The Godfather II is perhaps the only game to come close to replicating the magic that an open world can provide to the degree that Grand Theft Auto has, but in a very original way. A superb mix of gun play and management, the original Godfather was a surprise hit, and the second one is shaping up to offer us another exciting trip into the lives of the Corleones and the gangland they control.
“The Godfather II is taking the open-world genre in an entirely new direction by combining the furious combat of acting like a mobster, with the strategic gameplay of thinking like a Don,” says Hunter Smith, Executive Producer for The Godfather II. “As game makers, when we looked at what lies at the heart of the Godfather universe, we discovered a game focused around organized crime. The Corleones and all the other families schemed and fought to gain access and control of different territories, so that they could control the flow of money in those areas. This underlying battle cloaked secrecy is what The Godfather II and mafia life is all about, and we wanted players to be in control as a Don and make those strategic decisions to lead their family’s to success.”
According the publisher the player will get to take the part of a Don in the Corleone family. The Godfather II has players to live out their own story of deception, betrayal, and conquest in a 1960’s organized crime world. Interacting closely with major characters, your story will interweave with many of the key events from the film, such as the meeting of the Don’s in Cuba, blackmailing Senator Geary, and the Senate investigation of organized crime. Players will have to invest in their family, manage their business, and reach out to corrupt officials – all of which is done through the revolutionary Don’s View. The Don’s View is a 3D representation of the player's criminal empire; it allows them to coordinate their strategy, plan hits on rival made men, attack enemy rackets, and much more. By letting players call the shots, The Godfather II delivers the ultimate organized crime experience.
The Godfather II is being developed at the EA Redwood Stores studio and will be released on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Gamers who pre-order the game will get a code to unlock an exclusive cre member Tommy Cipolla. While it's a good sounding incentive, it seems cruel to deny gamers content that's on their disc only because they've failed to pre-order the title.
Marketing decisions aside, Godfather II looks to capture the combination of action and charm that made the first one so successful.
