Il padrino

When I saw this game advertised I had to have it. I am a huge fan of all three films, the music and the novels. The way the game is presented, the packaging, the marketing and the hype point to this being the game we Godfather fans have been waiting for, but for me at least this was not the case.

From the outset the game reminds the player of Grand Theft Auto III and later GTA titles. This would not be a bad thing, as they are some of the best selling games of all time, what is a bad thing is that the graphics and the movement (on the PS2 at least) feel more like GTA III than the year old San Andreas.

The story that runs through the game starts well with reenactments of the movie and big star voices matched to well rendered characters. The player missions do not fail to entertain, but if you fail them a few times the game fails to entice you to try again and again in the way that GTA does. The most boring part of the game is the neighbourhood consolidation missions. These are highly repetitive and time consuming.

The controls of the game are also a let down to any fan of the GTA franchise. It would seem that in a move to distance this game from GTA the new 'blackhand' control setup has been created. Trying to learn this new setup after years of GTA play left me frustrated playing the early stages of the game. Worse than this, however, is the driving model. The cars are mindlessly unrealistic in their reaction to the controls and driving in a straight line is as much a challenge as knocking over a tailors. (More likely to accidentally knock it over in a car) Fans of the Coppola and Rota expecting great use of 'that' music will also be disappointed. Yes the themes are used but only when driving, and mixed with what sounds like dodgy 80s synth.

All in all I'd recommend fans of the Godfather to play The Godfather soundtrack whilst playing Mafia to avoid disappointment.

Grand theft auto spawned a whole new generation of free form, sandbox game. From Streets of LA to Mafia. This is EA's take on the subject using The Godfather for limited inspiration.

The game itself is very lacklustre and anyone who has played similar games will immediately see that this is a very poor example of both how to make a game and how to use what is solid gold subject matter. Considering the quality of the original film it seems surprising that this game made it out the door.

The graphics are no better - and in fact worse than Mafia even though this game was released some 3 years ago. In a similar vein the city is a dog to drive around and to make matters worse the cars are some of the worst ever done in a game of this type.

The actual game itself is over far far far too quickly. Whereas similar titles have some 50 to a 100 levels the Godfather gives a meagre 25 and most of these are either small or taken up at the start as tutorial missions. The remainder are usually just generic missions with only a few relating to the film.

Action in the game is equally bothersome. At times it seems as though enemies are either made of wet tissue paper or are full on bullet proof. You will very often find yourself cursing at the screen because a mobster takes 5 magnum hits to the chest and takes you down with one seemingly devastating long range shotgun blast. The only saving grace is the style that you get to execute some finishing moves; with names such as hats off execution or Face-off execution.

All in all this is not worth the time or money. Its just a lazy way for EA to cash in on a game area that they have no expertise in. Rent the game, borrow it or play it at a friends. mafia handles the same subject of 1940's gangsters better and Grand theft auto gives you far more too do and gives you a hell of a lot more fun while you do it.

5/10

The game The Godfather is an exciting epic that takes us into the world of Coppola's iconic film, where every scene comes to life through action. The feeling of nostalgia strikes from the first moments, transporting us into the world of the American Dream and criminal dominance.

The game is designed for true fans of the movie, as it successfully captures the atmosphere and characters. The open world, similar to GTA, carries its own unique charm.

A combination of smooth controls, decent graphics for its time, and engaging gameplay makes The Godfather an impressive discovery for fans of the film and gamers alike.

Visually, the game looks quite impressive for its time. While the graphics might seem somewhat outdated to modern players, at the time of release, they were good enough to convey the atmosphere of 20th-century New York. The city streets, cars, and interiors are all created with attention to detail, which adds to the game's unique charm and allows players to fully immerse themselves in the world of the mafia.

One of the key elements that makes The Godfather so appealing is its open world, which is reminiscent of GTA but with its own distinct personality. Players can explore vast areas, complete various missions-both main and side quests-and interact with numerous NPCs, giving them the feeling of being a true participant in the criminal underworld. The open world adds a level of freedom and variety to the gameplay, allowing players to experience the game in their own way.

The game's plot, while based on the events of the movie, also expands and complements it. Players are given the opportunity not just to watch the story of the Corleone family unfold but to take an active role in it. This creates a sense of immersion, making players feel that their actions influence the course of events. Interactions with iconic characters such as Vito Corleone, Michael, and Sonny add authenticity to the game. Their dialogues and the situations they find themselves in give the impression that you're part of the movie itself.

As for gameplay, The Godfather offers a variety of experiences. Players can engage in shootouts, fistfights, car chases, and missions involving territory takeovers, among other things. The combat system is simple but effective, allowing for easy control and enjoyment of the action. The game mechanics also include the ability to use intimidation or bribery, allowing players to expand their clan's influence through more strategic means. This adds depth to the game and makes it more engaging.

Additionally, the game allows for character customization, enabling players to create their own unique protagonist. This adds a sense of individuality and emphasizes the player's significance in the story. On top of that, character progression allows for skill upgrades, which open up new possibilities in mission execution and world interaction.

However, despite all its advantages, The Godfather is not without its flaws. Some players may find the graphics and animations somewhat outdated. Additionally, certain missions can feel repetitive, which at times may lead to a loss of interest. But these shortcomings do not detract from the game's importance for those who appreciate the atmosphere of the original story.

Overall, The Godfather is a true gem for fans of Coppola's film and lovers of crime-based action games. The game masterfully combines an engaging storyline, authentic atmosphere, iconic characters, and deep gameplay, allowing players to feel like a part of the legendary narrative. If you're a fan of the film or just enjoy open-world games with a criminal theme, The Godfather is a project worth trying out.

I remember playing this game when it was released and it was alright, something that stuck with me was the shake downs and how you could extort stores of their money as a mafioso. Now that I revisited the game 15 years later I must say this game is quite a let down and if it wasn't an adaptation of Mario Puzo's greatest work, you wouldn't give a chance to this game either.

The game follow most events of the films and have you, The Player (aka Aldo Trapani, but I don't recall being called that at all in-game), as a new character seeking revenge over Don Barzini, this vendetta is mentioned in the first mission and the last one, so this personal quest of revenge doesn't seem really revengeful. Also, the Player is put on spots that aren't necessarily shown in the film so, for instance: ever wonder who told the Corleone family about a specific event? The Player was there watching it first hand. How did a character escape after being in enemy territory? The Player lifted that character in their car.

To be honest, most of those moments where The Player was introduced don't seem far-fetched, it is just that The Player end up doing a bunch of things and still he is a low level member in the Mafia.

There are some new additions to the story too, but they are too rushed and you both don't get enough time to bond with new characters, nor the game tried to make them more present in The Player's life, even by doing mundane missions, so those new additions feel bland and unnecessary.

As for the game it self, extortion was something that stuck with me, but it gets old real quick and there are A LOT of stores there to be extorted, do you have to extort them all? Not if you don't want 100% or don't care about money that has the following purpose, to buy: clothes (there isn't a clothing store, you have to buy it in the load menu), weapons (both ammo and 3 levels of weaponry), safe houses and buying out rackets (you can extort them if you don't have money, but buying them out guarantees you will get the maximum money they have to offer).

Then there is the insufferable driving, the game has 5 horribly looking cars: a truck, a pickup, a sedan, a sports car and a compact, other cars are variations of skin of those types. The manoeuvrability of the car is bad, somehow cars chasing you will always be faster than you so it doesn't matter if you bother taking the fastest car in the game, the NPCs can easily get to you. Also, you can be going as fast as possible, you won't ever take damage if you bump your car, is a bit annoying. Cars don't have "radio", we mostly hear instrumental music when driving, but weirdly some rackets do have real life music in it, so why can't I hear those in the car?

There was this movement issue with the character that really annoyed me, you can only move in one of the four directions: forward, left, backwards, right. Want to go forward left? Nope, if you were walking forward you will keep walking forward, if you were walking left you will keep walking left, it is a bit annoying, specially when enemies appear ouf of nowhere.

In the end, I know this is a The Godfather game, but if you took all the famous characters, you will be left with a shallow game that is a bit repetitive, have you go back and forth to do simple missions and end up being boring.

Fantastic and entertaining this game is. With at least 30 hours of quality game play; it is defiantly not a waste of money. From when I first started playing the game it was addicting. The 1940/50's atmosphere is great and it feels like being in New York. The ability to create the look of your mobster was perfect and I hope they bring the character of Aldo Trapani back for the next Godfather. Characters were great and just like in the movie, so it was great fun to tag along with them during the missions. The tutorial level is entertaining as Luca Brassi takes your character under his arm to teach you how to be a mobster. The entire added story fits in perfectly with the movie and there are frequent memorable lines which have been created such as 'we got ya back, you f&$k it up we got your ass' and when Sonny says to your character 'glad your on my side kid' and he replies with 'I learn from the best' and gestures to Sonny. The game was smartly done and is pretty much flawless. The missions are of genuine quality; every mission is fun and entertaining. There are only around 20 story missions but they are of quality not quantity. I find most of the missions in Grand Theft Auto are pathetically pointless and if a mission is failed you are to drive to the mission point again which can take ages, with The Godfather you simply have to click retry mission, and your right into it again. I've played many versions and they do get better, the ability to make a 5 man hit team in the PS3 and Wii versions was fantastic, even though I think more could have been improved and added, it is still brilliant. The game is challenging yet not impossibly hard and there is little frustration when playing unlike other Gta style games. Personally I loved this game, probably my favorite. I think with some time and care Godfather Part 2 could be something else in the gaming industry. I've clocked this game to many times and still enjoy it, can't wait for a part 2.