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 is 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 (PC/PS2/Xbox) Coresoft (PS)
Publisher(s)	Gotham Games
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release	NA: October 15, 2003[1] NA: October 21, 2003 (PS) EU: October 31, 2003
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's monster (Unlockable)
• Gladiator Nick Diamond (Unlockable)
• Jerry Springer
• Marilyn Manson
• Mr. T
• Miss Cleo
• Mummy (Unlockable)
• NSYNC - Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, and Lance Bass
• Ron Jeremy
• Shannen Doherty
• Tommy Lee
• Wizard Johnny Gomez (Unlockable)
• Wolfman (Unlockable)
• Zatar 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

Reception

Aggregate scores

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]

Review scores

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]