Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that many teens will want to play this fighting game once they see that some big hip-hop and rap artists are featured, but it's very much an M-rated game. That's why this well-constructed game that gets plenty of stars for quality earns our rare "Off" rating for 17+. This is an urban-set fighting game where characters punch, kick, and throw each other across the room. Onscreen characters will bleed after a severe beating, and will even catch on fire at an exploding gas station. You can cause objects to smash onto an opponent's body, or kick him when he is lying down, and watch as he turns black and blue. In-game harsh lyrics are common. For example, Big Boi's "Kryptonite" uses words "bitches," n----rs," and "hoes," and lines "tell yo buddies I f--ked you right, tell 'em how you licked my b--ls." Another example is Ludacris' "Get Back": "Get back, motherf--ker" and "Man, shut the f--k up!"
Families can talk about the obvious bad behavior and language thrown at them and why they think it's part of the game and glorified in some circles as part of hip-hop culture. What does the word "icon" in the game's title have to do with this glorification? Which artists do you see more as icons than musicians? Why do you think so many hip-hop artists use such graphic language? Can you understand why many leaders in the African-American community want to ban the "N" word? Why do you think that is?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Marc Saltzman
You won't find any fancy weapons, magical attacks, fantasy environments or any other standard fighting game fare in EA's DEF JAM: ICON. Instead, you'll find hip-hop stars, designer clothing, and interactive turntables as you work your way up to becoming the ultimate urban icon.
This fresh take on the struggling fighting video game genre works -- but its appeal may be limited to hip-hop music fans and its blinged-out superstars.
Developed by EA Chicago, the team behind the popular Fight Night boxing series, and in collaboration with Def Jam Interactive, Def Jam: Icon is the latest in this hip-hop fighting game series -- following 2003's Def Jam Vendetta and 2004's Def Jam: Fight for NY. However, Def Jam: Icon offers greater interaction with music, more characters, online play for long-distance brawls, and outstanding graphics.
You can play as or against some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Ludacris, Big Boi, The Game, Method Man, Sean Paul, Paul Wall, and T.I. Thanks to the power of the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360, each character closely resembles his real-life counterpart -- right down to skin tone, facial blemishes, and tattoos. Some fighters, such as Fat Joe, need to be unlocked by playing through the exciting and deep "Build a Label" story mode. You can also build your own fighter from scratch by selecting body type, facial features, hair color, and style, head-to-toe apparel, and accessories.
Fighting styles include the "Ghetto Blaster," a well-balanced method but with some difficulty in getting up from big attacks, and "Street Kwon Do," with impressive kicks and grabs, but not as good in counterattack moves. As with most fighting games, you must discover and exploit the weaknesses of your computer-controlled or human opponents. But this is no "button masher." Gamers who don't take the time to learn how to best punch, kick, grab, throw, and block won't get far in this brawler.
Hip-hop music doesn't just play when you're engaged in a brawl. You can press the L2 button on the PS3 controller and become a DJ by using the analog sticks like turntables to add beats, scratch, and switch songs. Music can also be used as a weapon. By timing your attacks to match the beat of a song, you can trigger environmental hazards in time with the music -- from exploding gas pumps to an electrifying lighting rig at a TV studio. This adds a fresh new element to the gameplay.
Visually, Def Jam: Icon delivers an interesting blend of photorealistic characters with a surreal effect of buildings and cars that pulsate and crumble to the beat. By the time the round is over, fighters will be battered and bruised and the world around them -- be it a rooftop view of a metropolis or the inside of a dance club -- will be nearly flattened with over-the-top damage. Unless you choose to see it, Icon has no on-screen information, such as health or score, so the only way you'll know you're near defeat is how the lighting changes.
Def Jam: Icon is a fun and unique take on the fighting game genre, where music isn't just used in the background, but it plays a key part in the gameplay. Mature hip-hop fans who love fighting games will find Icon a perfect blend of the two.
Aside from older Def Jam titles, other fighting games to consider include Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for mature players, and Capcom Fighting Evolution for teen players. Parents looking for an alternative to this M-rated game should consider Wii Sports, which contains a two-person boxing game, and Guitar Hero II, a fun title that lets children play music using a controller shaped like a guitar.
Reviewed: 03/26/2007
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Sexual ContentSome women dancing suggestively around a pole. |
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ViolenceIt's a fighting game with punches, kicks, backbreaking throws, and even fighters who catch on fire. Onscreen characters will bleed after a severe beating, and will even catch on fire at an exploding gas station. You can cause objects to smash onto an opponent's body, or kick him when he is lying down, and watch as he turns black and blue. |
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LanguageMany of the hip-hop songs feature strong language and derogatory comments. You will hear the "N" word, "bitches," "hoes," and motherf---er." |
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Social BehaviorYou are managing a hip-hop record label and fight artists in hopes of winning their respect and allegiance. |
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CommercialismFeatures 29 hip-hop songs including Big Boi's "Kryptonite," and Ludacris' "Get Back." |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA few songs refer to drinking or getting high. |
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