Cracking film adaptation (The Godfather (PS2))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	The Godfather (PS2)
Date:	06/09/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great gameplay and visuals

Disadvantages: None

If there's any film adaptation that I really wanted to be good, and one that also seemed immensely challenging to get right, it's The Godfather. Borrowing a lot from the Grand Theft Auto games, but also having enough style and similarities to the film series to keep fans in check, this is a surprisingly fun game that's got enough action and adventure to please just about everyone.

The gameplay is rather varied and allows you lots of things to do - you play a nobody who is trying to make his way up the ladder, and thus have to perform a lot of "menial" tasks, such as extorting businesses for "protection" money and basically anything else that allows the family to grow and prosper. You also have to perform hits, and can bribe members of the police department to keep your nose clean for the time being (although this doesn't always work). Other than that, you can hook up with women, and I strongly advise murdering as many opposing mobsters as possible, because it's a great way to rack up respect points, which make the game a lot easier later on, and of course, because there are so many varied ways to murder people in this brutal game.

From a presentation standpoint, this is a very well put together game - the render of the surrounding city makes it seem living and breathing, and character designs are also very realistic. The animations in particular, especially during the combat moments, are very authentic. A lot of care has clearly been taken with art direction, because this evokes the 1940s very eagerly. From a sound perspective, the familiar saxaphone tunes are all in there, showing that this wasn't done on the cheap, and as such every concession has made to make any self-respecting Godfather nut feel at home!

There's a lot to do here, meaning it has the length of a good RPG. Also, it's fantastically presented and a very genuine love letter to anyone who loves the films.

Summary: Very well composed