Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover

 PSP
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
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  1. Gamezilla!
    90
    Def Jam succeeds by using its license to the fullest and provides a satisfying Hip Hop themed fighter.
  2. AtomicGamer
    89
    Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover is a solid fighting game with a silly amount of moves, characters, and unlockables.
  3. Games Master UK
    85
    Though the fighting's fundamentally pretty simple - it's basic grapple/counter/hit with lead pipe stuff - the collisions are so meaty that it's difficult to get bored. [Sept 2006, p.78]
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  5. PSM3 Magazine UK
    85
    Exaggerated, stupid and brutal... but we mean that as a compliment. The best beat-'em-up on PSP. [Sept 2006, p.66]
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  6. GameZone
    85
    Packs just as much heat as the original – the same fighters, the genius mechanics, and one of the best and most fluid fighting systems ever created.
  7. Cheat Code Central
    84
    The action found in The Takeover is just as fast and smooth as before with almost no slowdown to be seen at all. Venues look just as good as they did on PS2. All of the 65+ fighters are animated with the same unique style as well.
  8. Play UK
    83
    Entertaining gameplay with plenty of options to keep you busy, but the repetitive nature of it all keeps the score down. [Issue 144, p.81]
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  9. PGNx Media
    83
    An undeniably fun game. At the same time, it’s basically a port of a two-year game. Unless you played the game to death though, the stellar presentation and sound gameplay mechanics, make this game easy to recommend.
  10. IGN
    81
    Takeover offers one of the best fighting packages on the system. It packs an intuitive fighting system and varied characters, not to mention an in-depth storyline.
  11. GameTrailers
    81
    The lack of online play, or any real enhancements, is a bummer--making The Takeover a quick and dirty port. But when the original game is so strong that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
  12. Game Informer
    80
    Hip-hop moves fast, and Def Jam seems to have lost its cutting-edge appeal. [Aug 2006, p.93]
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  13. Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
    80
    A versatile and immersive fighter packed with individual characters, top tunes, and bone-breaking aplenty. [Aug 2006, p.98]
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  14. GameSpot
    80
    The newest Def Jam fighter may be an update of a nearly two-year-old game, but this PSP brawler still packs a punch.
  15. GamesRadar+
    80
    Its deep customizability and visceral biff-bam-pow make it crazy addictive, and it doesn't get old.
  16. GameSpy
    80
    The Takeover packs just about everything a fighting-game fan could ask for into a nice, compact little package. And while the game's long load times and lack of online play leave an unsightly bruise, the smooth controls, great presentation and sheer magnitude of content are more than enough to make up for it.
  17. Modojo
    80
    A pound-a-thon that's still fun after all this time, and those who want a capable PSP fighting game with familiar rap and superstar personalities and lots of bone-crunching hits should take this game on over.
  18. DarkStation
    80
    EA's fighter has done well on the consoles, and really shines on the handheld with reworked controls, refined gameplay and slick visuals.
  19. TotalPlayStation
    80
    If you bought into the series not for the boobage, but for the hot man-on-man ass kicking, then you're probably going to find plenty to love here. The game is essentially the same, though in a few ways it's actually improved over the console experience.
  20. PSM Magazine
    80
    You know, we have to say that Def Jam Fight for NY has aged rather well. Two years later. and it's just as fun as ever. [Nov 2006, p.78]
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  21. G4 TV
    80
    Although the set-up is weak, and the emphasis on commercialism and bling is rather trite, Def Jam Fight for New York: the Takeover is a surprisingly adept fighting game.
  22. games(TM)
    70
    A game with enough quality and playability to appeal beyond the boundaries of its subject matter. [Sept 2006, p.122]
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  23. Yahoo!
    70
    Its gameplay sacrifices and slightly stale taste make it no match for "Tekken: Dark Resurrection."
  24. PSW Magazine UK
    70
    There's plenty of depth and subtlety to uncover in the fighting system, and the only niggles centre on the game's relative lack of fluidity. Everything else makes this a top PSP fighter. And yes, we know, you told us so.
  25. Eurogamer
    70
    The Takeover is a wild and slightly insane take on fighting, with truly original characters hurling abuse and fists at each other like a scrap at a special school.
  26. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    57
    Like so many PS2-PSP ports, you won't find much compelling new content, either. [July 2006, p.93]
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Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PSP Game of 2006
44
#44 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2006
9
#9 Most Shared PSP Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34
  1. evolution98
    Nov 3, 2017
    10
    Aki's last ever licensed game before retiring from the gaming industry.

    A really impressive spinoff of a beloved game and port for the PSP.    Aki's last ever licensed game before retiring from the gaming industry.

    A really impressive spinoff of a beloved game and port for the PSP. I love this game. I beat it three times.

    The graphics are exactly the same as the other ports of Fight For New York just watered down. The soundtrack is THE best rap soundtrack in a licensed fighting game ever. The sound and sound design like the other ports are superb, brutal and satisfying to listen to. The voice acting is fantastic too.

    The gameplay is essentially the same as Fight For New York but with new additions such as pre match beatdowns, pre danger knockouts with blazin move, environment reversals, new fighting styles, a mount mechanic, mount reversal, dazed clinch punches and throwing sand and dirt into the opponents face.

    Another mechanic added to the game is the Crew Wars in Story Mode in which you can recruit up to 15 fighters and select one fighter to attack a property in any of the five territories and earn rewards.

    The story is a prequel to Fight For New York, it's non-linear and is presented by text messages and only 4 comic book styled cutscenes which play at specific points unlike Fight For New York in which you follow a path to defeat Crow and become King of New York and is presented with movie styled cutscenes.

    The customization system is amazing.

    We also get four new arenas: Terminal Overload, Dead End, Barge and Bunker and they are fun to brawl in. Jervis and Starks now have Blazin yells.

    The Inferno Match, Free for All Match and Tag Team match types were removed. Suspect, Blaze, D-Mob and Sticky Fingaz costumes, DJ Enuff and DJ Felli Fell commentary, Blazin themes and loading screen music were also removed because of memory limitations.

    There are also many mistakes in the game such as Redman having Blaze's Blazin yell, Magic having Nyne's Blazing yell and Santos using the Let's Dance Blazin' instead of the Filipino Pride. These mistakes could have easily been fixed.

    A thing I found disappointing is that the Free for All and Tag Team matches were not included as they probably weren't able to implement these matches because of the PSP's capabilities.

    The only things that held the game back was that story mode was too short and match types were removed. The game is still so flawless that you can easily ignore this.

    Overall a perfect game from Aki Corporation and a great way to retire.    … Full Review »
  2. The_D4RknesS
    Jan 20, 2023
    9
    This one is identical to the one on the PS2, but there are some things that have changed and I didn't think it was so cool, that's why the Note 9
  3. Ligno
    Jul 22, 2022
    10
    Este es sin duda alguna uno de los mejores juegos q juge en mi vida y eso q ni siquiera me gustaron los juegos de pelea pero este es unaEste es sin duda alguna uno de los mejores juegos q juge en mi vida y eso q ni siquiera me gustaron los juegos de pelea pero este es una excepción me encanto por las ideas y originalidad q traía poder personalizar tu personaje con un amplio sistema de customización elegir el tipo de pelea hace q tu personaje sea único la historia no la entendi no hay sustancia en la trama pero el juegos de pelea nadie le presta atención a eso PERO me da igual un buen juego q me alegra haberlo conocido… Full Review »
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