Customer Reviews

The Godfather (DVD-ROM)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I won't waste your time giving some detailed and redundant review of what you can read at gaming sites or in gaming magazines.

This game is very much like GTA: San Andreas, just not as fun or dynamic.

You CANNOT skip the intro screen or cutscenes even if you beat the game. EVERY DARN TIME the game is started, you have to basically look at a commercial for Paramount and The Godfather. UGGGGH!!!! Every poorly acted cutscene in the movie has to be viewed. You cannot skip them. This really sucks but I have found Electronic Arts always forces that kind of [...]on you. I would write to them and complain! Make a statement!

The graphics are good...not great...but good. This game also runs and plays well on slower machines. I ran it on a AMD 2500+ Win XP machine with an ATI 9500 Pro card and 1 gig of ram. It played quite nicely!!!

What I hated the most was the music. It is forced on you. NO DISABLE METHOD!!!(again, another Electronic Arts stunt...way too much ego at that company)Every time you jump in a car to drive or pull out your weapon for a fight music kicks in! This is especially annoying when you are trying to listen to enemy footsteps. So, you have to hide your weapon then take it out again and the music will go away for a short while. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH!

You spend your time doing repetitive things...taking over and extorting business to raise your stats and earn money. Truthfully though, the only benefit is to buy more powerful weapons. Once done, you have no need for any money!!!

At the end you can become the DON of NYC. You get a large cut of the profits(worthless at this point) and you get unlimited ammo (worthless again because the game is over!!! UGHHHH!)


What I really enjoyed was the old school feel of the 1930's era gangster and you can really get into the nitty gritty of customizing your character. You can change eveyr facial feature, pick his clothes, eye color, hair style, weight and physical build.

About 90% of the storyline and cutscenes are just [...] filler to lend some kind of "plot" to this game.

This game has nowhere near the replayability or pleasure level of GTA:San Andreas.

Overall, it is worth playing [...]

Do not be fooled by the moderately good reviews by the gaming press.
This game is far worse than the reviews might lead you to believe. I was certainly fooled.
I got the impression that it would be a fun game (though none too original) that made good use of the franchise. That's fine by me.
In reality it is far from fine.

I have to mention I am a PC gamer, so when I say the graphics are generally awful in this game maybe that impression is a result of my high end PC gaming background (I am currently enjoying Oblivion with all settings maxed).
It could well be that the graphics are fine if your a PS2 or xbox gamer, I dunno everyone has their own standard.

Compared to GTA SA this weird "console port" (weird in that it seems to have hit the stores in its PC version first) completely fails to take advantage of the advanced effects that are possible today.
With GTA SA with all settings maxed on PC, I have a very beautiful looking gameworld to play around in.
In this case however, there is virtually no scalabilty, you are pretty much stuck with the standard console look.
Which means - no lighting or shading worth mentioning, ugly cartoon shadows that exist independ of any light source, ugly (huge) blocky textures and clippy paper thin (endlessly repeatative) environments.
New York is a boring wallpaper maze filled with toy cars that have no texturing or bodywork effects - just different colours (hard to believe for a recent game).
I should say that the animations and the cut scenes are top notch and the likenesses of some of the original actors from the film work well.

It's well done in the same way a good puppetshow can be. You are impressed how they managed to breath life into such stiff and non-lifelike models.
The people milling about are well done within these same limited margins, they are in no way lifelike.
They also lack any sense of graphical style that might make up for that, so in the end you have well enough animated, but boring generic stickmen streetwalkers.

Gameplay.

In the same way the graphics fall short of the style and invention of GTA save a few high points (animations and likenesses), so does the gameplay.
This GTA clone is really no fun at all. Think of GTA done badly and there you go, with the exception of a pretty nice fighting system.
When the gameplay is generally so unispired though, being able to beat folk up with such florish and detail is wasted.
Kinda like the reverse of GTA were the gameplay is so good you forgive the simplistic fight system.

The car handling gives no feel that this is actually a heavy hunk of metal you are controlling, they just wiz about the streets, the last nail in the coffin for any period feel this game hoped to inspire in the player.
The GTA lean towards gameplay at the expense of realism is obviously aimed at here, but there is no balance struck, you just have a limited stock of ugly generic cars that are just as boring to drive as they are to look at.

As far as the story and missions go, what's the point when the basic guts of the game is so inferior?
In the end it seems it was a really bad idea to mix together such an over the top arcade gameplay style (and a pretty poor one at that) with such a serious and realistic plot.

You have a detailed and nuanced story here, but I am not someone that puts story before gameplay. The Godfather score is stiring, but it is not enough to stop me knowing just how empty of atmosphere this rendering of 1950/40's New York really is.

A true turkey that needs to be outed. Has EA become so powerful that people fear to tell the truth about a game that cost the company millions to licence, or have they enough money to ensure favourable reviews when it counts? Hard to believe.
But it's harder for me to believe how kind the reviews have been for this turd.

Just be cautous before you waste your money like I did, the press let me down badly.

I cannot complain, maybe they didn't put in the greatest graphics available at the time, but this is still a great game. The cool thing is that you can go into count less stores and take them over for the Corleone family. The mob wars are also very fun. Lastly, i had fun with the cars, whose handling is above normal and speed ahead of it's time (this game happens in the 40's) but that makes it even more fun to drive. The actual plot of the game is interesting, you get to meet all the characters from the book, the character's faces based on the movies. My only concern with this game is that at the end of the game plot the story starts to move too fast and ends too suddenly, and the end I will not spoil.

Overall, a great game for 10 bucks. I would say this game is a mix of Grand Theft Auto and Mafia.

The video game adaption of The Godfather has been lurking on the periphery of my consciousness for awhile. It registered due to my love for The Godfather and The Godfather 2, though I knew enough to not expect much from a video game adaptation of what I consider a flawless masterpiece. I wasn't incorrect, let's say.

It's got its moments. It follows the pacing of the movie pretty well, takes some rather strong liberties in order to jam your character into the plot, and is generally a good homage to the feel. It's also quite satisfying to be able to blast the Tattaglia thugs through the head and watch them topple to the ground, blow up oildrum fires (which are apparently in abundance on even the busiest streets and seem to be filled with high explosives) to torch surrounding enemies and/or civilians, and throw shopkeepers through windows. As you progress, you seize and extort businesses, thus guaranteeing a steady flow of income and allowing you to watch your influence spread inexorably across New York. Once you've played through the game, and all of the plot points, you're reasonably satisfied with your Mafia activities. Plus, most of the cast of the movie lent their voice talents to the dialogue. Sonny Corleone is as bitter and filled with rage as ever, Tessio is eerily calm, and Tom Hagen is as frustrated by everything going on around him as he was in the movie. It was a very good touch.

Unfortunately, it's got more than its share of flaws. For starters, when you begin racing cars around, you notice that the crash physics are nonexistent. Your momentum doesn't stop you from coming to a grinding halt if you hit something bigger than a produce cart, even if you're driving a pickup truck at 70mph and you slam into a tiny coupe. You also can't flip over, no matter what you do. The graphics initially seemed good, with facial renders looking spot-on and realistic, but then I got out into the gameplay world. The buildings and streets are all uninspiring, the citizens are boring, and eventually you'll notice that the detail that was put into the facial renders of the main characters make them all look like they've got smallpox. The AI doesn't exist. You can predict what the enemy will do in 90% of all situations and off them quickly after you get used to the scenarios.

Speaking of scenarios, all of the levels repeat. Apparently, New York City ordinances state that all buildings serving a like purpose (bakeries, smoke shops, nightclubs, warehouses, etc.) will all be built with the exact same floor plan. To whit, you see one bakery, smoke shop, or what have you, you've seen them all. This also applies to the rival family compounds, which are all reproductions of the Corleone compound. So if you've ever sleepwalked in your own home, you know how to blow up the center of your rivals' power. It makes for a tedious, repetitive time. Plus, the auto-aim is completely counter-intuitive.

Storywise, the game does some very odd things. Aside from wedging the player into events of the movie, everything from slaughtering the guy who garrotes Luca Brasi to killing the heads of the Four Families in ways that go completely against the movie's beautiful montage of their deaths, there's also some very conspicuously ignored factors. The most glaring is the Don's death. What should have been an extremely pivotal event in the game, as it was in the movie, is not even mentioned until far after the fact. Additionally, you don't hear about Moe Green until the very end of the game, where it is mentioned that he is dead. Anyone who isn't familiar with the movie would have no idea who the hell he is, where the hell Fredo Corleone went, what's in Las Vegas, why anyone's in Las Vegas, and why this Moe guy had to die. In its context, it's a non sequiteur.

In the end, the game doesn't even come close to living up to the legacy of its source material. If you're dead set on not being insulted by its frequent liberties, it's enjoyable. Frankly, though, it's only comparable as a slightly less interesting version of a strikingly similar game: Let's face it, Mafia came out three years ago.

The cool thing about this game is that it revolves around the movie. If your a fan of the movie, then you'll probably enjoy the game because it gives you a look at what the movie didn't show you. The controls are clunky, but I got used to them after changing a few around. Graphics are acceptable, better than GTA at least. This is a GTA clone though, with 100 hidden "Film Reels" (unlocks actual clips of the movie) and all. Gameplay gets boring. After the storyline is finished, it's take over a shop here, take over a front there, blow up a rivals headquarters and so on. AND NOT WORTH IT. I beat the game 100% hoping that something cool would happen. I was dissapointed to get nothing but a lame short video and infinte ammo. Car selection sucks. I couldn't believe it. You'll probably end up driving the same 3 cars over and over again. Only 1 that acually gets some sort of speed. And it's lame when your getting chased by the cops, the computer practically throws them at you. You could be looking behind you with nobody there, then the second you look ahead a cop rams you, setting you car on fire and you to stop and ditch before it explodes. But watching cars explode is awesome, the fire was well done. Music is classic, with the soundtrack laced on it.

Overall, average game for the times.

First, the bad.

Compared to the excellent first person "Mafia" game released several years ago, this game falls just a bit short. For one, the cars are somewhat unrealistic in how they handle and how fast they go. In "Mafia" the cars handled and had capabilities near and dear to their 1930s counterparts. This is sort of like Gotham Racing in 1945 New York. I think it takes away from the realism just a bit.

The missions are a bit repetitive, and I'm only about 15% through the game. Unless something drastically changes here, I think I'm going to see more of the same through the remaining 85% of the game. However, I sort of enjoy choking shopkeeps and beating up rival Mafioso. It gives me an outlet that would not be acceptable in real life :-).

Al Pacino never got on board with the project, and the likeness of Michael Corleone is not even close to who he was in the movie. However, on a positive note, he did lend his voice and likeness to the upcoming Scarface game, which by all accounts ought to be kick a##.

Now the good, which far outweighs the bad.

The sound is fabulous. The voice acting is very well done, the chatter on the street is humorous to listen to as you run from mission to mission, and the soundtrack is nicely woven through the game.

The fight system is great, by far the most detailed I have witnessed in a first person 'shooter' type game. You really must have a gamepad to pull it off 100%, though. I have a dual analog USB RumblePad 2 (and the game is rumble compatible, which really adds a kick to the experience) and it works perfectly. I think most of the PCers gripes is the combat system, which is definitely not built for a keyboard. If you do get the game and ever thought about getting a Rumblepad, get it. It makes the gaming experience much more enjoyable, and the tutorial system will recognize when you've got it plugged in as it will give you the instructions on which buttons to push when.

So, in conclusion, the game is definitely worth getting if you're at all a fan of the GTA style and enjoyed the movie. However, to make your experience complete pick up a Logitech Rumblepad 2 (others may be compatible, not sure, this is just the one that I've got) and utilize it to its full extent.

It's a pretty fun GTA clone. It's a lot like the free roaming mode in Mafia if you don't pay any attention to the story.. and if you're as big a fan of the Godfather movies as I am, I strongly suggest that you don't pay much attention to the story.

The best thing this game has going for it is the combat. There are a million different ways to kill and maim people. You can use your typical array of weapons from pistols to machine guns to explosives, or you can grab people and throw them through windows or off bridges and buildings, strangle them until you break their necks, head [...] them to death, throw them in front of cars, slam them into walls or other nearby objects.. etc.

If you want to waste an hour being a total psychopath, this really is quite a fun way to do it.

But that's about all there is to this game. Sure, there's the "story", but I just can't recommend that part of it. It's quite amazing the lengths to which the developers went in order to wedge you into the events of the book/movie. Every single major event of the movie, your character is there to witness, and often has a big part in accomplishing.

For instance: You're there to witness Don Vito's assassination attempt, and must drive him to the hospital... You're there to see Luca Brasi get whacked and must kill his assassin... You're the guy who plants Michael's gun in the bathroom and must drive him to the docks afterwards... You're there when Sonny is whacked and must chase down and kill his assassins... You're the guy who whacks Paulie... You're the guy who whacks Tessio... etc.. etc.. etc..

With all this madness revolving around you, you'd think the Corleones would have had you whacked on page 4. It really is supremely stupid, and is an absolute disgrace to the beautifully complex and multi-layered story of the film.

All that aside, there is a good bit of fun to be had here. I suggest sticking to the sidequests and doing the story last only if you have nothing else to do.

I've also heard that they're going to be making two more games to go along with the other two films. YAY! I predict that in part 2, you will play two roles: your character from this game and his father. Get ready to help Vito whack Don Fanucci and help Al Neri whack Fredo all before lunch. In part 3, you get to poison the Pope! Good times!

10 dollars for a game is...unheard of. 10 dollars for a FUN game...even better. *drumroll* I give you, THE GODFATHER!

I bought it last week and have been playing it on a daily basis. The game is incredibly entertaining. It is very much reminiscent of GTA, but it takes place in the world created by Mario Puzo and not Rockstar. While the game is a bit linear, its fun factor is undeniable. And after all, that is the point of video games...fun.

You work your way up from the bottom eventually becoming a prominent member of the Corleone empire. Along the way, you hijack cars, take over rackets and businesses, kill a few (haha, "few"...) enemies, and follow an interesting storyline.

The graphics are pretty solid. I run the game on a laptop that does not have the best graphics card, etc, but it plays smoothly!

The controls in the game are pretty easy to get used to and make sense. The fighting controls are a real treat. When engaging in hand-to-hand combat, its reminiscent of Mortal Kombat...but more hands-on...as it were.

Honestly, you should not feel as if you need to research every facet of this game. For 10 dollars and free shipping, you really cannot lose here! Granted this game is not revolutionary as GTA, but it delivers entertainment in huge amounts!

It's like Mafia by Rockstar Games with Godfather plot.

The differences are, even with several years apart, the graphic isn't improved and detail isn't as good as Mafia.

Those cars on street have less detail than those in Mafia.

The control is frustrating especially you're using bear hands or baseball bat.

All those make me to believe that it's a half-baked product.

Very disappointed.

Godfather is great for mimicking the cars and society of 1945 NYC. The storyline is well written and the gameplay is fun for the most part. But it lacks a variety of missions other than kill rival family members, extort businesses, and take over rackets. Unlocking clips from the movie by finding movie reels was a nice touch though. Two other complaints: you can't shoot out of the car you're driving though if somebody is in the car with you, they can shoot. GTA excels over this in that respect. Also the controls are quirky and take some getting used to as others have noted.

Still at $10-15, a good pick-up for the 3rd-person-action fan! Good performance on my Pent 4 3.06 GHz, 1 GB RDRAM, eVGA 6800 GT.