Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Genre: Action
Release date: April 7, 2009
Review by: Michele White

Okay, confession time: I never saw the Godfather movies (despite popular myth, I was too young when they came out), and I’ve avoided them since their release because of a rumor about a horse. That said, the NYC girl in me has always been fascinated with the Italian mob and the books and films describing it, so when I received a surprise package from Electronic Arts containing developer EA Redwood Shores’ new video-game adaptation of The Godfather II, I couldn’t wait to dive into the blood-soaked world of the Corleone family.

Players are treated to a brief recap of the Godfather saga and an introduction to the Italian Mafia (at least as it was in the late 1950s). The story opens in Cuba during the Revolution. The current capo di tutti capo is about to retire and the organization is equitably divided between the older brother of Dominick (your character) and several key family members. In the midst of the celebration, the communist uprising turns nasty and you’re forced to flee. Your brother is killed during the escape, and bam…your life as a minor syndicate boss is born. Once you’re back in NY, the real gameplay begins. A rift has developed in the family since Cuba, and you’re given your first mission from above. You gather people you can trust, and as you recruit them, a Family is born.

Character customization is fairly detailed, but you must play as Dominick. Escaping from the hotel in Cuba and making your way to the airport works as a fairly effective tutorial. The interface is stupid simple, with everyone of importance having a convenient identifying tag over their heads. Combat can get a little tricky, but you won’t have to memorize many moves, as the most common ones always appear as options on the screen. For those of you looking for a street fight, you might want to look elsewhere. Finesse is the way to go here, and it’s a good idea to have a cop on your payroll, as bribery is often more effective than pummeling someone. Your goal is to take over as many rackets (chop shops, porn studios, nightclubs) as possible and work your way up to becoming the next Don. For a successful campaign, you need to guard your rackets and don’t spread yourself too thin; there will always be someone looking to topple your empire. Like most well-made games of the genre, there are plenty of side missions available to add to Godfather II’s longevity. Perks such as silenced weapons and armored cars can be acquired by completing these missions. Online mode allows for ranked competitions, with the cool addition of being able to take your single-player henchmen with you. Build your cohorts in single player, then take them on the road to compete in multiplayer.

There’s a lot to like here. The story is engaging, the visuals attractive, and the play just challenging enough to keep things moving. Gameplay is smooth, and after four days of nearly nonstop play, seemingly bug-free. Dialogue is snappy, story-relevant and almost always typical of the time period, and the potential for “family” development adds to the game’s replayability.

All is not perfect in the underworld, however, as driving can be a bit of a chore (though not nearly as difficult as riding a horse in Two Worlds), but is much preferred to walking (which the Godfather II already has too much of and slows down gameplay). EA Redwood went a long way toward making this as realistic as possible (think of a cross between GTA IV and Fallout 3), but certain elements just don’t jive, such as late 60s muscle cars and the mini phone booths that didn’t exist until the late 70s.

Graphic violence and abrasive language (strong would be an understatement – think Martin Scorsese’s 1995 mob epic “Casino”) are huge concerns in Godfather II, and while I’m not one to ever shy away from M-rated material, I’d warn you NOT to share this with your tweens and young teens. This is a game that pushes the limits of the rating. But for those of us looking for adult content, compelling action and lots of hours down a hole building an empire, Godfather II hits the spot. Salut!

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