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The Game You Cannot Refuse

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 29 / 39
Date: March 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was one of 10 people from around the world (one flew in from Naples!) invited to Electronic Arts in San Francisco to preview the game, meet and talk with the game developers, and take a tour of EA's main campus.

I'm not much of gamer in general. The last console I owned was a Sega, ok? So, I nervously (yet also curiously) sat down with this game to give it a shot.

Wow. First off, the graphics were great! (Personally, I think the X-BOX version looked a little better than the PS2 version, but both were really nice. However, the PC version of course blew them both away). There was no "official confirmation" -- nor denial -- of a 360 version in the works, but I have a feeling they're working on that for a later release. Incidentally, they're also going to release a special edition which will include a DVD with special features (making-of) for the console versions.

Anyway, back to the game itself: I played mostly on the PS2 version, and have always had trouble with all those buttons. That's just me, of course. But I tell you, I had fewer problems with this game than most others I've tried -- the "Black Hand" controls were quite intuitive for once, and it never felt like I had to fumble around to find the right button.

What's unique -- and wonderful!! -- about this game is that you are NOT Vito or Michael or Sonny or anyone like that, but you are you -- your own character (that you can even create to look however you want to the most minor detail) interacting with the characters from the movie. You start out as a lowly hood and work your way up the ranks by first strong-arming shop keepers for protection money, bribing cops, and going on specific missions set forth by Clemenza or other characters. What is REALLY cool is that you can be doing your thing and at any moment, a major scene from the movie will happen, say, outside the window!

For instance, while in a shop muscling the shopkeeper, outside I saw Don Vito get shot, and my new mission was then to kill the would-be assassins before escorting the ambulance to the hospital! And what's great is, events such as these happen pretty much chronologically, and pretty true to the story -- the movie and surprisingly also the book itself.

One of my favorite features was walking down the street, and hearing passers-by having conversations! Very much like real life.

The idea of the game, of course, is to move up in rank in the Corleone family by earning money and respect. As you progress, you'll be taking control of neighborhoods and the compounds themselves of the Barzini's, Tattaglia's, Stracci's and Cuneo's (the other 4 of the 5 Families). Your ultimate goal is to be The Don of NY/NJ controlling everything.

Some of Marlon Brando's dialogue was used I was told, but they got a terrific voice actor to record bits they needed afterwards. Of course, Caan, Duvall, and Vigoda lent their voices as well, and I was told that they had a terrific time doing it! (We saw some footage of them, which will be on the bonus DVD of the special edition).

All in all, I was VERY impressed with this effort from EA! And even tho I'm not much of a gamer, this is definitely one that I will spend some time with!

I think all Godfather fans (not just gamers) will love to check this out!

This game is GTA on steroids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: March 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I stopped over at a friend's house the day that this game came out after he had bought it, not expecting that I would be driving out to Wal-Mart that very night to get a copy for myself.

As soon as the game started, it was obvious that The Godfather was not going to be an average game. The "Mobface" feature in the beginning of the game that allows you to create and customize your own character is truly revolutionary. Any game that allows you to change any physical feature about your character down to the width of the bridge of their nose and if they have smile lines or not is just insane.

About 56 minutes later, we had finally gotten our character just the way we wanted. I was already sure I was going to have to go out and get it for myself, and we hadn't even played it yet.

So what's it like? The interface is indeed very much like the Grand Theft Auto series, set in an uber-cool Mafia setting. Yet it's what you can do with that interface that makes The Godfather entirely separate from any GTA game. First of all, the controls are very ingeniously thought out and easy to learn. Instead of hitting any one button to punch and hit enemies (which you'll be doing a lot of initially), you simply target them with L1 and then move the right analog stick to hit them again and again as many times as you need to. You can even duck and dodge around simply by moving the analog sticks.

A main component to this game that really got me hooked once we were in gameplay was the business extortion. They give you a map and say, basically, "The family needs to take back Little Italy and get some money." Take your pick of which businesses you want to target, in what order, from what family, what technique you'll use to intimidate the business owner, etc. It's frustrating when you get tough business owners who aren't easily flustered - you can beat them up to a point to scare them, but you might end up killing them before their compliance meter passes the critical level. Likewise, if you push them too far, the meter will enter a "red zone" that is different for each character and causes them to fight back. Good luck getting a deal. I remember feeling more than a little bit irritated that I accidentally pummeled to death the person I needed to hand me the keys, essentially. After you leave the business, it closes for a while due to a "death in the family", but I believe it opens again after a while.

Once you get into the gameplay, you'll know what I mean. And there are just some things that you are not gonna find on GTA that make this game sweet and had us erupting into incredulous laughter on more than one occasion. Feel free to check out the "Execution Styles" checklist on one of the pause menus. As you kill people in various ways, the game will check off the methods on your list. Some of them are so obscurely named (let your imagination run wild with whatever a "Stained Glass Execution" is) that it's going to be interesting to try and find out how to achieve that method of execution.

Taking all these great features and putting it into a setting as dynamic as The Godfather is just over the top and more than I could ever express in words in this review. There's so many more features I haven't even touched base on - taking over racketeering businesses, attacking supply trucks and warehouses, going out on contract hits. If there's anything this game is not, it's definitely not a GTA knockoff. The Godfather makes GTA ripoffs look like virtual cricket matches.

The Godfather made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and you won't be able to either.

Make me an offer...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: April 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

So often, adults are straddled with playing kiddie games on their gaming systems, that are no more mentally challenging or fun than playing Old Maid with an eight year old girl. Maybe with the "Godfather" coming out on PS2, this trend is starting to change; the Godfather on PS2 is truly an adult game.

Working seemlessly with the plot of the Godfather movie, you start a lowly child, rescued from obscurity by a compassion Don Corleone. He raises you, and desires that you become a member of his family. Thus starts your training, under the watchful eye of Clemenza himself. The training time is quick, easy, and soon, you're off to extort businesses, plant bombs, steal cars, rob banks, and murder all you want. In short, for this law-abiding citizen, it's criminal bliss!

The creators of the game worked very hard to honor the originial, while adding layers within the story that works in congruence with the movie. New characters are introduced, and they might as well have come from Mario Puzo's pen itself. The look of the game is seemless. Details such as the birds in the New Jersey park flying in streaming patterns, the foul language, the look of each different neighborhood, all adds authenticity to the gaming experience.

Another added feature I enjoyed is not always being controlled by the story to go places. If you want, you may delay going to the next part of the story and start extorting more businesses to rack up that dough, woo a few women in the brothels, bribe policemen, or rob banks. This added sense of decision making allows you to feel your in control of the game.

And isn't that the main purpose of the game, control? As you work your way up to being the Don, the journey is frought with much peril, negotiation, and explosions So get your cotton ready, stuff it in your cheeks, perform your best Marlon Brando impression, for the Godfather is on your way to your living room!

Wow, The Standard for Video Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is one of the greatest PS2 games I have ever played. There is so, so, so much to do, from extorting, to payoffs, to missions, side missions, it's all too much. Anyone who is into Mafia movies or games, this is the game for you. The graphics are great, it's an open-ended environment, but yet it still follows the movie closely. I bought the strategy guide, I recommend this.

The only thing that annoys me about the game is how much there IS to do. It can be overwhelming at times. Often times there are many objective you need to complete at once. Like I mentioned, the strategy guide is like a novel. One could spend hundreds and hundreds of hours trying to discover everything about the game. Also, you die too easily and the fighting system takes a while to learn.

In closing, if you like the GTA games and you like the Mafia, then you will absolutely LOVE this game, no exceptions. Great, great, game that will completely engulf you. NYC and the surrounding boroughs are exact replicas. The midtown tunnell, the manhatten bridge, it's all there for the taking. ENJOY!

GODFATHER OF GAMES

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: March 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The Godfather was one of the best mob games I ever played. It's better then the first mafia game that came out.Marlon Brando is brought back to life. This game is a must have for all Godfather fans. Great stuff Buen Appetito!

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Thats exactly what Ea games did when the introduce The Godfather to the video game world. One of the 10 best games I have ever played. I could not put this game down it was so good. I remeber when I first saw The Godfather movie back when I was a teenager I did not like it. Because of this game I gave the movie a second chance. Boy was I wrong about the movie. The Godfather movie has become one of my favorite movies of all time now. Go out and buy the game and the movie. You will not be disappointed

The Corleone Family wants to buy YOU out

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game reminds me alot of the Grand Theft Auto series. While it has many similar characteristics in the way you get around town, go into buildings, and the way you interact with the environment it still manages to offer a few original and interesting components to the gaming industry. This game has a great storyline that fans will likely enjoy. Even if you weren't a fan of the movie this game is still a must. Like GTA there are a few side missions (not as massive as GTA though), there are collectibles, and then you have main missions along the way. While the object of the game is to take over New York, some of the warehouses and businesses can get repetitive, but its mostly all fun. One plus is the police in this game tend to be less of a hassle unlike the GTA games. This lets you keep playing rather than having to stop and restart at a safehouse or in the police station. This helps speed up the game. The controlls take time to get used to but after you play for a little while you are good to go. If you like the GTA format style of play you will certainly like this. Also if you like the Godfather, the storyline to the game is great and really stays true to the movie. While its not the best game of the year it will certainly do until a new GTA comes out. It took me about 2 weeks to finish the game playing a few hourse each night. I hope they can come up with Godfather 2. We will see...

Very good game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: January 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

All of you people are saying "Oh its too repetitive!" well its awesome because just go into places and start beating people! like a bar or or something for example i got Don of NYC, and that makes it fun because you have unlimited ammo. so just go around and shoot people. once i was on a corner street and i owned the bar. i took like 50 cars and trucks. i got cops to come and i killed them. and then i got a bunch by the road block and i threw a bomb. HUGE explosion! killed so mony people. then i have like a lot of cops after me the only place i could go to was my safehouse. so i went.(almost died though.) or those buissneses which have an upstairs and have windows. shoot out the windows. start killing people like youre a sniper. then go downstairs and sart killing cops. so its repetitive, but you can make your own fun!

The Best game I have ever played.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I had been anticipating this game for approximately a year, bought it on the second day possible, and since then the game has blown me away!
It presents so many unique options never before explored in any other game,the only downside is trying to decide on which option is best for you. This game makes me think grand theft what? Anybody who believes is a knockoff of any other game has got it all wrong, this is what every other game strived to be but failed.

Finally! It Came Out. It's Worth the Wait Too

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game was shown in Official Playstation Magazine in May of 2005. Evidently it's been in the works for quite a while. They actually had Marlon Brando play the Godfather before he died On July 2nd 2004. All the other guys are here doing the voices. Including Robert Duvall, James Caan. But no Al Pacino as Micheal Corleone. Electronic Arts did a top notch performance with all departments. They have the greatest feel to the opened ended environments. Grand Theft Auto is still good. But you can do anything in this game. Plan a Bank Heist whenever you want. Just make sure you have dynamite. Your rival families will do anything just to ruin you. If you get their revenge level way up you start a mob war. You can win these mob wars by bribing an FBI agent or blowing up one of their shops. If you die, you loese. You can also extort businesses, buy out rackets and move up in the ranks of crime. The goal is to become the Don of NYC. Your missions range from whackings to cutting off the keeping watch while your partner cuts off the horses head. You also have contract hits to pull off, buy all twenty four safehouses, and collecting all one hundred film reels which seems like their answer to GTA's Hidden Packages.

The grapics are awesome in this game. They certainly beat out Mafia's. You create your own character in the beginning giving you a variety of suits and vests. You got to dress the part right to become the don. Gameplay is likewise. Awesome missions and it never gets redundant. Controls are beautifully done. The combat system is somewhat similar to Jet Li's Rise to Honor only improved. On the PS2 you press down L1 and pull the right analog stick and whack your enemy. Guns are easier than Rise to Honor. You press up on the D-Pad and R1 to shoot.

Awesome game, really. Top notch everything. Really Exciting. We have Dirty Harry, Scarface, and Reservoir Dogs. Now... I got to ask the question. Where is my Goodfellas and Casino video game?

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