Def Jam Icon
Electronic Arts | Xbox 360 | $59.99
Whatever marketing wizard came up with the concept for Def Jam Icon, “Music Is Your Weapon,” apparently never played a video game, ever. For most game nerds, this line can only inspire a nightmarish flashback to Revolution X, the Aerosmith game that had you shooting CDs at a totalitarian regime. The fighting styles are practically identical, and the combo system is pretty shallow, but this makes for a better party game than something deeper like Virtua Fighter. You can win an almost-annoying amount of fights by smashing buttons. Plus, Icon granted me something the Make a Wish Foundation probably couldn’t pull off: I not only got to punch Lil Jon in the face; I got to do it as Ghostface Killah. The game’s story mode, Build a Label, is less fun. Forget those marketing classes; if you believe the game, a hip-hop label’s success is mostly determined by two activities: beating people up at clubs or gas stations and being a snazzy dresser. So if you’re looking for real replayability here, the best I can offer is the 360-exclusive option for custom soundtracks. Icon has guaranteed shelf life for as long as you enjoy making Mike Jones and Ludacris throw down to hilariously un-trill songs. Annoy (and unnerve) your friends by making your fighter’s theme song “Song of Joy” by Nick Cave. Make the Game look totally wack when you force him to scratch a deadly beat with Roger Miller’s “Dang Me.” Then trade the game in for a copy of Dead or Alive 4. – Jeremy Martin
This article appears in April 27 • 2007.