Back in 1997, my freshman year of college, videogame developer THQ did something I have never forgiven them for: They released WCW/NWO World Tour for the Nintendo 64 during finals week. Created using AKI's excellent wrestling engine, World Tour was a slick easy to pick up and play wrestler that offered fabulous four-player mayhem that nearly kept my books from being opened. Thankfully, my conditioned study habits prevailed in its grapple with THQ and I exited the Fall semester unscathed.

Fast-forward to 2003, and quite a lot has changed in the world of wrestling video games. THQ (in conjunction with AKI) continued to release excellent games on the N64 (peaking with No Mercy). However, for reasons unknown AKI disappeared from the THQ scene and the results have been disastrous. THQ's WWE SmackDown series (while best sellers) have been the poor man's wrestler, using an inferior Yuke engine that insults the savvy wrestling game player who to this day prefers WWE No Mercy to any grappling game on the market... until now.

Suddenly, AKI returned, except this time they were working with Electronic Arts, in particular EA Sports BIG, known for their wacky and over the top games where players defy reality and gravity. The AKI wrestling engine has returned and it's as wonderful as I remember it...except, wait a second... all of the WWE superstars have been replaced with famous rap artists. In fact, the game oozes hip-hop. I'm unlocking girlfriends and trying to win an underground tournament by defeating a guy named D-Mob. Is that Method Man? My God! The finishers are absolutely insane! The production values are way over the top! It plays exactly like NO MERCY... EXCEPT IT'S A LOT FASTER AND MORE INTENSE... AND IT HAS FOUR PLAYER SUPPORT! OMGOMGOMG!

Welcome, everyone, to Def Jam Vendetta.

From the moment the game loads there's a lot to like about this game, starting with the CG intro. There is an underground wrestling circuit where young and fierce competitors attempt to gain power and respect by settling scores in the ring. Def Jam's unique hip-hop flavor permeates throughout the game and its overall presentation is handled very nicely.

I am very pleased by the selection of fighters in the game. Each of the 44 characters has his or her own move list drawn from a pool of over 1500 different and painful to watch punches, kicks, and grappling maneuvers, and while the majority of these characters are fictitious, each has its own colorful personality that makes each one unique and fun to play as. I'm going to go out on a limb though and assume that many of you are going to play as your favorite hip-hop artist. Def Jam features the following 12: DMX, Ludacris, Method Man, N.O.R.E., Redman, Scarface, Ghostface Killah, Capone, Keith Murray, WC, Joe Budden, and DJ Funkmaster Flex. Each artist did voice work for the game, which adds a nice personal touch to the excellently rendered character models. Speaking of the characters, I love Def Jam's look. Typical of many of EA BIG's games, the characters walk that fine line of one part realism three parts cartoon, so while the game's version of Method Man looks very much like the real life one, certain features have been enhanced to give him that special EA BIG touch.

Def Jam's 10 fighting arenas aren't as detailed as the characters but they are satisfactory, including junkyards and nightclubs. Fans in attendance pump their fists in the air and clap for their favorite brawlers (some are simple polygon models while others are 2D).

Quite honestly, I didn't care much about what the backgrounds looked like because I was too busy concentrating on my matches. Quite simply, Def Jam is damn fun to play. It's simply an absolute blast regardless of its flaws (which I'll address in a bit). For starters, the action is fast and intense. Veterans of AKI's previous wrestling games will be thrilled to discover that Def Jam plays just like its older brothers but at a pace 100 times faster. Before you know it an opponent has initiated a grapple or executed a running knee to your face in a matter of seconds. You have to adjust to the game's pace or get your neck snapped trying. The moves, while seen countless times in other games, look extra painful because the game uses dramatic cut scenes that display the simplest of moves (like a back drop) three times and in slow motion. Def Jam has PARTY GAME written all over it. What's better, even with four players the game maintains a very impressive frame rate.

The controls in Def Jam are easy to figure out and if you've played previous AKI games it'll take a few minutes to make the adjustment from the Nintendo 64 controller. In general, each character can punch and kick, and holding down the punch button for a bit will unleash a harder hitting move such as a drop kick or uppercut. The grapple button serves as a springboard of sorts. Initiate a grapple then press the punch hit button in combination with a direction on either the digital or analog stick to execute one move from several that each character has. These range from suplexes, elbows to the back, scoop slams, and neck breakers. One move I'm partial to is when the character Spider lifts his opponent by his or her head and crushes their skull, complete with cracking sounds.

In addition to the strike and grapple buttons players can pick up, pin, and taunt opponents, and others allow you to exit and reenter the ring and run around. While both controllers (the PS2 and Gamecube) work well, I am partial to the PS2's because I'm more comfortable with the button layout. I also play using the digital pad since I find it difficult to use the analog stick, and since the Gamecube's is smaller, I went with the PS2 version. However, Gamecube owners can certainly counter with the number of controller ports on their system. If you have the GC version the four slots are ready to be used, while unfortunate PS2 users need to not only stock up on extra game pads but a multi tap as well.

Just as NBA Street and SSX featured insane moves so does Def Jam Vendetta. Much like the previously mentioned games there is a special meter (Momentum Meter) that fills with each successfully executed move (although if you continuously perform the same move you will cease to gain energy). When the gauge is full it flashes, and if the Right analog stick is tapped your character will be "Blazin." When you're Blazin you can perform special moves (one per Blazin) to your opponent that are not only thoroughly embarrassing and gravity defying but painful and damn fun to watch. One character will use his opponent as a jump rope while another (DMX) flips you over and uses his ankles to break your neck. They're so fun to watch that many times I didn't mind losing because I was curious to see what my opponent's finisher was. If you're Blazin your not invincible, although you will recover from moves faster.

Def Jam has enough game modes to satisfy but if you're used to playing other games in the genre you might be left wanting more. The heart of the game is its Story Mode, where you select one of four fictitious characters and go through a series of matches in order to become the king of the hill, accomplished only if you can defeat D Mob, Def Jam's super boss. Winning matches nets you cash that in a unique RPG style can be used to upgrade your character's attributes such as charisma, grappling, power, and defense. Playing Story Mode also unlocks backgrounds and characters, so if you want to play as Ludacris, you're going to have to beat him first. You'll also win and lose girlfriends. Several times during story mode cut scenes will play where two scantily clad women argue over which one gets to walk alongside your selected hero. The game will then offer you a choice of which female you want to fight as and a match will start. Winning a match as a girlfriend will unlock galleries featuring the actual woman who modeled for the game, which, while sexually suggestive, aren't nasty or pornographic in any way. However, parents should be aware that Def Jam has some cursing in it, hence its TEEN rating.

Def Jam's other game modes include Battle (the multiplayer component for up to four players) and Survival. In Survival, you have to go through as many randomly selected fighters as you can.

I've run across some folks who are pretty angered that Def jam doesn't have actual wrestlers in it. While I did have a lot of fun playing as my favorite superstars years ago, my attitudes towards sports entertainment have changed. Let's face it, pro wrestling isn't what it was three years ago, and in my opinion, the fusing of hip hop, AKI's phenomenal engine, and a cast of colorful characters (who all have individual and insane move lists) will successfully bring wrestling games into the main stream. The bottom line: The wrestling fans are going to eat this game up, but EA will strike gold because the non fan will give Def Jam a try because, while they hate the WWE, they either love hip hop and/or are crazy about the game's over the top style. Personally, this is the shot in the arm the genre needed and I'd much rather wrestle using hip-hop artists and made up characters.

While Def Jam's got a ton of good points that warrant an immediate purchase it has some nagging technical issues that keep it from greatness, in particular:

The computer is a cheating b!#&h!

Seriously, the A.I. is programmed to kick your ass into the ground and work you into such a frenzy you might actually need to keep a stress ball, a block of wood, or the latest version of WWE SmackDown handy to take your frustrations out on. Case in point, a fellow gamer upstairs became so frustrated during a three on one match that he threw his PS2 controller to the floor and stomped it to pieces!

A careful analysis as to why he destroyed a beloved piece of PS2 hardware reveals an A.I. that is about as unfair as Konami's latest version of Contra. Below are several issues I have with the game play:

My tag team partner's a moron: Why does it seem like the computer's tag partner works a lot better than mine does? While I'm getting double teamed and beaten dirty my partner is on the opposite side of the ring watching it happen, and when he does FINALLY decide to get involved he punches air. On top of that, the computer just enters the match whenever the opportunity arises, regardless of whether or not a submission move is being applied or a pin attempted.

The A.I. suddenly wakes up when it wants out: During a tag match, when the computer wants to tag out, it's going to tag out and there's not a damn thing you'll be able to do to stop it. Suddenly all of your moves will be reversed and if your close to Blazin the A.I. will make sure to deliver an offense so powerful you might not even get a chance to tag your partner.

No more Blazin' for you: For most of a match you'll kick the computer's butt, execute a finisher, and find it nearly impossible to rinse and repeat. The computer suddenly gets a second wind after taking a devastating remover and proceeds to reverse nearly EVERY move you'll try to execute as if to say, "You did your finisher, so now it's time for me to do mine. It's only fair!" Unfortunately, while your finisher didn't K.O. the computer, most of the time its will certainly take you out.

The rest of my complaints are more like nitpicks. Against a tough opponent grapples from the back will almost always be reversed. When you pick up an opponent from the back most of the time you'll just leave them groggy and have a choice of whether to hit or grapple. However, if you pick up your opponent and you come up grabbing them you're in for a nasty reversal. Also, when you attempt a grapple (and you could have sworn you went for it first) the computer will suddenly beat your attempt! All of these complaints make for some very very very very very very (there are no amount of verys that can drive home my point) frustrating match experiences that'll...quite possibly...have you stomping your controller to bits while DMX looks down on you and says, "Stop actin like a b!$%h! Dawg!"

It's quite disappointing that after all these years AKI hasn't bothered to fix glitches in its otherwise marvelous engine. Players clip through each other and elbows that look like they missed by at least three feet somehow connect. However, you can look at that last complaint one of two ways. Either you can see the supposedly missed elbow a glitch, or you can smile because missed maneuvers that somehow connect remind you of actual professional wrestling.

The music in Def Jam is quite the mixed bag. While cycling through the game modes it plays actual tracks that are for the most part entertaining to listen to, although a couple of them are almost a decade old. During matches you're forced to listen to the songs but without the lyrics. In other words, they get old real fast. Thankfully, you'll be spending more time concentrating on the match in progress.

Lastly, Def Jam is practically devoid of options of any sort. If you're used to manipulating match settings in NO Mercy you'll be shocked to discover that in Def Jam no such animal exists. When you get pissed off that the computer partner in a tag match interferes for too long there is NO OPTION to lower his or her time in the ring. There is also ABSOLUTELY NO create-a-wrestler, a feature that's become the staple of the latest wrestling games. While I don't see this as a huge flaw (I think there is enough variety in the characters so everyone will find someone they like), I'm sure there are those of you out there who are pretty miffed about this. Finally, the matches are simply barebones knockdown drag out affairs, wrestling matches without tables, ladders, ring bells, weapons, cages, and snazzy entrances.

I can whine and complain all I want but after owning Def Jam for a week I haven't been able to stop playing. It is THE definitive next-gen wrestling experience. If you've been turning your nose at THQ's latest WWE games while patiently waiting for AKI's triumphant return your day has come. Def Jam Vendetta is the first wrestling game to bring the "sport" into the mainstream and is practically guaranteed a spot on the PS2's list of Greatest Hits. And don't think this is the last you'll see of Def Jam. Vendetta was designed as an easy to figure out pick up and play arcade wrestler that is (I predict) definitely going to have a bigger and vastly improved sequel. Chalk up yet another budding franchise for EA SPORTS BIG. Buy this game immediately.

I really wanted to give Def Jam an 8. The game is a lot of fun to play and very unique. However, the lack of options, the cheating A.I., and the glitches AKI should have fixed by now were enough for me to give it a 7 (the same score I gave the highly enjoyable yet flawed War of the Monsters). Do not let my score influence you against purchasing it. Vendetta is certainly worth the $50, and the multiplayer alone is good until the sequel (I predict) arrives.