Keiko

In the past, Def Jam Records and Electronic Arts have collaborated to release games. In March of 2007, they plan to release their third collaborative effort called Def Jam: Icon. This game features various artists who are currently signed to Def Jam as well as realistic settings for music video shoots. While some artists, such as Ludacris, have been announced to make appearances in the game, the other artists who will appear are unknown.

Def Jam: Icon will allow players to fight by using various buttons on the controllers. These buttons will control punches and kicks, and players receive bonuses for executing combos. Like, many fighting games, this game also allows players to throw one another. Music plays a large role in this game, allowing players to listen to the game music rather than turning on a stereo for background noise. The scenes in the game emphasize this musical aspect by pulsating and moving to the beat of the tunes.

By scanning the artists' faces with lasers, the character resemblance to the actual artists is striking and, combined with the graphics, creates a very realistic and engaging game. However, I can't help but wonder what significance Def Jam really brings to this game. Aside from the fact that the music and artists are those featured by Def Jam, there isn't anything here that couldn't be produced without Def Jam's aid. This game appears to be another Tekken-esque game. The musical aspect does appear interesting, but the only part it seems to play is giving players a soundtrack rather than integrating it into the gameplay. Regardless, I am curious as to how this game really engages the player and look forward to its release.

Def Jam: Icon article
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