Split-Screen :: The Game-Geek’s Daily Read

by Kuriakose Saju

When it comes to music, I’ve never really been fussy about what I listen to. Be it the classic rock acts like The Doors, The Rolling Stones or today’s psy artistes, such as DJ Tiesto, I’ve always been able to appreciate the music. But if asked what my favourite genre is, the answer is undoubtedly hip-hop. It’s not just about the music, it’s about a lifestyle, an attitude that these brothers flaunt and of course, da bling fo shizzle! However, what I find the most fascinating is the history, the gang wars and the entire culture of social commentary through rap music. This is why a series like Def Jam held promise, even before I got my hands on it.

Lately, I’ve been playing Def Jam Icon, the latest in the series, which has been out in India for quite some time now. There have been a number of reviews, which pretty much agree on this version being the weakest link in the series. I agree with what the critics have to say in general about the game, with unbelievably life-like graphics, controls that are kinda off, especially when trying to execute combo moves, Icon flip flops. Adding to the pickle, it all happens at this really laboured rate, which I personally find rather irritating

Of course, all this only holds if you’re playing by yourself. Def Jam Icon, in my opinion, is the perfect two-player game. The taunts and the throws all work provided you have an opponent swearing at his controller, something to the lovely tune of “take that, bitch!” However, like I said, this is not a review. What I’m trying to attempt here is a story-arc for, hopefully, a new title, one that combines fact with fiction. I’m talking about the most celebrated gangsta rap feud ever. I’m talking about creating a game that revolves around the poster boys of the entire Eastside-Westside conflict, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

I’m talking about… Def Jam: The History!

The story of once-friends-turned-deadly-foes has all the elements of a perfect Hollywood blockbuster/ bestseller videogame title. In fact, the only reason there isn’t one yet is because there are too many conflicting stories concerning the deaths of both artistes. After a wave of dissing between the two through a lot of their rap songs, things with the estranged duo took a lethal turn when a bunch of guys from Westside decided to beat up on an Eastside hommie, who had dared to enter a Westside bar. Which is when Biggie and his crew decided it was time to take out Shakur, the brains behind the Westside brawn. This is one story and then there’s another theory which suggests that Biggie had nothing to do with the murder and it was actually Suge Knight, Tupac’s long-time business associate, who did him in over professional issues. However you choose to look at it, you have a great plot for a game right here. As the player, we get to choose which side we align our loyalties with. So, if you join the Westside gang, you play with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre as your allies and if you’re rappin’ with the Eastside crew, you get P.Diddy and Jay-Z as your brudda’s from da hood. You go through the game building yourself up as the biggest rapper, belting out some whacked out rhymes (drop that beat for me home boy!) and adding to your street cred with gang wars in a variety of settings. You and the boys fight to classic rap, back in the day when rap actually meant something and wasn’t just “titties-ass-ass-titties”.

Imagine pounding P. Diddy to a messy pulp while you have tracks like “Hit ‘Em Up” playing in the background (which, incidentally, is the song where Tupac declares he slept with Biggie’s wife…ouch).

Towards the end, depending on your affiliation, you ensure your star is alive and cussing. In real life, Tupac was killed before Biggie, however, a conspiracy theory (yes, another one) says that Tupac never died. Instead he went into hiding, recording songs under the alias Makavelli and organised the hit on Biggie. So, in the game if you’re Biggie, you can kill Tupac and be done with it and if you’re Tupac, you fake your death, come back and take revenge. Either way, all loose ends have been tied up and even if they haven’t, well, let’s just say we have fodder for a sequel.

So, now that I have the basic plotline set, I think I’m gonna start working in the details. Now all I need is the support of a multi-million dollar game publishing house and protection from the hood. Anyone know anyone at EA with an affinity for the ghetto lifestyle? Bling love is a plus.