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How Metascores Are Calculated
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4 Elements
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
 FILM: 
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]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 90
Cheat Code Central
The Godfather is not a perfect game but it's a hell of a lot of fun. There's nothing particularly frustrating about it so the challenges won't be insurmountable to casual gamers. Hardcores can immerse themselves in the mob world and enjoy the game as an interactive movie.
 90
AceGamez
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."
86
IC-Games
The game will shock, however it should entertain, and if you don’t take it too seriously it’ll probably end up being one of the better releases this year.
86
BonusStage
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.
84
Pelit (Finland)
Starts off strong with fun missions that follow the story of the movies nicely. However, towards the end the quality and amount of plot-related missions goes down and the optional missions start to repeat themselves. It is still a fun GTA clone, just not what it could have been. [April 2006]
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Once you get past the fact that the film's somber gravity will in no way translate to the console, The Godfather: The Game is as good a moral perversion as any.
82
XGP Gaming
Bottom line, those who do not care about graphics (when comparing old gen to new gen), and want to save money, I recommend picking up the Xbox/PS2 version of the game. It’s a game no one who enjoys a good mafia theme should miss.
81
GameSpot
The Godfather is a satisfying, lengthy adventure, and more importantly, it remains faithful to the classic film while managing to create a compelling story of its own.
80
Games Radar
The action is bloody and satisfying, the story plays out like exceptionally well-written fan-fiction and the spirit of the movie and its characters are intact.
80
ActionTrip
The type of gameplay has been seen a millions times before. Its sole advantage is that it relies on an extremely powerful narrative, backed up by a serious cast and admirable music. It's all about car chases, street shootouts, controlling diverse rackets and respecting fellow family members.
80
2404.org
This game does nothing to besmirch the Godfather’s impressive legacy – in fact, its use of the license is arguably its greatest strength.
80
GameZone
While the gameplay may have some problems, EA certainly cut no corners while making this game an authentic Godfather experience.
80
The New York Times
The game's attempt to create a vast, thriving city is undercut by a lack of variety. The Godfather's New York apparently has only a single architect: when you've seen one nightclub or butcher shop, you know how all the others will look. And while the game focuses heavily on driving, there are only seven models of cars.
79
IGN
Despite obvious areas in need of improvement, I had a blast playing The Godfather. Taking over businesses and rackets became an obsession. About ruling the other families? The process of taking them over is unique, tough and hugely rewarding.
78
Ferrago
Fans of The Godfather will be pleased to hear that the game based on the film hasn't trodden down the same path as disasters such as "Enter The Matrix"; but isn't quite up there with consensual videogame classics such as the Nintendo 64's "GoldenEye."
73
PC Gamer
It's unfortunate that this game occasionally decides to shoot you in the face rather than hand you a cannoli. [May 2006, p.52]
70
Total Video Games
The emphasis on driving, the lack of scope in the side-quests, and the subsequent compulsion to complete the main mission, are definite weak spots in the game, the result being that players will all to easily get bogged down in the general repetitiveness of the experience.
70
Yahoo! Games
The game itself is an uneven mishmash of fighting, driving, and shooting. Call it Grand Theft Goodfellas; if someone took Rockstar Games' popular Grand Theft Auto series, moved its setting to New York, and then sent it via the Wayback machine to post-World War II New York, the result would be The Godfather.
70
Sydney Morning Herald
Adapting one of Hollywood's masterpieces was brave, but it's a pity the game designers lacked the courage of their convictions, choosing to shoehorn Grand Theft Auto into the mafia setting.
66
PC Gamer UK
Lacking both the playful irony and delight in detail of the GTAs, The Godfather is a simple brute of a game. In one sense, it's a missed opportunity; in another it's a regrettable betrayal of a masterful and much-loved film. [May 2006, p.78]
65
Play Magazine
The fighting in all its forms proves to be a sticking point, and Godfather suffers accordingly. [May 2006, p.49]
63
PC Format
Diverting mob brutality, but nothing like the films, and downright ugly. [May 2006, p.95]
63
Computer Games Online RO
The game is full of bugs which will crash the game in certain situations, like being followed by the Police and not taking the exact route during Michael’s escape from the restaurant.
60
games(TM)
EA has turned it into a story about gain. Whereas the motive of violence was once to illustrate Michael’s downward spiral, here it is merely a tool with which to boost your bank balance. [May 2006, p.118]
60
VideoGamer
It just doesn't have the scope to match Rockstar's efforts though, and the driving sections aren't thrilling enough to get the pulse really racing.
60
GameSpy
You can make the argument that a videogame needs more action, but instead of building up any suspense that leads to action, the game beats you over the head with the action to the point of desensitization. That might work for a generic mob game, but when you slap The Godfather label on it, that raises the standards a bit.
60
Jolt Online Gaming UK
A huge, lazy and sometimes glitchy disappointment of a game. The character progression really doesn’t provide a strong enough excuse to keep playing after the initial joy of the combat has dissipated, and the number of times you find yourself going through the same old motions during missions smacks of padding of a magnitude normally associated with the corpulent Don.
60
Times Online
Though The Godfather is competent, it is also bland, despite the voices of James Caan and Robert Duvall, and you rarely feel a sense of power.
57
PC Zone UK
I wanted so badly to be enjoying myself, with all the effort that had gone into the characters and likenesses, but I wasn't allowed to. And now I am cross.
57
Gamer 2.0
It really is baffling that EA kept The Godfather as it is. What with all the repetition involved in finishing the game, you’d have thought someone would have piped in: “Uh, you know, it gets kinda boring repeating the same mechanics over and over”.
50
Computer Games Magazine
Unsophisticated mission design and racketeering repetition make it less ideal for non-fans. [July 2006, p.57]
40
Edge Magazine
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]
Karl G gave it an8: Nicolas W gave it a10: Aeschylus One gave it a9: Tiago D. gave it an8: E Scar gave it a6: Cesco gave it an8: JJ E. gave it a9: |
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