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| | Title:
The Godfather
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
Third-Person Action Adventure
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Publisher:
Electronic Arts
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Developer:
Electronic Arts
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Release:
09/19/2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Mature (M)
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I remember the first time I saw the Godfather. I also remember the second and third time I saw that movie. The remarkable thing about Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece is that no matter how often you view the movie, each time is almost like seeing it for the first time. The dialogue, the acting, the suspense, the effects, the pace, and the cinematography were all spot on for the gangster film. So as a film goer and gamer, one might have some fairly high expectations for this project by EA. Especially considering that the biggest game publisher announced that they would be taking on the task of designing a game based on one of the most revered movies in the industry.
An almost all-star cast
The Godfather is set in the same universe as the original movie of the same name and even includes some of the same cast of characters. Over twenty of the original voice actors from the first Godfather movie make a return for the characters in this game. With the exception of Al Pacino and Robert Dinero, you can expect the likes of Robert Duvall, James Caan, and even the professional likeness of the late and legendary Marlon Brando, to have their voices portrayed in the game as their respective film counter-parts.
The story in The Godfather takes place over the span of ten years, from 1945 to 1955. The character you play is a recently recruited goon for the Corleone family. In a neat twist that more games should offer, EA allows the player full customization of the protagonist face, hair, skin tone, bone structure and body before the game starts. So you can edit, distort and change the appearance of the gangster all to your liking in a similar fashion to the Sims 2. However, you can’t just create any kind of gangster; the boundaries are set along the likenesses of the Italians of the 1940's. The main character, no matter how you make him look, will also age throughout the game as the years pass by...it’s like when the Sims meet the Mafia.
Keeping it real
Mr. Coppola wasn’t thrilled to find out that EA was making a game based on a movie he directed with astounding success. In fact, Francis Coppola verbally renounced any dealings with the game’s production. As he felt the game itself was just a ploy to use the Godfather’s theme to "shoot" people. I couldn’t say I disagree with him, so far. As the game seems a bit like a slightly more refined and story-driven remake of Rockstar’s Mafia. This isn’t a bad thing, though. We don’t get gangster games often. So if EA feels that it can reach a broader audience by marketing the game by using a revered movie license, then more power to them.
From what I’ve seen, though, the game has heavy elements of cinematic structure focusing around the gameplay. The voice acting of course is superb, and the directing is far from amateurish. I’m still curious though, how some of the story will tie-in with the open-ended gameplay elements. As it stands players will have freedom and choices in the execution of each mission. However, like the movie, some story elements cannot be changed...like when Sonny gets murdered in his car. In this way players can only interact with, or change, the story surrounding characters who didn’t have definite outcomes in the movie.
For the player, though, there are three different endings entirely decided by the “behavior” of the character you play. In a stunning turn of events EA has actually shunned away from the common “wholesome” violence we’re used to from their titles. They’ve actually taken on a darker outlook for The Godfather. Like in recent uber-violent games, players can inflict violence and torturous method of intimidation to extract information from certain NPCs. And either Electronic Arts feel they really, REALLY want to capture the intensity and drama from the movie, or they just took the playbook-of-violence right out of Take-Two Interactive’s hands.
Either way, the game allows players the freedom to use whatever method they deem feasible. You don’t have to be violent; it’s just an option. You don’t have to be nice either; it’s also just an option. However, everything you do has a consequence for better or for worse. If you decide to be friendly and respectful to the neighborhood shopkeepers, you might expect them to share their wealth more free-heartedly. If you decide to beat them up, shoot them in the knee-cap, and bust their heads up with a bat, then you might have to watch your own back more often than not. Sometimes you don’t even have to hit someone to get a point across: Damaging the goods of a shop-owner, busting out windows, or wreaking property can also be used as a convincing tool for cooperation. It’s really cool, though, because everything you do to NPCs, is something they’ll remember, for better or for worse.
Sluggers and hitters
Watching some of the fight scenes in this game might make one think that they’re watching something from out of The Warriors. The hits, punches, kicks, and trauma-inducing blows are very versatile, and as you can guess, extremely brutal. You can use the fighting tactics in several ways, including self-defense or, as mentioned before, a means of interrogation. Sure you could walk down the street and plug everyone you come across with a punch to the face, but that would surely get you the unwanted attention of the cops. Players can also use grab moves to pound away at a foe repeatedly, or enforce a means of torture in a variety of ways. You can even combo your violent tactics for some real damage: Such as head-butting someone, choking them, and then pushing them into a nearby furnace to watch them burn.
As of course, since this is a gangster game, players also have a multitude of classic gangster moves and fighting tactics. You can straight-out strangle people, either to kill them or make them squeal information. Gut punches, left hooks, and knee smashes are also present. One of the more violent gangster tactics would have to be the grab maneuver that allows you to hold your foe and put a gun to their head. As one might imagine, that last tactic is executed with blood-spattering results. This game isn’t rated ‘M’ for no reason.
The classics
Alongside fisticuffs, baseball bats, pipes, and other assorted melee and close-range weapons, The Godfather also gives players the classic weapons from that era. From the six-chambered revolvers, pistols and shotguns, to the heavy hitting Thompson .45, players will be given the whole kit-in-caboodle of classic gangster weaponry.
EA also gave players the option of not only taking aim and shooting at anyone, but also gave players the ability to target specific body parts. As mentioned earlier, you can shoot people in the knee-cap to slow them, or shoot them in the arm to try to incapacitate them, without killing them. Occasionally you may have to rescue someone being used as a human shield...so a shoulder or leg shot to the perpetrator would be ideal. Of course there’s the instant-kill head-shot, but it won’t be easy trying to get one of those if you have to chase someone on foot.
However, you won’t be doing all your shooting on-foot. Like Mafia, The Godfather allows you to passenger several people into a car and drive around town. The physics look surprisingly accurate, if not too similar to Mafia’s. You can also hang out of the window and shoot at on-coming traffic, or take aim at pursuing villains. Unlike Mafia, though, EA gave the cars a much more accurate representation of their physical fortitude for taking heavy damage. These behemoth vehicles won’t go down in a couple of hits, so its best to aim for the driver or the tires.
Of course, each vehicle will have varying driving mechanics according to its real-life counter-part. From the classic Fords to the hard-topped Oldsmobiles, The Godfather has the classic cars covered in as close to realistic fashion as possible. When the cars scrap and grind against one another you see the full effect of metal on metal, with sparks flying and tires squealing. The driving sequences look good in this game and seem to meld well into the atmosphere of the action and story.
Brooklyn New Jersey never looked so good
Amidst the violence, chaos, and aim for respect, players will be treated to a drop-dead gorgeous view of some well-rendered environments. The EA team not only spent a great deal of time capturing the likenesses of real-life landmarks, but they actually took the time out to include structures and buildings accurate to the atmosphere of Mario Puzo’s creation. From the street corner vendors to the local butcher shop, this game captures everything from the high-rises, train-yards and restaurants, to the gritty corner alleys, and back-lots of the urban ghetto. No matter what people have to say about the content, story direction, or violence present within the game, no one can contend with the amount of graphical detail and ambient effect that EA put into the game.
Is it really an offer you can’t refuse?
Some might surmise this as another GTA clone, or an excuse for EA to one-up Rockstar. Despite the surrounding thoughts of this game, it at least appears to capture the environments, characters and over-all grittiness with sparkling detail. The weapons, fighting, and vehicles are also something to look forward to. While there isn’t any multiplayer support, the game’s open-ended environments and free-will gameplay ethics might make due for some adequate replay values. The Godfather will be available for the PS2, PC, Xbox and Xbox 360 and be sure to look for it to hit shelves on March 21, 2006.
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