History VideoGame / DefJamSeries

[[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/def-jam-fight-new-york-3_5416.png]]

[[GrievousBottleyHarm http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/def-jam-fight-new-york-3_5416.png]]

[[caption-width:330:[[Music/{{WuTangClan}} Method Man]] is not having a good day.]]

* OhCrap: Get thrown in front of the train, and this will be the last expression on that character's face.
* OneStatToRuleThemAll: In ''Fight For New York'', many of your opponents are built around power. Increase your speed every chance you get and you can run rings around them.

* RealityEnsues: FFNY has a lot of big, obvious breaks from reality, including superhuman fighters who can shrug off getting hit with metal pipes, getting their head repeatedly smashed into walls, holds and takedowns that are often absurd and would almost certainly be lethal or crippling in real life... but if a 2 on 2 team fight becomes a 2 on 1, it's almost impossible for the one person to pull out the victory.

The first game, ''Def Jam Vendetta'', was developed by AKI Corporation (now Syn Sophia; known for ''VideoGame/WWFNoMercy'' and other wrestling games in the West). Released in 2003 for the {{Nintendo GameCube}} and {{PlayStation 2}}, the concept for the game is a combination of {{professional wrestling}} and hip hop. In the game, the player has to pick from four different characters to use in the story mode. In the story, the protagonist's injured friend Manny calls them to ask that they take his place in an underground street fight, and to help him pay a debt to the underworld boss D-Mob. In the end, after they've beaten all of the other fighters, the protagonist faces off against D-Mob himself. Upon defeating him, they leave with their girlfriend and [[SequelHook the ending sets up for the sequel.]]

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The PlayerCharacter, no matter how he's put together, is a smart a hooligan with a sharp tongue that'll make himself heard before, during, and after fights. When [[spoiler:Crow blackmails him into fighting against D-Mob's crew by kidnapping his girlfriend]], he comes in quiet and goes away without a word, looking grim all the while.

* PutOnABus: Many of the original characters and some of the rappers in ''Vendetta'' did not return in ''Fight for NY''. In ''Icon'', it's everybody except for Method Man, Redman and Ludacris.

''Def Jam'' is a 3D video game series published by [[Creator/ElectronicArms EA]].

''Def Jam'' is a 3D video game series published by EA.

Without hold of the license, the future of the ''Def Jam'' series as a fighter is questionable at best. ''Def Jam Rapstar'' was released on October 5, 2010. Published by Konami, ''Rapstar'' is a more of a karaoke style game. [[http://www.shacknews.com/article/73110/def-jam-rapstar-faces-legal-wrath-of-emi And then it caused legal trouble]]. [[http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/the-def-jam-rapstar-curse-konami-autumn-games-accused-of-fraud-by-city-national-bank/ Lots of it]].

* {{Badass}}: Many, but [[Music/BlackFlag Henry Rollins]] is a notable standout, as he is the only fighter in ''Fight for NY'' that has four styles.

* LifeMeter: Subverted. It's actually more of an endurance meter. Depleting it actually does ''not'' defeat the opponent, it just makes them weaker. Once they're at the danger zone, the player needs to do a finishing move, a powerful attack, a weapon strike, or something else unorthodox in order to actually KO them.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The PlayerCharacter, no matter how he's put together, is a smart-alec hooligan with a sharp tongue that'll make himself heard before, during and after fights. When [[spoiler:Crow blackmails him into fighting against D-Mob's crew by kidnapping his girlfriend]], he comes in quiet and goes away without a word, looking grim all the while.

-->'''D-Mob''' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df1bCUn-4fY "TIIIME TO GO HOME!"]]

-->'''Bonecrusher''': "You will be destroyed! YOU WILL BE! ''DESTROYED''! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
-->'''David Banner''': "Kehhehhehhehheh! You wouldn't like me when I'm...ANGRY, BITCH!"
-->'''Redman''': "I'm-a rip your tongue out, and lick my AAAAAASS wit' it!"
-->'''Flavor Flav''': "Hey hey hey hey! Yo yo, like this an' like that an' like this an' like that...an', uh...like this? Yeah!"
-->'''D-Mob''': [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df1bCUn-4fY "TIIIME TO GO HOME!"]]
-->'''Ice-T''': You're nothin' but a punk... your daddy's a punk... and your momma's a bitch!

--> Bonecrusher: "You will be destroyed! YOU WILL BE! ''DESTROYED''! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
--> David Banner: "Kehhehhehhehheh! You wouldn't like me when I'm...ANGRY, BITCH!"
--> Redman: "I'm-a rip your tongue out, and lick my AAAAAASS wit' it!"
--> Flavor Flav: "Hey hey hey hey! Yo yo, like this an' like that an' like this an' like that...an', uh...like this? Yeah!"
--> D-Mob: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df1bCUn-4fY "TIIIME TO GO HOME!"]]
--> Ice-T: You're nothin' but a punk... your daddy's a punk... and your momma's a bitch!

* LifeMeter: Subverted. It's actually more of an endurance meter. Depleting it actually does ''not'' defeat the enemy, it just makes him weaker. Once they're at the danger zone, the player needs to do a finishing move, a powerful attack, a weapon strike, or something else unorthodox in order to actually KO them.

* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: D-Mob provides a [[JustifiedTrope justification]] for not shooting Crow when Sticky suggests this. Namely, it would bring the cops down on their heads to get guns involved. [[spoiler: He should know because this is what he did in ''Vendetta''.]]

* RivalTurnedEvil: [[spoiler:Sticky]].

* CherryTapping: Capone's Blazin' Move sees him land a few punches on his opponent, pause, and then tip them over.

* [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Less Heel Turn]]: D-Mob is a criminal mastermind, as said per BlackAndGreyMorality above. However, his talk of honor and respect in the second game is a complete 180 from his antics in the first game, where [[spoiler:he blackmails Manny into betraying the protagonist and tries to shoot the protagonist in front of a crowd full of witnesses and spectators]]. This is lampshaded in the beginning of ''Fight for NY'', when one of the first things Blaze does when D-Mob returns is to call him out on it, pointing out that, because he tried to [[IControlMyMinionsThrough rule with respect]], his antics in ''Vendetta'' caused a lot of trouble, allowing Crow to try to muscle in on his territory and setting the whole plot of the game in motion.
** [[spoiler:WC, Magic and Crack defect from Crow's crew after they are defeated by the protagonist and Blaze.]]

* IronicEcho: "Looks like you got yourself a morale issue there, brother."

* MadeOfIron: While fighting games have never been known for gentle taps and hugs, half of the environmental attacks and Blazin' Moves would kill (or at least ''severely'' maim) people in real life. In-game, characters can soak up to ten or more in a row.

-->'''Trejo:''' (while pointing a gun at you) "Say goodbye, bitch." *click* [[OhCrap *oh crap*]]

* BossRush: In ''Fight for New York's'' story mode, the final set of fights include going against Doc, Crack and Magic (with an injured Blaze), Sticky Fingaz in an Inferno Match and finally, Crow in a Window Match (with the player injured).

* BoosRush: In ''Fight for New York's'' story mode, the final set of fights include going against Doc, Crack and Magic (with an injured Blaze), Sticky Fingaz in an Inferno Match and finally, Crow in a Window Match (with the player injured).

** [[spoiler:Magic and Crow defect from Crow's crew after they are defeated by the protagonist and Blaze.]]

* AsHimself: Most characters, such as Ludacris, Sean Paul and Flava Flav play fictional, street fighting versions of themselves. Some of the more important story-related characters have aliases given to them. For example, Method Man is Blaze, Redman is Doc, Fat Joe is Crack, BustaRhymes is Magic and SnoopDogg is Crow.

* {{Badass}}: Many, but [[BlackFlag Henry Rollins]] is a notable standout, as he is the only fighter in ''Fight for NY'' that has four styles.

* DrunkenBoxing: It is available to the player depending on which fighting styles they choose. Also, [[Music/PublicEnemy Flavor Flav]] has the style.

** [[spoiler:Magic and Crow defect from Crow's crew after beating them with Blaze.]]

* LifeMeter: Subverted. It's actually more of an endurance meter. Depleting it actually does ''not'' defeat the enemy, it just makes him weaker. Once he's at the danger zone, the player needs to do a finishing move, a powerful attack, a weapon strike, or something else unorthodox in order to actually KO him.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: In the second game, the player had to use stronger attacks to actually KO their enemies, which can range from weapons, to Blazin' Moves, to style-specific power moves. For example, wrestlers need to perform heavy grapples while martial artists have to perform an attack off a wall.

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Throwing opponents like Carmen Electra or, well... ''anyone'' in front of the train in the subway tunnel. Really now, most of the special match variants count, where you can throw people into their own cars, burning buildings and windows.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: In the second game, the player had to use stronger attacks to actually KO their enemies, which can range from weapons, to Blazin' Moves, to style-specific power moves.

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Throwing opponents like Carmen Electra or, well... ''anyone'' in front of the train in the subway tunnel.

* ArtShift: The mild cartoony vibe of ''Vendetta'' was ditched in the sequel. ''Icon'' stays realistic but implements environment animations even ''further'' down the cartoony road, bordering on surreal for an overall style very reminiscent of a music video.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Crow is easily one of the most difficult characters in the game. [[spoiler:D-Mob is not.]]
* {{Badass}}: Many, but [[BlackFlag Henry Rollins]] is a notable standout, as he is the only fighter with 4 styles.