While this would still make for a formidable group, pushing a wrestling/rap crossover game would likely need an even larger roster of stars, especially when the previous iteration’s roster was gigantic. These added layers of excitement further enhanced the already simple and fluid combat. Bystanders would smash bottles over combatants’ heads, fighters could slam each other with car doors, and one stage even allowed for a character to be thrown onto train tracks Mortal Kombat style.Īnd that’s independent of the knockout haymakers, crushing wrestling slams and wide range of weapons that each arena boasted. It was thrilling for pop culture fans to see who would pop in next. Every character had a different finishing move, and every so often the game would mix things up with a total surprise, such as Flavor Flav as the only fighter with Drunken Master fighting style, Danny Trejo playing a key villain, and hardcore punk icon Henry Rollins as the unlockable in-game trainer. Snoop Dogg, Method Man and Fat Joe were just a few of the rap titans that lent their voices and likenesses to the game as fully fleshed out fighters with extensive move sets. A semi-sequel, Def Jam: Icon was released in 2007 for the next console generation, but it stripped away the wrestling aspects and went for more of a fighting/boxing approach that centered around synchronizing combat with the background music. Players could buy custom jewelry from Jacob the Jeweler, unlock tons of stars, and battle it out endlessly with a variety of multiplayer modes. It received a gritty face lift, brought in an exceptionally robust character creation mode, and elevated the single-player story mode to new heights. Its four-player combat was built from the ashes of AKI’s classic WWF: No Mercy engine and saw a prequel in the form of Def Jam: Vendetta.įight for New York took the fighting game concept to the next level. The game’s extensive roster was comprised predominately of rappers with the occasional surprise celebrity appearance. Of all the styles and influences that carried over from the 2000s, one crucial component eludes rap fans to this day: the tie-in wrestling video game.įor those unaware, Def Jam: Fight For New York was a fighting/wrestling game released by EA in 2004.

The hip-hop landscape has shifted immensely in every possible facet over the last 13 years.

Drunken master reboot