The Godfather [Video game review]
Eric Schomburg
March 24, 2006
One of the greatest movies of all time has finally been transformed into a video game, the Godfather.
Unless you have been living under a rock, living under water, or just plain not living; the Godfather is the story of the legacy of Don Vito Corleone [Marlon Brando] and having that legacy passed down to Michael Corleone [Al Pacino]. Now EA Games finally presents the Godfather onto video game consoles.
The video game version of the Godfather is different, sort of. For example, you don’t play the role of Michael Corleone, who is the main character in the entire trilogy. Instead the game pits you as the main character by using what the game calls a “mobface,” or a create a character. In case you have no clue what this means, it means with enough time and a little patience you can actually create a video game version of YOU and have a video game version of Sonny Corleone [James Caan], Tom Hagen [Robert Duvall], Don Corleone [Marlon Brando], and even Salvatore Tessio [Abe Vigoda] interact with you. This is the one key element in the game that will send chills down your spine.
However, before you think that this is great, there is a minor setback as far as the voices of the characters. Sadly, Al Pacino is NOT in the game. There really is no reason why. Rumors say that he just flat out refused, others say that he was working on the upcoming “Scarface” video game and couldn’t do both games at the same time. It’s just a minor setback and really doesn’t take anything away from the game, because if you heard Al Pacino’s voice in his latest movie and Al Pacino when he was in the Godfather then you realize that his voice would have been completely different.
After you create yourself in the game it leads into the story in which you start out as an “outsider” and do a little job here and there until your ranking rises and then more opportunities come.
In case you’re wondering the game is a lot like Grand Theft Auto, sort of. Just like GTA your character can roam through the city of New York and a part of New Jersey. It’s awing to see pedestrians dressed during the 1940's and 50's, vehicles designed in the 1940's and 50's, and jargon spoken in the 1940's and 50's.
The game play is fantastic as you go through one mission to another; however, there is more to do then that. You can also take over warehouses, businesses, even have a “hit list” in which you assassinate your enemies.
The one aspect that I love more about this game is the punch system. The punch system is a lot like Manhunt’s kill system combined with Fight Night’s punch system. You can grab anyone you want by the shirt and literally punch the hell out of them. Depending on how much force you use on your joystick the harder the punch. For example, if you just click really fast on the analog stick you may do some combinations; however, if you hold down the analog stick and push forward you’ll hit the person with a massive punch so hard that you will see blood spill out of whoever’s mouth.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Florida lawyers have a tirade over this game, because while you can beat up anyone, you can pretty much torture and execute women also. Why did I bring this point up? Because I want to be the first one to have someone skim through my column and only read what they want to read and not read the whole column. It seems like people have been doing that lately; therefore, if you see someone complain about how this game suggests that abusing women is okay then you’ll know they skimmed through my column. Am I suggesting the abuse of women, no, but it seems that people read only into what they want to read and ignore the rest. Kind of like when someone writes about their personal opinion and people think you’re writing about facts. Learn to read the whole thing, jackasses!
Okay, back to the Godfather.
The majority of the missions literally put you into the game. For example, YOU are the guy that has to deliver the horse’s head up to the director’s bed without waking him or alarming the guards. You are also the guy that has to drive Michael to the airport after he shoots the men that were responsible for Don Corleone’s shooting. Pretty cool, huh? You may never watch the movie the same way again.
Now, let’s get on with the bad news of the game. The game isn’t perfect, the punching system gets irritating at times and if you’re in a jam full of another family’s cronies then it really gets irritating. However, once you have the learning curve down pat it’s quite fun.
Another bad aspect about the game is, the city can be quite dull. At least in GTA you had some funny signs and unique building structures. In the Godfather only a handful of buildings really standout, but other than that everything else looks the same.
In conclusion, the Godfather game is a great game to play. It’s addicting, fun, uplifting, and quite frankly a little shocking. It still baffles me that Don Corleone patted my character on the face and said, “welcome to the family.” Sends chills down your spine.
Despite these negative issues, the game is still a kick ass game especially since the game is ten dollars cheaper than your usual video game. With voice overs, awe-inspiring graphics, a great story, and plenty of violence, blood, and suggestive themes that make the Godfather a sophistication of the macabre, this is one game that makes you an offer you can’t refuse.
The Godfather = 8 out of 10
Unless you have been living under a rock, living under water, or just plain not living; the Godfather is the story of the legacy of Don Vito Corleone [Marlon Brando] and having that legacy passed down to Michael Corleone [Al Pacino]. Now EA Games finally presents the Godfather onto video game consoles.
The video game version of the Godfather is different, sort of. For example, you don’t play the role of Michael Corleone, who is the main character in the entire trilogy. Instead the game pits you as the main character by using what the game calls a “mobface,” or a create a character. In case you have no clue what this means, it means with enough time and a little patience you can actually create a video game version of YOU and have a video game version of Sonny Corleone [James Caan], Tom Hagen [Robert Duvall], Don Corleone [Marlon Brando], and even Salvatore Tessio [Abe Vigoda] interact with you. This is the one key element in the game that will send chills down your spine.
However, before you think that this is great, there is a minor setback as far as the voices of the characters. Sadly, Al Pacino is NOT in the game. There really is no reason why. Rumors say that he just flat out refused, others say that he was working on the upcoming “Scarface” video game and couldn’t do both games at the same time. It’s just a minor setback and really doesn’t take anything away from the game, because if you heard Al Pacino’s voice in his latest movie and Al Pacino when he was in the Godfather then you realize that his voice would have been completely different.
After you create yourself in the game it leads into the story in which you start out as an “outsider” and do a little job here and there until your ranking rises and then more opportunities come.
In case you’re wondering the game is a lot like Grand Theft Auto, sort of. Just like GTA your character can roam through the city of New York and a part of New Jersey. It’s awing to see pedestrians dressed during the 1940's and 50's, vehicles designed in the 1940's and 50's, and jargon spoken in the 1940's and 50's.
The game play is fantastic as you go through one mission to another; however, there is more to do then that. You can also take over warehouses, businesses, even have a “hit list” in which you assassinate your enemies.
The one aspect that I love more about this game is the punch system. The punch system is a lot like Manhunt’s kill system combined with Fight Night’s punch system. You can grab anyone you want by the shirt and literally punch the hell out of them. Depending on how much force you use on your joystick the harder the punch. For example, if you just click really fast on the analog stick you may do some combinations; however, if you hold down the analog stick and push forward you’ll hit the person with a massive punch so hard that you will see blood spill out of whoever’s mouth.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Florida lawyers have a tirade over this game, because while you can beat up anyone, you can pretty much torture and execute women also. Why did I bring this point up? Because I want to be the first one to have someone skim through my column and only read what they want to read and not read the whole column. It seems like people have been doing that lately; therefore, if you see someone complain about how this game suggests that abusing women is okay then you’ll know they skimmed through my column. Am I suggesting the abuse of women, no, but it seems that people read only into what they want to read and ignore the rest. Kind of like when someone writes about their personal opinion and people think you’re writing about facts. Learn to read the whole thing, jackasses!
Okay, back to the Godfather.
The majority of the missions literally put you into the game. For example, YOU are the guy that has to deliver the horse’s head up to the director’s bed without waking him or alarming the guards. You are also the guy that has to drive Michael to the airport after he shoots the men that were responsible for Don Corleone’s shooting. Pretty cool, huh? You may never watch the movie the same way again.
Now, let’s get on with the bad news of the game. The game isn’t perfect, the punching system gets irritating at times and if you’re in a jam full of another family’s cronies then it really gets irritating. However, once you have the learning curve down pat it’s quite fun.
Another bad aspect about the game is, the city can be quite dull. At least in GTA you had some funny signs and unique building structures. In the Godfather only a handful of buildings really standout, but other than that everything else looks the same.
In conclusion, the Godfather game is a great game to play. It’s addicting, fun, uplifting, and quite frankly a little shocking. It still baffles me that Don Corleone patted my character on the face and said, “welcome to the family.” Sends chills down your spine.
Despite these negative issues, the game is still a kick ass game especially since the game is ten dollars cheaper than your usual video game. With voice overs, awe-inspiring graphics, a great story, and plenty of violence, blood, and suggestive themes that make the Godfather a sophistication of the macabre, this is one game that makes you an offer you can’t refuse.
The Godfather = 8 out of 10
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