Grazie, Godfather, You've Done Well! [Review]

While the first Godfather game, EA put out wasn't exactly the bee's knees, the PS3 sequel looked to change for the better while staying true t....

The story opens with Hyman Roth assembling an assortment of crime families in Cuba. Roth has struck a deal with Batista, the country's former President, to allow them to establish businesses and run parts of the country in peace.

But you know that peace doesn't last that long and on New Year's 1959, stuff pops off as Fidel Castro ascends in power. Within that first 20-minutes (a good 20, too), you must maneuver as your designed character Dominic and get the rest of your New York family (The Corleones) out safely to the airport and back to the States.


Once back in Gotham City, the action is totally third-person, with gun battles and hand-to-hand combat being very fluid. As a boss of a crime family, you're given the chance to recruit "made" men. While you build your faction and family, diversity is key if you want you and your ring of men to succeed.

The gameplay feels good. Left is left, right is right and your arms and legs are as useful as a tommy gun in this game. The mechanics from the first game are there (and are important) when it comes to interrogating enemies and breaking bones. Both are a pivotal aspect to the game, as controlling businesses are the way to lock-down the city.

But while having the "Don's View" is a plus, failing in your mission to take over a shop, club or business means you have to wait for the place to "reopen" and if a member of your crew falls in the heat of battle, the 12+ minute wait time isn't something that's too fun to wait on.

The game is pretty adept at keeping track of your connections, finances and helps to move you along in the storyline. But with it not following along with The Godfather movie triology, you get the excitement of creating your own path. One that you can take online with four crazy modes: Team Deathmatch, Demolition Assault, Firestarter and Safecracker. Each put you in the shoes of an expert and you'll need to perform a variety of tasks to defeat the opposing team.

With lush graphics, a great story and memorable characters, The Godfather II is certainly better than the original and worth picking up, since it's in stores now!

Don't forget the Godfather II contest going on, right now! What's Y...

- Words by Kevin L. Clark