions between moves are now made with smoother animations, and best of all, characters no longer look as if they’ve had their arms separated from their bodies. This is quite possibly the most graphically appealing wrestling game ever, and I never thought I’d say that about an Aki game due to how bad some of the character modeling was in their previous games, but thankfully, they’ve overhauled that area completely and have created something that will rock your world from an aesthetic standpoint. I’m not kidding when I say that each and every single thing in this game is bathed in details. Things like the jerseys worn by the rappers, to the fully-3D crowd (a first for a wrestling game) really stand out for me thanks to the sheer level of detail in each. The jerseys all feature readable text, and the crowd doesn’t have a single, uniform look as in previous wrestling games, every person in the crowd has their own unique appearance, which adds a certain charm to things.
Aki, to the surprise of no one, made extensive use of the Def Jam license for the game’s soundtrack. Now, if you’re not a fan of rap music, or the artists featured in the soundtrack (like Nore, DMX, and Method Man, who also appear as in-game bosses), you will probably want to head straight to the options screen once the match begins and turn the music level down to zero. That way, you’ll be able to focus your attention on the game’s fantastic sound effects without having to hear music that you might not want to listen to. Personally, I’m not a huge rap fan, but I have no problem at all listening to the music in the game. I found that it added a nice mood to the game, and enhanced the game more than it hurt, but that’s just me. I advise you to listen to the songs during the game at least once or twice, give them a chance at the very least, and then, if they don’t click with you, and you find them to be more trouble than they’re worth, turn them down. Now to add onto my little blurb on the sound effects from earlier. Aki has given the sound effects a much-needed overhaul (much like the graphics.) In previous Aki wrestling games, the sound effects were decent enough, but they seemed a bit muted, that isn’t the case in this game. Aki made sure to pump up the volume on the sound effects in this game, and it paid off in spades. Things like a simple body slam come packed with plenty of volume that really drives home the damage done by the move. Thankfully, it’s never over-the-top, which means that the bell-ringing sound effect from the previous Aki wrestling games that greeted players who either dished out, or received a low blow is gone.
If you’re looking for a game that will last you weeks and months to come, you will probably want to look into buying Def Jam Vendetta as soon as possible. Much like Aki’s previous releases, the game is sure to provide months, and potentially years of fun to its players. The lack of modes is certainly a black mark on the replay value, but the enhancements made to the game’s engine might overshadow that negative aspect, only time will tell.
All in all, Def Jam Vendetta is a game that appeals to both wrestling fans and rap fans alike. If you’ve a fan of both, you’re in heaven, and if you’re a fan of either, you’re still in heaven: it’s the ultimate win-win. The gameplay is the most diverse I’ve ever seen in a wrestling game, and the controls are top-notch to boot. The graphics will please even the most die-hard graphics nut, and the soundtrack will please rap fans, and those who don’t like it, have the option of turning it off. Either way, you’re in for some fantastic sound effects that really add to the game. Thanks to the Aki engine being put to good use, you’ll be sure to get your money’s worth out of this game, and then some. As long as you are able to come into it with an open mind, you’ll be just fine.
