What a long, strange trip it's been for The Godfather. Gamers were excited when it was announced that Mario Puzo's mafia saga would be making the leap into the virtual realm, but it seemed like there were a number of potential problems that were working against it. Francis Ford Coppola announced that he disapproved of the game, fearing that it would somehow tarnish the series' untouchable reputation (as if the third film didn't do that already). This was followed by the unfortunate death of Marlon Brando, who had been doing voiceover work for the game at the time of his passing. While EA certainly can't be blamed for either of these events, you can hardly think that they were good omens.

Despite all of the bad juju surrounding the development, we're happy to report that The Godfather turned out well, although it's far from a perfect experience. It's impossible not to compare the game to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series, as it features a violent, wide-open world that gives players free reign to play the game in whatever manner they see fit. While there are a ton of side missions and optional objectives, the game's heart lies in its story, which allows players to create their own Italian-American mobster-wannabe and lets them loose in 1940's New York City. You're tasked with working your way up the mafia ladder by completing missions given to you by the Don, seeking to avenge your father's murder along the way.


The game features several types of story and side missions, including muscling store owners for protection, whacking the leaders of rival families, and robbing banks. The story missions are particularly satisfying, as they let you see the events of the films from a different perspective. You'll be there when Luca Brasi gets sent to sleep with the fishes, the infamous horse head is delivered, and when Sonny is gunned down at the toll booth. The developers have done a great job in adhering to the source material, so the game feels more like a companion to the films than a reworking of the universe.

There are two flavors of combat in the game: gunplay and good old fashioned fisticuffs. Taking a page from their own Fight Night series, EA has mapped the hand-to-hand fighting mechanics to the right analog stick. Using the left trigger to lock on, you can go toe to toe with your foe, punching him repeatedly or grabbing him (with the right trigger) and tossing him around. While the game's melee combat features one of the best fight mechanics we've seen in a while, the gunplay is fairly pedestrian by comparison. You can lock on to any nearby targets and blast away, or you can fine-tune your aim to disarm your foe or take him out with a headshot. It's not groundbreaking, but it works.