The sequel to the critically-acclaimed Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam: Fight for NY promises to be everything the original was and a whole lot more. Developed by Aki, creators of such classic beat-em-ups as WWF Wrestlemania 2000 and WWF No Mercy, Fight for NY is essentially a wrestling game in hip-hop clothing. Like Vendetta, it features rappers from the Def Jam record label battling through urban arenas ranging from strip clubs to junkyards. Its soundtrack is packed with contemporary hip-hop hits and old school classics, so both hip-hop heads and wrestling junkies will find something to like.

Fight for NY employs a grappling-based control scheme that emphasizes the stringing together of combinations of "Weak" and "Strong" moves. Its engine has been overhauled and expanded, however. There are now five different fighting styles to choose from: Martial Arts, Street Fighting, Wrestling, Kickboxing, and Submission. These will definitely come in handy when

using the Create-A-Street Fighter mode, a new and welcome addition to the series. You'll be able to build your own thug from scratch, outfitting him or her with tattoos, officially licensed gear (Phat Farm anyone?), and all the bling they can handle.

Those aren't the only areas of the game that have been expanded. There are now more

rappers/celebrities (40, up from 12) and total characters (65+, up from 44) than ever before. Method Man, Ludacris, Lil' Kim, Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, Flava Flav, Ice-T, and even Carmen Electra - they're all included and ready to rumble. The number of fighting arenas has almost doubled, up to 22 compared to Vendetta's 12. Environments are now more interactive than ever before; weapons can be picked up and used to your advantage, and the crowd can grab fighters from behind to set them up for a sucker-punch. These really are the mean streets.

Def Jam: Fight for NY looks to be everything a sequel should be: bigger, better, and badder. Electronic Arts claims that it's three times the length of Def Jam Vendetta, so you'd better be in it for the long haul.

From all indications, Fight for NY will continue the tradition of excellent wrestling games that Aki has been creating for over a decade. You can own the style, you can own the jewels, you can own the clothes, but the question is...can you own the streets?