IF YOU LIKED SAINTS ROW...
THE GODFATHER II
BUY THIS GAME AT AMAZON.COM NOW!!!
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Systems: XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
If you liked... SAINTS ROW, you should give THE GODFATHER II a shot. This follow-up adaptation picks up were the original THE GODFATHER game left off. This open world game pits you as an entry level Don against a world of crime bosses gunning for your crew. You're no longer the virginal thug from the first game -- now you're a top dog looking to grow his squad and expand a crime empire from North to South.
You might ask, "With new sandbox games in release practically every week, why bother with THE GODFATHER II?" That's a fair question and the answer is simple: to yet again visit the world of the Corleones. THE GODFATHER II is chock full of throwbacks and trivial minutiae to make any fan feel at home. From reliving and recreating classic cinematic moments to driving 1950s era vehicles through the streets of New York and Miami, THE GODFATHER II takes you back in a way that doesn't sully the movies while not just painting by numbers.
For those of you who played the first game, especially if you thought it was an abomination, this sequel is worth giving another look. Developed completely with current generation consoles in mind, the graphics received a much needed upgrade. THE GODFATHER II will look fine right next to the likes of GRAND THEFT AUTO IV, DEAD RISING, and other sandbox titles. The character models look much better than the original game and more realistic looking than those in GTA IV.
Another upgrade worth appreciating is the mini-map. Unlike most other sandbox games, THE GODFATHER uses a cool 3-D map system that is more convenient than the typical 2-D map you'd find in SAINTS ROW 2, GTA IV, or CRACKDOWN. This 3-D mapping system makes it easier to figure out where enemies are in a building and also makes building more identifiable on the fly.
Finally, the last upgrade worth mentioning involves storytelling. While the first game was incredibly loyal to the likenesses of the original characters, it made missing cast members stick out like a sore thumb. In a world where Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Robert Duvall are rendered like their original characters, the absence of Al Pacino was glaringly apparent. Although Pacino was also absent from this game, it is less jarring when the majority of iconic characters are also missing. THE GODFATHER II fits better in the world of the Corleones because it has more flexibility to be creative. The game gets to be more a story about your character than an imitation of the movie.
When compared to other games in the sandbox genre, THE GODFATHER II relates most to the original SAINTS ROW. Both games focus on expanding their central gangs from local hoodlums to regional powerhouses. Although both of these games owe a lot to the GRAND THEFT AUTO series, they are both quite different from GTA IV. All three games involve illicit behavior and the exploitation of man's vices. Unlike GTA IV, SAINTS ROW and THE GODFATHER II don't seem to care about the moral or ethical dilemmas of such exploitation. Bad guys murder, extort, and lust without regard for the general public. THE GODFATHER II takes a loose look at vice that is not as comical as SAINTS ROW but far less cerebral than that of GTA IV.
THE GODFATHER II is more interested in letting you have a fun time in its sandbox than telling an epic story of the movies or GTA IV. It's a game meant more as a fun distraction than a chunk of multi-layered multimedia art. As long as you aren't too over-protective of the Corleones' world (paging Mr. Coppola), you'll have a fun time playing around with THE GODFATHER II.
Although this column isn't a review, there are a couple technical issues you should be aware of. While there is a noticeable graphical upgrade, the sizes of the levels are small in comparison to those in GTA IV, CRACKDOWN, and SAINTS ROW. THE GODFATHER II's maps are a bit bigger than those in DEAD RISING. Other technical hiccups I ran across were abundant pop in, clipping, and invisible walls. Finally, I found the game's explanation of mission objectives to be lacking detail and far too restrictive. If I have to execute a dude, I should have the freedom to do so as I would like to. Don't make me play the mission over again because I didn't grab his neck before I shot him. Being penalized for creative problem solving runs counter to the whole philosophy of the sandbox genre.
Even with these issues, I recommend you check out THE GODFATHER II some rainy weekend. It's prettier to look at, less of cinematic sacrilege, and some simple and fun entertainment. It might surprise you once you give it the opportunity to grow on you.
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Source: Cool Columns
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12:08PM on 04/14/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Go here, pick up that... go there, shoot that guy... go over there, and drive that guy to here, etc.
Go here, pick up that... go there, shoot that guy... go over there, and drive that guy to here, etc.
8:46AM on 04/14/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
And Saints Row 2 is WAY better.
And Saints Row 2 is WAY better.