The Godfather on PSP (2006)

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 PSP version of The Godfather has two action-packed and interconnected game modes - your progress in one mode benefits you in the other. Undertake missions and play out some of the most memorable scenes from the movie in the Story Mode. The other mode is the PSP exclusive Mob Wars Strategy Mode. This mode challenges you to match strategies against the other New York families (Tattaglia, Stracci, Cuneo and Barzini) as you attempt to take over turf one territory at a time. If you need more firepower or cash to complete your Mob Wars missions, it is possible to head back to Story Mode to unlock additional weapon upgrades. To become the Don of New York City, you must complete both game modes.

The Story Mode 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' to ultimately becoming the Don of New York City. As previously mentioned, this can only be achieved by completing both the Story Mode and Mob Wars Strategy Mode.