Video Game Buzz - Marc Ecko's Getting Up

Marc Ecko's Getting Up Video Game
Format: Playstation 2

Review by Bobby Nashville

Video games continue to look more and more like movies. The stories, the visuals, the camera movements - it's clear that video games are becoming more immersive and more cinematic. Marc Ecko's Getting Up is the latest in this trend and for fans of interactive entertainment, it's a sure bet.

The story behind Getting Up seems influenced by the legendary hip hop film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn. In fact, the game utilizes music from the Wild Style soundtrack. In the game, you are a graffiti writer that uses the art form to dave a neighborhood from an opressive government. The voice of Trane (the main character) comes from Talib Kweli, a renowned hip hop artist. As you explore the game, you fight rivals, post up your own tags and spread your message throughout the city. The fighting is a new twist to the proven "explore the city" mode that has proven so successful in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Getting Up is an excellent video game that is a hell of a lot of fun. The visuals are devent, the soundtrack is off the hook and the game play is solid. Kudos to Marc Ecko for a solid hip hop based video game.