Reader Reviews

Def Jam Vendetta (Cube)

by Anthony Byrne

When I first saw the previews and ads for this game, I expected it to be a game of little substance I wasn't very wrong. It's a wrestling game with a rap music licence and it's published by EA BIG - it can't get any worse. First off the game seems to be well made. The early fights seem a tad too easy as for once in a wrestling game every move is only two buttons, no up, down, left, right, mash all buttons for suplex simply grapple and press A.

Every single move in game can be done by pressing A or Y and a movement on the Control Stick, the controls are well rounded and seem to created for younger players or casual players who dont look for depth in their fighting games.

Visually the fighters are well modelled, each rapper seems to look like their real life counterparts and their voices were used in making it. The backgrounds are a bit sparse with nightclubs with five or six people in them. Moves are a tad ridiculous but are animated well. The sound is strange if you like rap music you will think its superb with lots of rap music and the odd grunt from the fighters.

With the simplicity of the controls and ease of access for virually everyone most hardcore gamers will turn their nose up at this. Skill counts for nothing in this game, if your opponent can whack the A button faster than you they will win. There is no challenge for long-term single player. Beat story mode get extra fighters - bet no-one ever plays story mode again.

There are two major flaws that amaze me, firstly is the CPU when playing in single player. Catching the CPU with a combo of punches and kicks will leave you open for a lot of bad things to happen to you, which the CPU will duly inflict on you. Secondly is the Story mode/profile. If you beat story mode with your profile and then your mate wants a VS game, he will only have choice of 4 fighters whilst you have a happy 37 or so.