AKI Man
Legend
When the computer takes over to execute grabs and Blazin' moves, the game if perfect, because you're not in control, but moving around the arena does feel a bit robotic -- which is often a problem for wrestling games. It's not a major point or a big issue, but it certainly keeps Def Jam: Fight for NY from perfection.
Overall, Fight for NY is an attractive game with big characters that fill up a lot of the screen. The face-modeling is solid with every licensed rapper looking equal to his counterpart. The framerate, an important aspect of fighting games, is spotty at times. A fighter needs to be able to hold at least 30 frames consistently and Def Jam can't manage that in several arenas. Though the framerate isn't enough to hurt the gameplay, it certainly detracts from the experience.
Flame On
The true gem of Fight for NY are the Blazin' moves. As you beat on your opponent, you fill your Blazin' meter. Once full you can go into your flamb¿ mode. Grab your opponent again and hit up, down, left, or right on the Right Thumbstick to unleash one of your four preset Blazin' moves. These creative and brilliantly choreographed moves are simply amazing. There are just so many cool and painful moves, it's hard to believe so many are offered in Def Jam. There are a total of 82 to unlock and once purchased in Story Mode, you can set your favorite four before any fight.
Though the Blazin' moves may seem unbalanced, they actually aren't as devastating as some super moves in other fighting games. And you can avoid them. The Blazin' mode lasts for only a short while and can be taken away if you can wallop on your opponent or simply run from them long enough. To be honest, it's really not so bad to be snatched and Blazed by another fighter, because it's cool to watch these awesome moves in action. Every wrestler in the WWE has his or her own signature move. Well, that's what the Blazin' moves are, only completely ridiculous and filled with over-the-top brutality.
You Want a Piece of Me?
Along with Story Mode, there are numerous multiplayer modes as well. Though there's no online or LAN options, there are ten different gameplay modes. Some of these are really just normal fights in a specific arena, like Inferno Match, which has you battling inside a ring of fire. Other modes, though, are true game modes, including the four-player Free-For-All and Team matches. These have a more distanced camera but allow four players (or any mix of players and AI fighters) to duke it out in one arena.
The modes are good and with so many characters to choose from, Fight for NY will stay fresh and likely remain in your console for a good long time. There's no mode that isn't enjoyable and really no fighter that you can't win with. Sure, Snoop is the best fighter in the game, but most of the other's are well-balanced to make for some pretty intense matches. Online would have sent this over the top, but for those with three friends, you'll have no problems getting into Fight for NY's battles.
Closing Comments
Def Jam: Fight for NY is a better game than the original, without a doubt. The mixture of fighting and wrestling is a good move by EA and the presentation really is in the top tier of fighters. If you like playing fighting games alone, Def Jam offers a robust and impressive Story Mode that ends up being much better than any of the multiplayer modes. Even if you don't end up the biggest fan of the grappling system, the Blazin' Moves are certain to leave anyone impressed. There's a great sense of fun, of true enjoyment in the development of Fight for NY and that translates to the game.
While Fight for NY has a lot of good going for it, there are still some nagging issues. No fighting game should be less then 30 solid frames. Maybe if it were online, the framerate could be forgiven, but an offline brawler has to be fluid from start to finish. The camera is also irksome, but not enough to likely turn people off from the title. In the end, Fight for NY is a very good game that could well lead to a true classic if EA addresses the current issues in its next iteration.
:9
