EA unveils Def Jam Vendetta sequel

EA has renewed its courtship with the Def Jam music label in order to deliver another Def Jam Vendetta game on PS2, Xbox and Cube later in the year, the two companies announced today. Def Jam Vendetta 2 (working title, screenshots) is being developed by EA Canada in conjunction with Japanese AKI Corporation.

Although we're not the biggest hip-hop fans in the world, we certainly recognise a few of the game's characters. More than half of the game's 70 reported characters will hail from hip-hop circles, including the likes of Busta Rhymes, Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Method Man, Redman, Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg and Carmen Electra. (What does she have to do with hip-hop exactly?)

The formula hasn't changed a great deal since the last game, and involves guiding a street fighter as he battles for control of the New York City hip-hop underground. More work has gone in on the gameplay front though, and we're promised a new fighting engine that allows for customisable fighting styles as our hero leaves the ring and starts prowling the streets for potential fisticuffs.

"By fusing hip-hop culture with innovative, addictive gameplay, Def Jam Vendetta II is the ultimate interactive hip hop lifestyle product," Def Jam president and CEO Kevin Liles enthuses. "It redefines the gaming experience," he adds. That's quite enough of him, in fact, but his suspiciously glowing appraisal does remind us of a rather obvious point - you can expect to hear a lot of Def Jam hip-hop music while you fight your way through this one.

And no, sorry, this isn't an April fools joke.