Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover (PSP)

just the job good value for money -good entertainment. my boys loved it.

fast dispatch and good game really good when there nothing on tv and you fancy playin some kick assin game

cracking game

I bought this game because I read a couple of reviews which gave it a sterling 8 or 9 out of 10. After playing the game, I'm glad I bought second hand and not retail!For those that dont know the premise, you play the part of a street fighter who belongs to various gangs, rising up the criminal ladder. The more fights you win, the more money you get, the more clothes and jewellery you can buy, the more respect you get, the more fights you unlock and so on.When you start, you can pick the look of the fighter you control, from 5 pre-made tough-guys or create your own fighter. Creating your own fighter is good, because the amount of looks you can have is very impressive. And I was grateful that I was able to not only create a doppleganger of myself in the game, but get to see for once in my life how I would look with muscles and a six-pack.You pick from one of about six different kinds of fighting, martial arts, streetfighting, kickboxing etc. I chose streetfighting. You are then trained in the basic moves and controls.On easy level, you can defeat most enemies with button-mashing. Basic punches and kicks, the odd grapple, will win most fights. This is good for those like me who can't be bothered to learn long strings of attacks and just want to smack people around when they're angry.The downside to this is that once you've completed the game on easy level, there is very little to entice you to try again on medium or hard level where tactics, reversals and special moves are key.So first bit of advice - start on medium level !Not only is it training that determines what moves you can do, but also your attitude! Which is a nice touch. The quality of your taunts and the clothes that you wear in the ring all influence your charisma meter. When your charisma meter gets full, you can yell out a "Blazin taunt" which will enable you to perform a "Blazin Move". So when you go to various shops in the clothes to buy jewellery, clothes and tattoos, they're not just for show but actually have an effect on your progress in the game.Second bit of advice - be prepared for violence. I know this is kind of expected in a fighting game but expect people having their faces stamped on, being hit with bottles and steel bars, and breaking peoples noses with your knees. Parents - be aware of the age rating of this game!However I found the actual fighting, although fun and fast-paced, to be a little repetetive. The game's saving grace is that his has attitude in abundance! With a very cool soundtrack from famous rap and hip-hop artists giving the soundtrack, and a vast array of tattoos, bling and "gangsta" clothes, you cannot help being carried away into the atmosphere. And before you know it you're saying things like "Now that's what ahm talkin abaht!" when you win a match.I'll be keeping this game. But only because now and again you feel like letting out aggression in a very testosterone-fuelled way. The game is a little samey, and there's not much long-lasting value there. So buy second-hand. I wouldn't recommend buying retail, as I don't think its worth the money, and I wouldn't recommend renting as there's too much to be completed in a couple of nights.Its an average game, but for testosterone-fuelled aggression you can't beat it. I aint frontin holmes!

EA's Def Jam series has redefined the term "rap battles," with its violent gameplay and star-filled roster. The collaberation of Def Jam, renowned music giant for hip hop, and EA, video game giant, particularly in sports, brought the birth of one of the greatest games of 2004, Def Jam Fight for NY. Living up to its name as The Takeover was always going to be one fierce battle, but unfortunately, it falls short of the mark.One word "Port". EA and other big publishers somehow don't feel comfortable releasing original content on the PSP, instead being satisfied to release slightly updated yet compromised versions of old console titles. The Nintendo DS is winning the handheld war because there aren't enough LocoRocos on the PSP.One area of Def Jam, is that it shows its age, ironically, is with the Def Jam license. I can't help feeling a lot of the rappers both appearing in the game and on its soundtrack are a little played out. Hip hop is an ever-evolving dynasty, and this series definitely shows its age. A lot of the content and cast are not old enough to be retro, but not recent enough to be current. Such is the risks you take when releasing a port of a game that came out a few years back.Overall, Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover is a mediocre fighting game on the PSP. But its gameplay sacrifices and slightly stale taste makes it no challenger for Tekken: Dark Resurrection. If you have played Def Jam Fight for NY on the PS2 or Xbox, i wouldn't recommend this game. But, if you are Def Jam faithful or an avid EA enthusiast and insist on getting this, go ahead, Just don't expect anything new.