Review: The Godfather (360)

Turning The Godfather into a videogame is hugely ambitious, with only Electronic Arts possessing the clout or nerve to make such an attempt. The move can be seen as the sign of progress from the giant publisher, which previously focused heavily on sports titles or family releases while shunning the GTA-inspired adult movement. The Godfather represents the perfect camouflage to move into this violent hemisphere, with some restrictions kindly supplied by the license.

Events unfold immediately with brutal precision, commencing with a hit on your parents after which your father is executed. Watching on as a child you are comforted by the future Godfather himself, who prophesises that your time will come. He makes sure of this by tracking you down as an adult - plucking you from the back alleys of New York - and putting you to work. This is a life-changing opportunity to make a name for yourself; move up in society and embrace a new lifestyle full of money, women and the Corleone family.

Familiarity with the silver screen versions is not necessarily recommended, although it does heighten the enjoyment of proceedings as they unfold and appreciation of the work that has gone into delivering this new experience. Several actors from the first film add their voices to their faithful representations, including Marlon Brando, James Caan and Robert Duvall (although it must be noted that Brando's health meant the majority of his lines were re-recorded by an impersonator). Importantly, Mark Winegardner (Godfather Returns) was also brought on board to ensure that the video game slipped into the Godfather world with ease.

Having been a frequent visitor to New York, Gamestyle can appreciate the level of work that has gone into bringing this earlier incarnation of the Big Apple to life. The important details and landmarks are in place, as are incidental touches such as period advertisements and gritty realism that bring the city to life. What is disappointing is that the city could quite happily sit on an Xbox without too much constraint; Godfather lacks the high gloss finish of Saints Row or the vibrant buzz of Grand Theft Auto in every aspect bar the detailed cut sequences. This is not a surprise as the game was originally developed for the Xbox and Playstation 2, with the arrival of the Xbox 360 providing a new opportunity.

This version on a more capable machine lacks any real justification for its new host. The Live support is an afterthought where you are able to upload your statistics, but this feature failed to work during our time with the game. Content download has yet to appear, but the cynic in Gamestyle predicts it will take the form of themes and pictures rather than any notable enhancements to the gameplay. At least the achievement point's structure is linked to progression and tasks throughout the game, but overall more could have been done.

While the streets thrive with passers-by, they are strangely muted and roads only come to life when you sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. In spite of these oddities, somehow the Godfather feels right. Too often in videogames we are used to jumping into the distant future or existing in our current era; the 1950s makes for an interesting experience and one devoid of 'bitches' (now replaced by broads) or modern gang warfare. The music follows the lead of the film soundtrack and is perfectly suited to onscreen events whilst maintaining atmospheric moments. Some elements do not change as your character is still enhanced by respect, with this influenced via snappy dressing thanks to tailors located throughout the city. Respect can be boosted by showing flair during encounters and executing opponents up close in brutal fashion. However, respect is not the vital element it could have been, but the clothing option provides some enjoyment during cut sequences where your mafia fashion is very visible against the traditional family preferences.

The Godfather is violent but never gratuitous unless the player decides to go on a killing spree for no real reason. Outside of the family dynamic, you can engage in obtaining favours by completing jobs, accepting hitman contracts and persuading local businesses to give money to the family for their protection. The latter forms an indicator of your general effectiveness and notoriety, as initially you will have to pummel owners to submission, but later on your mere presence can be enough. This revenue automatically goes to the Corleone family, with your character receiving a regular cut. The abundance of cash highlights not only the lack of items to spend your earnings on but also the gentle difficulty curve evident throughout this release. Mission checkpoints are well judged, avoiding unnecessary repeat renditions, and instead allow focus on overcoming the pitfall. Mission variety is refreshing and encompasses gunplay, stealth, driving and Hollywood mafia activity in general. One memorable highlight is escorting a colleague past guards so he can deliver the obligatory horse's head he acquired in the stables with your help. Also, pushing down on both sticks allows you to strangle opponents as part of an inventive control system that somehow fails to take real advantage of the possibilities offered by the rumble feature.

There is no escaping from the fact that, without Grand Theft Auto, The Godfather game would probably not exist, or at least not in this format. GTA's influence is visible but not to the same extent of Saints Row; instead EA wisely focuses on the source material that provides plenty of gaming opportunities. Although it must be said that many liberties are taken, with the family structure being altered (to enable logical progression through the ranks) and several characters (especially female) noticeable through their absence; however, these points will only hit home with film fans and not the majority of players. If anything, you could argue that this release will prompt a new generation to checkout Francis Ford Coppola's epic trilogy. After the shambles that is Reservoir Dogs, The Godfather shows how to bring a film license to the world of video games.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Jason Julier