EA announces Def Jam Vendetta

EA Sports Big has announced a street fighting game for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube that will put known hip-hop artists in the ring. The game will have 45 unique playable characters, including 12 Def Jam artists such as DMX, Ludacris, Method Man, Redman, N.O.R.E., and Scarface. The Def Jam artists' music will also appear in the game.

Def Jam Vendetta will let players test their fighting skills in an underground circuit that includes 10 detailed hip-hop environments. The fighting system is claimed to be highly realistic and includes 1,500 moves, including signature specials and taunts.

Def Jam Vendetta is due out in early 2003. The game will be developed by Japan-based AKI Corporation, which has created a number of successful wrestling games, and the EA Canada team responsible for NBA Street.