Celebrity Deathmatch (video game)
Celebrity Deathmatch is a professional wrestling video game by American studio Big Ape Productions, based on the MTV series of the same name. It was available for PlayStation, as well as Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game features celebrities and movie monsters as playable characters.
Celebrity Deathmatch | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Big Ape Productions Coresoft (PS) |
Publisher(s) | Gotham Games |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
In the game, the player needs to hit their opponent several times until the opponent's life meter flashes red, at which point text will show the word Kill!. The winning player then needs to fill up the MTV meter to full. In order to make the happen faster, players can taunt the audience. When in the proper momentum, the player can finish the opponent off by performing their special moves.
Within the match, several boxes containing various power-ups and weapons can be picked up by the players.
Playable characters
The following characters are playable in the game:
- Anna Nicole Smith
- Busta Rhymes
- Carmen Electra
- Carrot Top
- Cindy Margolis
- Cousin Grimm (Unlockable)
- Dennis Rodman
- Frankenstein (Unlockable)
- Gladiator Nick Diamond (Unlockable)
- Jerry Springer
- Marilyn Manson
- Mr. T
- Miss Cleo
- The Mummy (Unlockable)
- *NSYNC - Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, and Lance Bass
- Ron Jeremy
- Shannen Doherty
- Tommy Lee
- Wizard Johnny Gomez (Unlockable)
- The Wolfman (Unlockable)
- Zartax the Alien (Unlockable)
Development
Celebrity Deathmatch was originally scheduled to be available for the Gamecube as well. However shortly prior to release, its publisher Gotham Games quietly cancelled this version. A source close to development cited "programming issues" as the reason behind the decision.[2]
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
PC | PS | PS2 | Xbox | |
GameRankings | 27%[3] | 20%[4] | 37%[5] | 36%[6] |
Metacritic | 30/100[7] | N/A | 32/100[8] | 36/100[9] |
Publication | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
PC | PS | PS2 | Xbox | |
1Up.com | N/A | N/A | F[10] | F[10] |
Computer Gaming World | [11] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Game Informer | N/A | N/A | 2.75/10[12] | 2.75/10[13] |
GameRevolution | N/A | N/A | D−[14] | D−[14] |
GameSpot | 2.8/10[15] | N/A | 2.8/10[15] | 2.8/10[15] |
GameSpy | N/A | N/A | [16] | [17] |
GameZone | 4.5/10[18] | N/A | 5.5/10[19] | 5.7/10[20] |
IGN | 5/10[21] | N/A | 4/10[22] | 5/10[23] |
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | N/A | [24] | [25] | N/A |
Official Xbox Magazine (US) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3/10[26] |
PC Gamer (US) | 17%[27] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8][9][7]
In his review for GameSpot, Alex Navarro called the gameplay "absolutely horrid" and criticised the "complete lack of any worthwhile features". He also was critical of the lack of different modes.[15] In a scathing review of the PS2 version, Gamespy's, Matthew Freeman said that the game "dies a faltering and unfunny death" adding that the fighting system was "unresponsive, illogical, and incredibly easy anyway". He also complained about the AI that he called "idiotic, unfocused, and hapless."[16]
Tom Edwards for Computer Gaming World, reviewing the PC version, opined that the game would have been more bearable if the included celebrities were characters "for whom you have actual dislike rather than disinterest".[11]
References
- Burnes, Andrew (2003-10-15). "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch Ships". IGN. Archived from the original on 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- "GameCube Celebrity Deathmatch killed off". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PlayStation". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for Xbox". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch Critic Reviews for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch Critic Reviews for Xbox". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2016-01-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- 1UP Staff (2003-11-06). "Celebrity Deathmatch (PS2, Xbox)". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Edwards, Tom (February 2004). "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 235. p. 77. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
- Leeper, Justin (January 2004). "Celebrity Deathmatch (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 129. p. 135. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "Celebrity Deathmatch (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 129. January 2004. p. 151. Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Gee, Brian (November 2003). "Celebrity Deathmatch Review (PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Navarro, Alex (2003-10-27). "Celebrity Deathmatch Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Freeman, Matthew (2003-11-01). "GameSpy: Celebrity Deathmatch (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Freeman, Matthew (2003-11-01). "GameSpy: Celebrity Deathmatch (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2005-12-26. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Hopper, Steven (2003-10-30). "Celebrity Deathmatch - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Bedigian, Louis (2003-10-23). "Celebrity Deathmatch - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Wrentmore, John (2003-10-27). "Celebrity Deathmatch - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- McNamara, Tom (2003-10-30). "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch Review (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- McNamara, Tom (2003-10-30). "MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch (PS2)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- McNamara, Tom (2003-10-30). "Celebrity Deathmatch (Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "Celebrity Deathmatch (PS)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. January 2004.
- "Celebrity Deathmatch (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. January 2004. p. 125.
- "Celebrity Deathmatch". Official Xbox Magazine. January 2004. p. 79.
- Morris, Dan (January 2004). "MTV Celebrity Deathmatch". PC Gamer: 119. Archived from the original on 2006-03-15. Retrieved 2014-05-15.