Icon claims the ground where beat-down and beat-box meet.

Once you get by the inexplicably minimalist interface and start knocking out
teeth, Def Jam Icon flashes you some of the snazziest next generation graphics
you’ve ever seen. From the convincing fiery explosions of a gas station/car
wash combo, to the teeth-shattering electrical effects of an L.A. rooftop’s
broken circuit box, Def Jam Icon is simply the most beautiful brawler ever to
hit the pavement. But as pretty as the game is, and as great as the soundtrack
might be, the game’s real draw lies in the eight amazingly detailed rumble locations.

Block Rockin’ Beats
The fact that there are only eight locales becomes a drag on the longevity of
the game, as each only boasts so many secrets to uncover, but the game keeps
things from growing stale by changing up the color schemes, lighting conditions,
and even exposure levels based on what song is playing and how close to defeat
the participants are.

While the background of each urban arena throbs like some huge equalizer, with
erratically scrolling clouds and flickering office building lights, the foreground
is loaded with environmental hazards whether you’re kicking it in an after-hours
club, or soaking up a slice of the ATL hood. High-kicking pole dancers, low-flying
helicopters and powerful amplifier stacks are just some of the many environmental
hazards that conspire to leave you broken and breathless.

Each seemingly sentient bit of scenery moves to the beat of whatever tune is
playing. When the "big beat" comes every four measures or so, you’ll
want to watch where you’re standing so you don’t take a piano lid to the face,
or get knocked across the screen by a donut-peeling hoopty.

Street Level
Unfortunately, the innovative environments can’t completely hide the kiddy-pool
depth of the fighting system. There are six unique fighting styles unlockable
over the course of the eight hour "Build a Label" story mode, ranging
from the straightforward knuckle-dusting of Ghetto Blaster to the Capoeira-inspired
dance kicks of Jah Breaka, but every fight still follows a predictable pattern
of behavior: punch, punch, grab, throw, scratch, repeat.

The developers also got distracted by pointless dress-up wardrobes and bling
collection silliness, a half-baked conspiracy storyline that’d give Oliver Stone
the giggles, and an incredibly shallow record label simulation. All this superfluous
junk evaporates entirely in the last quarter of the game, as if it dawned on
the developers just how disposable it all was.

Despite its misfires and specious distractions, Def Jam Icon is still a whole
lot of fun, thanks mainly to the reactive nature of its environments, the killer
integration of its music, and the overwhelming beauty of its presentation. It
may be what’s on the inside that counts in the long run, but Def Jam Icon proves
that a slick surface can still make up for a hell of a lot.

PROS: Stunning graphics, environment and soundtrack.

CONS: Shallow fighting system.

Review from: IGN.com