PlayStation 3

Def Jam: Icon

Def Jam: ICON isn’t perfect. The lack of variety in the combat system is definitely something that will irk fighting fans, and the huge shift in the series’ direction might really turn off fans of previous titles. Still, I was absolutely enthralled with my experience and enjoyed almost everything Def Jam: ICON had to offer. I don’t normally enjoy hip-hop, but found myself absorbed by everything in this game. That goes to show how well EA Chicago did with their product, and I commend them on their efforts in bringing something new to the fighter’s table. Check it out, give it a try–you just might find yourself tapping your feet to the music as you inflict all sorts of virtual pain.

Def Jam: Icon hits PlayStation 3 touting surprisingly solid gameplay that takes a different direction from previous installments. While it still very much feels like a sequel, everything is bigger, better, and more stylish. In the end, Def Jam: Icon manages to feel like a fresh experience instead of more of the same.

Def Jam: Icon ein gutes Beat 'em up, das trotzdem nicht uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert ist. Zunächst die etwas unstrittigen Punkte. Die Grafik ist sehr schön und die Arenen als auch die Rapper sind mit allerlei Details versehen. Der Sound ist sowieso sehr stimmig und wer auf amerikanischen Hip-Hop steht, wird mit Def Jam:Icon sicher glücklich. Auch die Story ist spannend erzählt und motiviert zum Weiterspielen. Wer sich hingegen schon bei den Fantastischen Vier die Ohren zuhält, sollte von Def Jam: Icon die Finger lassen. Das gesamte Spiel lebt von der Hip-Hop-Atmosphäre, und die ist nun mal nicht jedermanns Sache. Schwierig verhält es sich auch mit der Steuerung. Die „Scratchfunktion“ und die Fallen sorgen für frischen Wind im Genre, aber die Kämpfe spielen sich insgesamt zu langsam und für Profis gibt es zu wenig spielerische Anreize.

If you are looking for a hip-hop themed version of Tekken or Street Fighter, you may be disappointed by Def Jam Icon. Icon is more than that though. If you can drop whatever preconceived notions you have of what a fighting or wrestling game is supposed to be like, you will find enjoyment from this innovative title. Icon has brilliant artistic values and a solid presentation, but a few technical issues hold Icon from shining as bright as it could have.

The pace and style of the combat in Def Jam: Icon clearly shows that it came from the guys and girls who worked on Fight Night Round 3. Yes, this is technically a 3D fighting game, but you wouldn't call it competition for the Virtua Fighters and the Tekkens of the world. The lack of a real combo system and its heavy emphasis on move/countermove gameplay make the game more suited for players who like fighting, but can't be bothered to learn any special moves. But that's not to say it has no depth at all. On that note, it's likely to appeal to players who liked Fight Night Round 3 as well. But there's much more to Def Jam: Icon than its gameplay. The way it handles the rappers and the way its story mode plays out make it a must for hip-hop fans...unless you're still waiting for some sort of Lupe Fiasco/Common backpacking simulator.

I’ll say this about Def Jam Icon: it’s definitely a game of rap’s present. While the first titles in the series gave some dap to old school legends like Slick Rick, Flavor Flav, and Ice-T, Icon steps to the plate with a roster of current heroes like Young Jeezy, Mike Jones, and Dipset capo Jim Jones. The game’s new, revamped career mode also reflects the fundamental truth about hip-hop in 2007: this is a business, and you’ve got to balance street credibility and good music while managing your assets in an intelligent manner. Throw your hands in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care? Sorry, dude, I’m too busy setting royalty rates and marketing budgets.

Ich bin von DefJam Icon hin- und hergerissen. Auf der einen Seite haben wir eine richtig coole und von allen Klischees durchzogene HipHop-Story, die sich auch nicht zu schade ist, augenzwinkernd über sich selbst herzuziehen. Angefeuert von teils phänomenal gut aussehenden Zwischensequenzen mit englischen Original-Dialogen wird hier ein sauberes Motivations-Fundament geschaffen. Auch die Idee, die Musik so innovativ ins Kampfgeschehen einzubeziehen, hätte nach den ersten Spielesessions fast den Griff zu Edelmetall nötig gemacht. Doch mit zunehmender Spieldauer treten die Mankos von DefJam Icon immer mehr zu Tage und nagen Prozent um Prozent vom Wertungskuchen ab. Um auf lange Sicht mit Kalibern eines Virtua Fighter 5 mithalten zu können, bieten die DefJam-Fighter einfach zu wenig Variation untereinander als auch im begrenzten Bewegungsrepertoire jedes Einzelnen.

Once I fully understood the fighting system, which took me all of five minutes to do, I felt like giving this one a 4. The lack of tutorial forces you to dive straight into, in this case, SHALLOW WATERS, but it still presents good ideas. The stylish visuals and great multiplayer saved it. I’m giving it 7/10, don’t buy it if you usually play by yourself.

The biggest question of course is what's' the overall recommendation on this title, right? Personally, I can overlook the slight flaws and found some enjoyment of beating the crap out of Sean Paul and as I progressed through the game I couldn't help but wish that I'd finally be able to put my fist through P. Diddy's nose, sadly this didn't happen. But I did have a good time throwing down the gauntlet and working my way through the very violent world of owning a music label; if this is how things were done in the real world then we'd be living in a very interesting world. If you enjoy wresting titles where grapples and throws are used heavily and tend to shy away from the fighting titles that use massive button combos to fight, then I'd suggest giving Def Jam Icon a rental. Fans of the series will enjoy the gameplay regardless, and hopefully will get a kick out of the DJ controls as I did. Recommended.

"Def Jam: Icon" traz novidades interessantes não só à série, mas ao gênero luta. E embora tente conquistar um publico que não se interessa pelo mundo do hip-hop, falha ao permitir o uso de músicas externas. A falta de variedade das partidas também diminui consideravelmente seu fator 'replay'. Se ao menos houvessem diferentes modalidades de jogo, além dos tradicionais modos história, arcade e prática, "Def Jam: Icon" poderia oferecer uma experiência muito mais profunda e satisfatória.

Despite being a relatively weak first next-gen effort in the series from EA, Icon isn't worth passing by all together. The DJ system is unique and intuitive, the visuals well polished and, even with my rock/punk roots, the soundtrack is a commendable mix of uncensored beats. Nevertheless, the broken fighting mechanics and sluggish pacing are enough to keep this game from reaching true icon status.

EA have really dropped the ball with this one. With Def Jam: Fight for New York they created a brutal pantomime where every Def Jam artist was a superhuman fighting machine, each with their own laughably vicious fighting style. It was a cartoon caper than was thrilling to play and impossible not to enjoy. So it's a surprise to see Def Jam launched on the PS3, stripped of all that made it great and left washed-out, cumbersome and hollow.

It’s a great game to play with mates, but if you’re looking for a fighter with depth, keep looking. Whether it makes you want to throw DOWN or throw UP, top dollar is a bit too much to charge for an incomplete fighting system. I’m giving it 5.5/10 cognac chickens.

This game is obviously a joke to any fan of actual gaming. It’s a steaming turd wrapped up in sleek and shiny packaging, but it’s still a turd. I couldn’t care less if you happen to like the idea of beating up a digital Lil’ Jon as a digital Paul Wall. It’s not fun, and anyone who purchases this game should have their 360 or PS3 privileges permanently revoked.