TITLE
‘Ghostface Killah wanted to be a homicidal eagle!’ – Def Jam: Fight for NY at 20
AUTHOR
Thomas Hobbs
PUBLICATION
The Guardian
YEAR
2024
ARTICLE TYPE
Article
FROM THE ARTICLE
‘I remember we visited Ghostface Killah [of the Wu-Tang Clan] and he was mad at us!” recalls Daryl Anselmo, former EA employee and art director for 2004’s landmark hip-hop-fused beat-em-up, Def Jam: Fight for NY. “Ghostface had a four-pound solid gold eagle bracelet and he insisted his character’s finishing move should be this bird coming to life and pecking out all the other rappers’ eyeballs. The limitations of the PlayStation 2 technology and our violence restrictions meant we couldn’t pull it off. It was impossible.”The game’s producer Josh Holmes interjects: “When Ghostface first asked me about the eagle, Lauren [Wirtzer Seawood, another one of the game’s producers] told me just to nod along and smile. When we saw him again in the studio for the sequel, I apologised [for misleading him] and we quickly moved on to recording his character’s expanded insults for the new game. I remember one was: ‘Go home and cry to your momma. And, while you’re at it, tell her I’m hungry!’”
With or without Ghostface Killah transforming into a gigantic murderous eagle, the resulting game, Def Jam: Fight for NY, released 20 years ago this month, remains one of the fighting genre’s most vibrant left turns. It’s a rare 00s game that still dominates social media conversation, despite the fact it has never been remade or rereleased. Its roster of 67 characters included rap legends such as Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Ice-T, Scarface, Ludacris, Flavor Flav, Slick Rick, Warren G, Mobb Deep and improved on its predecessor Def Jam: Vendetta’s slower-paced gameplay in every conceivable way.
COMPANIES MENTIONED
AKI Corporation
Electronic Arts
GAMES MENTIONED
Def Jam: Fight for NY
PEOPLE MENTIONED
Daryl Anselmo
Josh Holmes
Lauren Wirtzer Seawood