The Godfather 2006 Review

EA have the knack of turning million dollar licenses into blockbuster games, sometimes bordering on classics. This is especially true with hit series like Fifa, Madden NFL and NBA games. So when they bagged the license to turn the mother or should I say the father of mob films, “The Godfather” into a video game, expectations were naturally high.

Overall, EA has not disappointed gamers, providing a fair recreation of the film and making an entertaining game. But at the same time the game does not excite you either. It has always being difficult to turn a successful movie into a great game than visa versa with the exception being the Bond series.

Graphics in the game is good with EA’s artists doing an exceptionally wonderful job designing the faces of some of the characters in the game. Towns are well laid out though sometimes it’s pretty hard to navigate. EA has successfully captured the feel of the 1940s into the town design with murky alleys and well-populated streets.

As far as the story of the game goes, you play the role of a low ranking mobster in the Corleone family, who is thirsty for the blood of Barzini after witnessing the murder of your father when you were a small kid. The game then takes a generation leap with you now being a fit lad who has just joined the mob and will have to work up the mob chain. As the game progresses you get to participate in many of the scenes from the movie including the one you have to protect Don Vito Corleone in the hospital.

Apart from the main storyline, you can also get extra loot by extorting the shop owners. To do this, you just have to go into a shop and start breaking all the things until the shop owner coughs up your weekly protection money. Beware from going over the top though because then the shopkeeper would protect himself by anything he can lay his hands on. You can even start your own gambling halls and brothels. Speaking about money, the most annoying aspect of the game is it’s save game system or the lack of it. The save game system in Godfather is similar to the console type with you having to reach a particular location before you can save the game. Sometimes these locations are so far enough that you stand the risk of being killed before you can get to it. You can buy out more save spots by paying money.

The gameplay of The Godfather is very similar to the GTA series with slight modifications. The towns are open world with the game being played out in populated parts of the towns. You will be able to interact with every character present in the setting, be it a cop or a shop owner. The game starts with a tutorial to help you come in terms with the new fighting system similar to the one in Fight Night. You will also be taught how to shoot and will be given special class about the perfect way to extort people. The shooting system is pretty impressive with the inclusion of the free aim system. This means that you can now shoot the enemy wherever you want and he reacts to the situation. For example, by shooting in the kneecaps the enemy will fall down and will be immobile so that you are free to execute him in different ways, all of which are violent and gory. Depending on the type of hit i.e. a headshot or a kneecap shot, you will be awarded respect points so it is important to try out different moves to kill the enemy. The learning curve is pretty steep so the game is difficult to start with. But once you get the hang of the game it becomes a bit easier.

AI of the game though not super smart is intelligent enough. There will be quick response for whatever you do. For example, if you draw out a gun, the enemies will rush to take cover and start shooting at you.

Sound in the game is above average. EA has incorporated the theme song of the film in many parts of the game and it’s pretty good. You can talk with the general population including the police or street thugs who try out one-liners, which end up in a bad attempt at humor. The gem though is the voice-overs. You have got voices of James Caan, Robert Duvall and the legendary Marlon Brando who worked with EA on the game before his death. With impressive facial graphics, it almost feels like you are in the presence of the Don Vito Corleone that we all know of.

Though the game has failed to capture the feel of the movie and is unable to stick to the original story, it is pretty fun to play. The thing that hurt the game most was the unwillingness of Al Pacino to be associated with the game. This meant that the character of Michael Corleone became unrealistic and it shows in the game. The business take over model, the extortion system and the global respect system means that you can go on playing the game for a long time. It has got its flaws like the clumsy combat system, lack of save spots, but you have to concede it, the game is highly entertaining.