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Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 111 Ratings

  • Summary: The book by Mario Puzo and classic film by Paramount Pictures serve as inspiration for The Godfather, as gamers join the Corleone family and earn respect through loyalty and fear as they rise through the ranks to become Don in a living 1945-1955 New York. Gamers create their own mob character in the game, putting themselves into the action while reliving classic moments from the fiction and experiencing original missions alongside memorable characters from the film. After a life of small-time jobs and petty thefts the player is accepted into the Corleone family, America's most famous criminal organization. It is up to the player to carry out orders, earn respect and make New York City their own. Featuring non-linear action-adventure gameplay, The Godfather offers gamers countless choices for solving the family’s problems with brutal violence, skillful diplomacy, or a cunning mixture of both. From mob hits and bank heists to drive-bys and extortion, step deep inside the world of The Godfather where intimidation and negotiation are your tickets to the top. Players use their powers of loyalty and fear to earn respect through interactions with characters in the world. Decisions made by the player in the game have lasting consequences, just as it was in the mob underworld featured in The Godfather fiction. James Caan, Robert Duvall, and the late Marlon Brando provided voice acting and likenesses for the game. [Electronic Arts] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. I can't see many people disliking this classic gangster romp, which delivers the authentic mob feeling we've been after ever since "GTA III."
  2. Yes, the game’s main collection of 20-plus story missions last roughly 10 hours, but after that you’ll be spending at least two or three times as many hours striving for 100% game completion and the ultimate ascension to Don of NYC.
  3. It's unfortunate that this game occasionally decides to shoot you in the face rather than hand you a cannoli. [May 2006, p.52]
  4. For such a costly flagship title to provide neither the promised statement of mainstream grown-up appeal nor even polished, lesser disposable thrills is a landmark failure. [May 2006, p.92]

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 46
  2. Negative: 20 out of 46
  1. NicolasW
    10
    I dont know what you guys are complaining about. If u just use the default controls then it works fine. With the 256mb nviddia geforce, the graphics are the best i have seen so far. I have not seen the movies and so do not know the similarity. People are complaining about how you cant get out of the car?? What the hell are you talking baout. All you have to do is press a button. If you cant then either you have a very slow computer or bad hand eye coordination. Because i hvae never had anyproblem whatsoever. The movies in between the action, are thirlling. The story line is great and it cannot at all be compared to GTA. GTA is modern gangsters and yuou dont have all the fun of taking over stores, becoming a don. THIS GAME DEFINITLY DOES NOT EVEN COMPARE TO GTA... Expand
  2. It doesn't matter whether it's as good as the film or not. The game is still very impressive in the detail, and I found the gameplay to be very fun. Taking over businesses and warehouses never got boring- especially considering the excellent combat system which isn't too easy, but isn't hard either. It's a completely different take on the sandbox genre and I, despite not having seen the films and loving GTA, still think this game deserves more credit. Expand
  3. Al
    7
    First, The players, who experience the problem with inverted control, do so because they use the no-DVD patch. This
  4. EverettO.
    4
    I bought the game about a month ago. I only have a laptop because I travel so much, so the graphics for me aren't great cause my video is integrated in the motherboard. I would imagine the graphics look good on a serious gaming machine PC, the main characters were all very well done. Everyone (everything) else is too repetitive; as written earlier, the same bakers, same smoke shops, same people on the street, same cars, same layouts in a business, etc. It really can get to be too much. The PC controls can be easily fixed by pausing, going to the OPTIONS menu and CHECKING the INVERT BOX, makes everything normal (Left is left, etc). Driving takes skill in my opinion. I was VERY frustrated the first few missions while driving, especially after getting slammed into a wall after I thought I had gotten the hang of it...stick with the small fast cars (found in Brooklyn and Midtown)-fastest speed with the best control. In my opinion the MISSIONS are great because they flawlessly intertwine you into the storyline from the movie. Once they are done though, extorting another 30 restaurants and 10 warehouses just seems boring. The weapons are cool (I've mastered the game using the Level 3 Assassin Pistol and Level 3 Street Sweeper, no other guns needed)...blowing up stuff, burning bad guys, shooting holes through trucks, and cracking people's heads open with lead pipes and baseball bats also has it's appeal. You're offered a plethora of hit contracts and various ways they must be carried out for bonus cash and respect which is VERY entertaining. You'll probably play it once stumbling through, second time going for all the bonus stuff, and then want to sell it/return it because it just becomes repetetive; you'll know exactly where every bad guy will hide in a warehouse, where to expect all the suprises like cops coming up on you, and the end just doesn't give you that sense of accomplishment. Expand

See all 46 User Reviews