The best fighting game on Playstation 2 was not a Tekken or SoulCalibur title, but rather a game called Def Jam: Fight For NY. The game has become somewhat obscure in recent years due to its series going dormant, but that is in no way a reflection of its quality. Def Jam: Fight For NY is one of the PS2's most enduringly fun fighters.
Def Jam: Fight For NY is the second game in the Def Jam series, inspired by the record label of the same name. Running on the AKI engine that was used in games such as WWF No Mercy for the Nintendo 64, Fight For NY is a wrestling game with an edge. Unlike a typical wrestling game such as AEW's recently revealed Fight Forever, all the matches in Fight For NY are underground fights with no rules, and players can use the environment to their advantage. In addition, most of the game's playable cast consist of real-life rappers, giving the game a unique flavor.
Fight For NY's main protagonist is surprisingly customizable, especially for the era. In addition to the character's appearance, the player has control over their fighting style, their stats, and their Blazin' moves, which are essentially finishing moves. As the game goes on, the player will continue to get more and more ways to change up their character. With some modern games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus criticized for limited customization, it's astonishing how many options Fight For NY has. A player can start the game as a fairly bland, nondescript wrestler and finish it as a kickboxing submission artist with diamond jewelry.
Fight For NY Outperforms Even Some Modern Fighting Games
In Fight For NY, a fight does not end when a fighter's health is depleted. Instead, the player must perform an impactful move, such as a weapon attack or Blazin' move when the enemy is at low health, ensuring an exciting finish for every match. In addition, every fighting style has their own method of defeating opponents. For example, street fighters can use a strong, slow haymaker, while kickboxers can use a clinching knee combo. Blazin' moves in particular are one of the game's finest features. While not as vicious as Mortal Kombat's violent fatalities, they are over-the-top, punishing, and very satisfying ways to end a match.
Fight For NY's presentation is second to none. Most of the voice talent does a very good job of bringing life to their characters, and the game's tough, streetwise aesthetic makes it memorable. The fighting system feels very satisfying, and slamming opponents into pool tables or suplexing them with a big Blazin' move feels just as brutal as it should. The game's fighting arenas also offer their fair share of variety, with each containing their own hazards, and a few even carrying their own win conditions, such as Dragon House's breakable walls that make ring outs possible. For a game from 2004, Fight For NY is incredibly intricate. Unfortunately, its resurgence is unlikely, but it could join the list of PS2 games needed on Playstation Plus Premium.
The licensing rights required for the music and rappers in the game make a rerelease or remaster of Fight For NY near-impossible. However, anyone with a Playstation 2, Xbox, or Gamecube should seek it out, especially fighting game fans. Of all the fighting games available on Playstation 2, Def Jam: Fight For NY is the undisputed champion.