The game's story is a prequel to the events of Def Jam.

The game's story is a prequel to the events of Def Jam.

The game uses many of the same situations and characters from Def Jam NY, which is the third game in the series, chronologically. The player is still a nameless up-and-coming young street fighter brought into the world of underground street fighting after rescuing one of the game's personalities from trouble with the police.

It is tattoo artist Manny who is saved from corrupt police officers. Manny takes the player to gang leader O.G., who becomes his "mentor", who instructs him in how to fight to gain control of (take over) the five boroughs of New York City.

Ultimately, it is revealed that D-Mob was using the player to take over the five boroughs, controlling New York City's underground, and that he was going to leave the player to take the fall, leading the police to his exact whereabouts. After defeating D-Mob in the story's final battle, a one-on-one fight

Character creation is still the same as Def Jam NY. Just like in the original, only male characters can be created. You still create your character using the same type of police sketch-artist system. A new addition is choosing your character's home town from one of the five boroughs of New York City.

The story is no longer told through fully voiced cutscenes. For The Takeover, the story progresses through text and messages received on your character's Sidekick. Featuring many of the same fighting arenas and shops with which to upgrade your character's clothing, jewelry, hair, and fighting moves.