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TX Review Score:
User Opinion:
We like:
- Brutal executions
- Punchy sound design
- Useful gang members
We dislike:
- Hyman Roth's voice actor
- Low-res textures
Every video game fan must pay tribute to their godfather. In 1972, with the release of the first Godfather film, the world became obsessed with criminal organizations, family-run mafias and delving into complex personalities associated with a life of crime. Today we can see the ripple effect with the success of the Grand Theft Auto, a series that obviously takes a few pointers from the prestigious 70s classic. In 2006,when the first Godfather game hit store shelves, no one was surprised at its creation. Despite many critics’ preconceived predictions, the first game was quite ambitious and successfully tapped into the heart and soul of the Godfather universe without taking the extra step towards true greatness. Unfortunately The Godfather 2 plays it a little too safe, and despite introducing an abundance of new and interesting ideas, it never innovates past its comfort zone to establish itself as an unforgettable Mafioso masterpiece.
The Godfather 2 picks up in correlation with the films. Michael Corleone is now the Don of the family, as it attempts to expand its criminal empire into Florida, and Cuba. You play as Dominic, the successor of the previous game’s protagonist. Just as in the films, the game begins in Cuba with criminal mastermind Hyman Roth holding a meeting of the Dons, announcing their ambitious plans for Cuba. Just as the celebrations begin, the Cuban revolution occurs, throwing a wrench in the criminal underworld’s cogs. Dominic successfully escorts Michael out of Cuba and due to your success Michael entrusts you with taking over (or back) New York, Florida, and Cuba.
In order to do this, Dominic must assault and seize rival gang’s fronts and businesses. The basic idea is to go to a building, locate the owner, and pressure him into changing sides. Simple in concept, but there’s a variety of different variables that could occur or change your strategy. How many mobsters are guarding the joint? Is there a back entrance? Maybe you could blow up a wall to make a back entrance? Or knock out the power so they can’t call for support when the bullets start flying? All of these scenarios are possible, and demand the player to think on their feet in addition to keeping the flow of the game varied and interesting.
Despite Dominic’s high rank, he isn’t capable of doing everything on his own. So although most buildings give you the option to blow open walls, cut the power, or crack a safe; Dominic will need his crew members to do the dirty work. As you progress though the narrative’s missions, the player unlocks crew members that can be hired and brought along for jobs. Every crew member has a specific trait they specialize in whether it be burning down key tactical buildings, or busting through heavy doors. These crew members are vital to your progress and allow a lot of role-playing to be done.
In addition to their unique talents, mobsters also have their own personalized appearances which you can customize to your liking. Perhaps you want to color code your medic to wear green, or give your bruiser a tough guy appearance with some fingerless gloves? Crew members also have a variety of traits you can upgrade when you acquire enough cash. Give that demolitionist better heavy weapon accuracy and a shotgun, and presto! You’ve got death on two legs. As you progress through the game you’ll also come across a number of better, more qualified mobsters. There are around seventy people you can recruit, but you only have seven spaces to fill. If you want to make room, you’ll have to mark your new man’s predecessor for death and get rid of him for good. These types of decisions add a great deal of immersion and RPG-esqe aspects to the game, and keep your crew members from being stale, forgettable guns-for-hire.
Attacking rival businesses with your mobsters is exhilarating. Guns unleash a powerful, vicious blast accompanied with a booming explosion for each shot fired. Stylized executions are ruthless and gory in a satisfying way. Even when you’re forced into melee combat, every swing of a bat or jab of a nightstick delivers excruciating blows to your opponents. The action never ceases to entertain throughout the fifteen hour adventure. Every rival business you seize delivers immense satisfaction unmatched by any other aspect found within the game.
These assets have significant importance to how you play the game as well. The new innovation to The Godfather 2 is The Don’s View. At any point in the game players can press start and open up a detailed map of the world. From here they can see what businesses they have, what assets their rivals have, how many guards are at each building, and what type of perks are being supplied. If you own all the gun shops, you’ll receive an ammo boost, or if you have possession of the junkyard, you can produce armored cars. Deciding which assets to take over gives the appearance of strategy and tactics. Unfortunately all of the Don’s View elements are largely superficial.
The game suggests that your rivals can gain bonuses and perks the same way you can, but that never seems relevant in the context of actual gameplay. Your opponent may have all the gun stores, but they have unlimited ammo anyway. In my experience, I didn’t capture all the junkyards until the very end of the game, but never once did I see an armored car being used against me. The rewards you get seem like a steady, planned procedure that the developers intended you to get in a certain way. Thus the non-linear, RTS style facade is broken down and made linear again. No matter how much planning or thought you put into a particular attack, you’ll most likely end up shooting all the guards, and taking each asset in an identical way to the previous.
Don’s View works great for what it is and inspires a level of thought in your actions, but overall leaves a desire for more. There is a third godfather film, meaning the possibility for a third godfather game isn’t completely farfetched. Another chance would allow the development team to flesh out their ideas and bring forth an amazing ground-breaking game. This all depends on whether or not they want to take the risk and add some difficulty and quick thinking to the game. Imagine a game where you play as Young Vito Corleone developing the family from scratch when he first arrives in America, skillfully outsmarting his opponents and rising to the top. The blueprints are there, someone just needs to build it.
Plain and simple, The Godfather 2 is an action packed thrill ride. Even though it may not deliver on the strategy element’s pursuits, the action is constantly intense, and keeps you excited to play more up to until the credits begin to roll. You’ll get plenty of enjoyment and lasting value out of this package. If you want to be a Don of one of the most infamous fictional families in history, this is the game for you.
