In the world of underground fight clubs, losers are tossed aside like used Kleenex while the winners gain not only a reputation but also respect.  After all, who are we in this unlicensed and illegal world of bruisers if we don’t have the respect of others?  In Def Jam Vendetta, you are the one fighting your way to the very top to win the respect of those in your neighborhood and to win back the girl that got away.  To do this, not only do you have to fight hardened bone-crushers, but also Def Jam artists like Method Man and DMX.  So is this what rap artists do in their spare time?

One thing you’ll notice right away is that Vendetta doesn’t make with the amount of game modes seen in wrestling titles like the WWE SmackDown games.  There are no cage matches or ladder matches here, but the game modes you do find here certainly won’t disappoint.  There is a Story mode, Survival (that puts you up against a string of fighters), a single match, a tag team match, a handicap match (you against multiple fighters) and a Free For All (every fighter for him or herself).

The heart of Vendetta is the Story mode.  You start by choosing one of the four fictional fighters and watch as the story unravels after that.  Your character has retired from the underground fighting circuit when your good friend Manny calls you in for a few fights as a favor to him.  You see Manny owes underworld kingpin D-Mob a lot of green but since he has a broken arm, he needs you to step into the ring in his place.  When you get there, you notice that hanging on D-Mob’s arm is your old girlfriend Angel who you still love.  Determined to win her back, you fight your way to the Def Jam tournament where waiting at the end is D-Mob himself.

Not only do you go up against a number of fighters you never heard seen before; you also go up against Def Jam rap artists that take up the place of level bosses.  As you climb up the ladder, taking on brawler after brawler, you gain cash you can use on upgrading your stats like strength, grappling, stamina or speed.  A new concept that also shows up quickly in the game is the girlfriend feature.  Because everyone likes a winner, especially these girls, you’ll find that the ladies will not only flock to your side but also actually fight for you in the ring.  While this has nothing to do with the story itself, the girl fights are a refreshing change of pace mid-game . . . they also open up FHM-like photo spreads of each of the five ladies.  What happens is the girls will take to the ring and give you the option to chose your current girl or trade her in for another one.  You’ll control the girl you chose and if she wins, she becomes your girl while the loser quietly makes her exit.

The controls featured in this game are a dream come true.  Not only are they smooth and executed tightly--like all wrestling games should be--but the controls are so easy to manage that you’ll find more room to concentrate on each fighter’s long list of moves.  Your grappler can perform slams, kicks, chops and even the occasional low blow.  There’s a meter that fills up each time you successfully land blows to your opponent (it lowers when you get hit), but when it becomes full the powerful Blazin’ attack becomes ready (a single tap of the right analog stick unleashes this deadly finishing move).

And while the characters in Story mode are not fleshed out all that well or dramatizes the conflict between you and the Def Jam artists (they just challenge you via a pager).  You’ll find that each artist--like all the other fighters out there--possess enough style to make each one a unique opponent.  As you climb up the tournament ladder, you’ll see that N.O.R.E doesn’t hold a candle to DMX in stamina and speed.   The opponent AI is good at providing a challenge without being overly frustrating.

One of the game's most stunning features besides the solid controls is the amazing visuals.  Vendetta is truly a beautiful looking game and you’ll see that right away the minute the characters step into the ring.  Each character is wonderfully detailed down to the expressions on their faces as well as the unique clothes they wear.  You’ll be astonished how artists such as Ludacris or Redman look EXACTLY like their real-life counterparts.  Even the fictional characters look amazing out there.  And although parts of the background could have looked a bit better, what is featured here is still a sweet sight, especially the junkyard surrounding or the nightclub.

The soundtrack, as it was to be expected, features plenty of gangsta rap tunes that are cleaned of profanity and actually sounds good while it’s at it.  The music blends with the atmosphere so nicely that you’ll just feel as if you’re in a movie starring rap artists.  The sound effects are all standard: body slams, bodies dropping on the canvas and the usual cries of pain.  This would have been forgettable if the cries didn’t come from the artists themselves; luckily every cry and dialogue comes from the Def Jam artists featured in the game.

To put it simply: Def Jam Vendetta is one of the most addictive and fun PS2 brawlers to come along this year.  Aside from the great visuals, fresh concept and perfect gameplay, Vendetta’s action will have fight fans playing this one over and over again.  If you don’t think this game is addictive, I have two very sore thumbs that say otherwise.  Do yourself a favor and pick this one up right away. 

Gameplay: 9.5
Quite possibly one of the best control interfaces seen in a wrestling game thus far, Def Jam Vendetta definitely wins big points in this department.  Not only are the controls smooth, responsive and easy to master but the game’s plentiful moves make for a really addictive fighting game.  Gamers will spend a large portion of the game just inventing new ways of laying the smack down on each opponent.  It’s also something of a rare treat to have ladies fight over your wrestler and giving you the choice of who you want to keep as a girlfriend.

Graphics: 8.9
Vendetta’s graphics are the kind that will leave you with your jaw wide open and amazed by the level of detail of each grappler that steps into the various rings.  Although they’re more caricature-like in design, the Def Jam artists look so much like their real-life counterparts that watching them get their legs twisted back by a fictitious fighter is truly a surreal sight to behold.  Their gestures are also life-like and are a joy to watch as they smoothly execute their own unique moves.  The only time you will encounter some ugly clipping is when the fighter exists the ring in certain cut scenes.

The backgrounds are also a pleasant sight, although sometimes certain textures make for some plain spots here and there.  This is certainly nothing to sneeze at, really, since the locations themselves are both full of detailed onlookers as well as interesting interiors.  One fight takes place in a nightclub with shapely ladies swinging against poles as a colorful neon sign reveals the name of the club.  The crowds are filled with fight fans pumping their fists in the air.

Sound: 8.8
If you like a full line-up of rap tunes, this game has you covered.  Not only does it feature the majority of Def Jam artists featured as wrestlers, but some old-school tunes from Public Enemy.  The tunes are mixed in nicely throughout the game with instrumental versions of the songs playing during matches and clean versions of the actual songs playing over the menu selection screens.  If you’re worried about profanity, its been cleaned up in all the tunes--especially those from DMX (who is known for using more “colorful” language than Chris Rock and all the characters in The Sopranos put together).

The voice acting is also excellently done and it does keep away from the profanity as well--except when the ladies start fighting over you that is.  Yet none of the language is coarse enough that a parent should be concerned about it.   You’ll also find a ring announcer of sorts in Funkmaster Flex as he tells it like it is before and during each fight.

Difficulty: Medium
Story mode puts you through a long list of fighters starting with some easy opponents used as warm-up chumps until you reach the first Def Jam artist.  From there the CPU opponents become increasingly harder to pin or the weaken enough to cause some serious damage.  DMX, for example, is one of the more difficult opponents since he’s got strength and stamina on his side.  At one point, your fighter goes up against three thugs at the same time--upping the difficulty.  Still, this is nothing that will leave a gamer highly frustrated.

Concept: 9.0
If you ever dreamed about showing Ludacris your elbow . . . up close to his face, this is the game that will allow you to do just that.  Aside from the assortment of Def Jam artists that lent their likenesses as well as their voices, the game’s most unique feature is the girlfriend options (as well as unlocking their various FHM-styled photo galleries).  The only thing missing here--and would have put this game at the very top--is a Create-A-Wrestler option.

Multiplayer: 9.0
If there were ever a true definition of what a “party game” is in the Webster Dictionary, a picture of the box cover of this game would be found right next to it.  With a slew of grapplers to choose from and a long list of specialty moves, this is one of those game gamers just have to share with a group of friends.  The game allows up to four players (using the PS3 Multitap) to get in the ring as tag team partners or an all-out fight where only one fighter is left standing.  Sure the game lacks a number of modes seen in games like WWE SmackDown: Shut Your Mouth, but what is here is great multiplayer stuff.

Overall: 9.2
Def Jam Vendetta is one of the most highly addictive and thoroughly entertaining wrestling titles to come along in a long time and it’s a game no fighting fan should miss out on.  Be prepared to gladly spend countless hours with this game that will keep you busy for months to come.  Yes, faithful readers, it’s that good.  Go ahead and buy this one without even thinking about it, you won’t regret it.