Tips for an Icon Fighter

Def Jam: ICON™ is a departure from fighting games, including previous entries in the Def Jam series, as it provides a unique set of mechanics, and a beat-based fighting system. A fresh approach is required to master this rhythm-based fighter, so here are some basic tips to help you get started.

Now tag him with a grapple.

High and Low
Keep your opponent off balance by mixing up high and low attacks and alternating strong and light ones. Attacking with a slower, deliberate, high attack will force your opponent's hands up, exposing another area for attack.

Guarded Throw
Attempting a throw can be touch and go, but success is more likely if you watch closely for your opportunity. Wait for your opponent to put up his guard, or force him to raise it by attacking, and immediately tap on the right stick to grab them.

Throw Defense
When facing an opponent looking to throw you at every opportunity, use quick punches and kicks to thwart them. The grappling animation is slow, if you look for it, you should be able to see it coming, and react with a quick shot to interrupt it. If your opponent does get a hand on you, immediately circle the right stick to try and break free.

Scratch away to trigger environmental hazards.

Scratching and the Environment
Your standard light and strong attacks, and even your advanced moves and grapples are all only preamble to environmental damage. Whether it's the speakers in the club blasting your opponent across the screen, the exploding gas tanks at the gas station igniting, or any number of other level-specific environmental hazards, you should always be working towards using these hazards against your enemy.

Specifically, use throws and advanced moves to knock an opponent into a danger zone. Once you do, don't wait for the song to cause the attack, but instead use the DJ controls by holding down the left trigger and moving the right stick, to trigger explosive elements in the environment.

Combo Attacks
The light and strong attacks can wear your enemy down, but their primary use should be to set up combinations where you can unleash an advanced move. Use light and heavy low attacks, wait a beat, and then unleash an advanced move with the right stick. If you can build up a five or six hit combo before you finish it with an advanced move, you will do a lot of damage, and you will throw your opponent across the screen.

Time to break out an unblockable advanced move.

Brawl to Your Own Beat
Before every fight you select your own signature song, and this isn't just a matter of listening to a song you like. When your song plays, you get a boost in both speed and strength. When your song isn't playing, and especially when your opponent's song is playing, always take the opportunity to switch it back using your DJ skills.

Keep in mind that using the DJ controls to switch the song requires that you have a few seconds without being interrupted. Wait until you toss your opponent across the stage, or until you hit them with a massive environmental attack before attempting to switch up the track.

Style Decisions
Throughout the Build a Label career, you can unlock several different fighting styles, which are all available standard in the multiplayer game. Each style offers a different series of strengths and weaknesses, and each can prove a boon or a hazard depending on your playing style.

For example, Muay Fly has very strong countering abilities, but it leaves you vulnerable to grapples. This is inconvenient if you like to stay up close and force the issue with your opponent with lots of small, quick attacks. There is a full breakdown of each style's strength and weaknesses in the ICON manual.

Article by Ryan Treit