Skip over navigation

The Godfather on Xbox 360 (2006)

The Godfather cover art

Average rating: 67%
24388191420715
3.5 stars out of 5
from 2,465 members
 
Certificate: Certificate: 18
Developers: ELECTRONIC ARTS
Format: Xbox 360
Number of players: 1
Released: 22/09/2006
Also Available on:  Also Available on: PS2  Also Available on: PSP  Also Available on: XBOX

Brief synopsis of The Godfather

One of the few liberties developer Electronic Arts has taken with this long-awaited game smacks you in the chops right from the start. Al Pacino's character Michael Corleone (the most important character in the movie after Don Vito Corleone) is not present. The Godfather puts you in the role of a character that did not feature in the film at all. With the packaging and all the hype surrounding the release of The Godfather, you would be wrong in believing it's all so-o-o authentic.

The Xbox 360 version of The Godfather has had numerous enhancements and additions made to the gameplay. There is an enhanced BlackHand Control combat system, where you can punch, kick, grab and even choke an adversary with a stranglehold. Other exclusive enhancements made to this version of The Godfather include racket truck heists, extortions, targeting and living world gameplay. Several 360-exclusive missions and contract hits, new venues, a new family compound and much more interaction with key characters are all new additions to The Godfather for the Xbox 360.

The game begins with your character witnessing his father being gunned down and murdered by rival gangsters. You are then thrust forward nine years into the future to the wedding scene from the opening of the film (at last, something familiar) where your mother is asking Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) to take you under his wing and offer you work. The Don sends his Capo, Luca Brasi to look after you and train you in the fine art of being a mobster.

You are then taken to what EA call the 'Mob Face' part of the game, where you can customise how your character will look (face, hair and clothes etc.). The tools used in this section are very similar to those found in all EA Sports games. Now your character has taken shape, you begin as an unofficial enforcer for the Corleone family, which means your job is to muscle merchants into paying you protection money. Extorting businesses and taking over rackets is not all there is to the game, though. There are plenty of story missions to keep you occupied. Some missions are taken directly from the movie. You will have to drive the Don to the hospital after he is shot in the street, travel to Hollywood to re-enact the famous horse's head scene, and plant the pistol for Michael Corleone to use to kill Salazzo, to name but a few.

In addition to the characters, the city of New York has been carefully rendered in detail, and you can spot specific scenes from the film as you travel the streets of Little Italy, Brooklyn, Midtown, Hell's Kitchen, and New Jersey. For the most part, the game has remained faithful to the legendary movie.

Only after making a name for yourself will you move up the family ladder, starting from 'Outsider', and the game is completed when you become the Don of New York City, ruling over the other New York families (Tattaglia, Stracci, Cuneo and Barzini).

Screenshots

Related

Members' Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 2 starsAn offer you should refuse

ZiggyPanda from Lincoln , 18/09/2007

PRESENTATION: Dull menu systems although the option to create your own mobster does add something. near empty streets and lack of NPC models gives the impression this was rushed for release.

GRAPHICS: while some characters look sharp and detailed with decent animation the lack of lighting effects and bland low textured scenery make this look like very last-gen.

SOUND: Good Voice acting with some original cast members, A good if not repetitive score helps set the scene, sound effects are hit and miss.

GAMEPLAY: Some interesting fight mechanics but poor auto-aim, dumb AI and Shakey car controls make for a half baked GTA clone.

LASTING APPEAL: The Story will last some around 6-10 hours but unless you're an achievement junkie you won't come back for more.

  32 out of 47 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Rated - 2 starsGenerally Poor

Gommsta from UK , 27/05/2007

The Godfather was one of the greatest films made. This game isn't.

The story of the game is good (as you'd expect) but the implementation leaves a lot to be desired. Poor controls, poor graphics, poor gameplay. I felt like I was playing a bad PS2 game rather than something 'next gen'. The whole experience just left me feeling cold and very glad that I chose to rent this title rather than play it.

Go rent Saints Row, Crackdown or wait for GTAIV.

  9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Rated - 4 starsquite a good game

A customer from England , 18/10/2006

suppose all round not a bad game but perhaps it could do with a bit of improvement all round but other than that a good game

  8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Rated - 2 starsNot good

c4effect from England , 05/09/2007

Could not get into this game .. felt bad to play,bland, boring and not worthy of 360 ,let alone the price tags to go with..Sorry just seemed like a very underwhelming gta type game suitable for a ps1 that just dont work.............Sent back next day.........2 Stars

  7 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsI didn't get on with the Don

BobSyko from Runcorn [Highly rated reviewer] , 24/01/2008

I wasn't expecting much from this so I was quite impressed to see what was on offer. Extorting businesses, stealing trucks and then selling the loot inside, prize fights, hitman missions and then a load of story missions. I just couldn't enjoy it though.

The biggest problem is the camera and aiming. It's so heavy and you can't hit anything unless you use the auto aim which has a habit of locking on to people that aren't a threat while a guy with a shotgun is standing right next to you.

Even though there are a load of extra bits and bobs to do it is normally too much of a chore because all the mobsters have Tommy guns with infinit ammo and heat seeking bullets which will normally mean you will die five times in a row before you can actually slap the guy around inside until he give you a bit of money.

The main story missions however are very good. Because all the enemies are scripted you aren't facing a wall of Tommy guns so it's just a nice challenge rather than infuriating. You'll run around and do missions based around the story of the Godfather. You don't play any of the characters from the film.

All (as far as I know) of the actors from the film play themselves in the game and they have all lenat their faces as well so it's fairly authentic.

If you are a big fan of the film and you think you can put up with the poblems I have mentioned then you may enjoy it. It's certainly not my cup of tea though.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews

Rated - 2 starsNot good

c4effect from England , 05/09/2007

Could not get into this game .. felt bad to play,bland, boring and not worthy of 360 ,let alone the price tags to go with..Sorry just seemed like a very underwhelming gta type game suitable for a ps1 that just dont work.............Sent back next day.........2 Stars

  7 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews