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THE GODFATHER (X360)
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Publisher: EA.
Developer: EA Redwood Shores. Released: September 2006. Genre: Open World. Other versions: XBOX; PS3; PS2; PSP; WII; PC. Posted 23rd May 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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The Godfather was part of both the ever-expanding sandbox genre and an odd trend during the mid-2000s of adapting classic movies into games, along with the likes of Scarface: The World is Yours and Jaws Unleashed. EA Redwood Shores would take the 1972 classic and try to distill it in an open world and, unlike Scarface, which added an odd epilogue to the original, this would instead allow you to create a mobster who becomes part of the story. It’s a unique approach that ultimately pays off. As both an interactive reimagining of the mobster epic and a video game in its own right, The Godfather is mostly a success.
Like the film it shares its name with, the game sees you following the Corleone family as they attempt to move up the ranks in a 1950s New York controlled by mobster families. The key difference is your playable character. After witnessing the murder of your father at the hands of the Barzini family, Don Corleone promises you revenge when you’re old enough, and nine years later, Luca Brasi begins your initiation. What follows is a choice selection of key moments from the film, ranging from the persuasion of Jack Woltz with horse-based chicanery to the Baptism, along with a unique plot involving your character’s affection for the sister of fellow mobster Monk Malone. Both work very well, feeling like a faithful re-creation of the story while adding enough unique changes to warrant a look for experienced viewers, and seeing iconic moments recreated in gaming form is quite novel.
The Godfather takes scenes from the film and melds them with a new arc that sees the player rising through the mobster ranks
It helps that many of the characters you grew to love return, be it in virtual form or through the return of their original actors. The likes of Marlon Brando and Lenny Montana, while unable to reprise their roles, are aided by quality soundalikes and faithful character models. Meanwhile, big names such as James Caan and Robert Duvall would reprise their roles and lend their likenesses from the film, and plenty of time had passed between the release of the film and the emergence of the game, it sounds perfect. The only issue comes from Michael Corleone, and the fact Al Pacino refused his likeness due to his appearance in The World is Yours. As such, he bears no likeness to the original Michael and his actor lacks the intensity of Pacino’s fiery delivery. Even in unlockable movie clips, his moments are cut. His role in the story is reduced, though he is still prominent in the latter half of the game. This aside, you couldn’t ask for much more.
Of course, much of the game is spent exploring a re-creation of 1950s New York, and The Godfather works on this front too. The sandbox comprises several districts, with the Corleone homebase Little Italy, Brooklyn and Midtown adjoined with Hell’s Kitchen. It has the scope of a large city but doesn’t feel tedious to explore, with vehicles handling well and bearing speed despite their age. Some may opine about the tunnels required to travel to each district, but a complete lack of loading times is impressive. There’s a ton of content to explore within this city. Main missions let you relive the film’s story, favours see you aiding characters from the film, activities such as fights and drug racket bombings can be undertaken and taking over the city by improving your reputation. Completionists could play for upwards of thirty hours, which is plenty satisfying.
Of course, much of the game is spent exploring a re-creation of 1950s New York, and The Godfather works on this front too. The sandbox comprises several districts, with the Corleone homebase Little Italy, Brooklyn and Midtown adjoined with Hell’s Kitchen. It has the scope of a large city but doesn’t feel tedious to explore, with vehicles handling well and bearing speed despite their age. Some may opine about the tunnels required to travel to each district, but a complete lack of loading times is impressive. There’s a ton of content to explore within this city. Main missions let you relive the film’s story, favours see you aiding characters from the film, activities such as fights and drug racket bombings can be undertaken and taking over the city by improving your reputation. Completionists could play for upwards of thirty hours, which is plenty satisfying.
FOCAL POINT: A MOBSTER'S PARADISE
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Perhaps The Godfather’s greatest asset is how it almost serves as a Mobster simulator. There’s something immensely satisfying about raising your character from low-level thug to Don, and the main side activity supports this endeavour. Each district has businesses to take over, owned by another gang, and often requires persuasion through intimidation to convince the owners. It never grows old, as you can opt to intimidate with vandalism to their premise, direct violence or even taking out nearby gang members to send a message. Businesses also often house an unsavoury Racket which you can take over too, and all this adds to a daily income which grows as you control the city. You can eventually wipe out a gang by bombing their compound, which is challenging but gratifying to execute. It makes great use of the sandbox to encourage exploring, and the activities prove rather fun to boot.
Not everything is flawless, however. Like many sandbox games of the time, shooting doesn’t feel wholly comfortable. That’s not to say it’s bad, as a range of potent weaponry from Tommy guns to dynamite prove fun to use, and taking down waves of goons is enjoyable. The lock-on system is perhaps the main source of contention, as it can struggle to snap to different targets even with a push of the analogue stick. It can mean struggling to change target after downing a foe and leading to you being gunned down. The early going is particularly troublesome, as your low health sees you resembling a glass jar. The other side of combat fares better though, as hand-to-hand is brutal and enables you to perform some nasty executions. There are 47 in total, requiring you to utilise all weapons and perform some stranger kills such as throwing goons into a furnace, but it shows the malleability of combat encounters.
Coming a few months after sixth-gen versions, The Godfather’s arrival on Xbox 360 proved a slight improvement, though still behind the likes of Saints Row. Its world is made up of fairly plain textures, characters outside of the main cast can look and animate weirdly and frame rate drops are common during intense police chases. However, the new lighting and weather effects look great for the time, explosions are vastly improved over prior versions and some interiors boast improved visuals. Your character can be customised with several clothing options, but otherwise looks a bit plain next to detailed central characters. The sound remains ace at least, with high-quality voicework adding legitimacy to the story, smart use of iconic music from the score and potent effects for gunfire, explosions and melee attacks.
Coming a few months after sixth-gen versions, The Godfather’s arrival on Xbox 360 proved a slight improvement, though still behind the likes of Saints Row. Its world is made up of fairly plain textures, characters outside of the main cast can look and animate weirdly and frame rate drops are common during intense police chases. However, the new lighting and weather effects look great for the time, explosions are vastly improved over prior versions and some interiors boast improved visuals. Your character can be customised with several clothing options, but otherwise looks a bit plain next to detailed central characters. The sound remains ace at least, with high-quality voicework adding legitimacy to the story, smart use of iconic music from the score and potent effects for gunfire, explosions and melee attacks.
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Driving, shooting and exploration: expect all manner of jobs as you move about New York
The Godfather was one of those rare licensed games that works as an adaptation of something iconic and a fun game on its own terms. While it still suffers woes common to sandbox titles of the time, and perhaps doesn’t take full advantage of the new hardware, it nevertheless offers a gratifying experience for wannabe mobsters. Engaging story missions, satisfying progression systems and plenty of content to explore ensure it will remain in your Xbox 360 for some time. If you can overcome some technical woes and mechanical quirks, it can prove a good alternative to the heavy hitters of the time. Whether you’re looking for a new way to experience the iconic film or just want to cause some chaos in 1950s New York, it’s well worth a look.
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VERDICT"Though it suffers a few mechanical and technical woes, The Godfather offers an engaging story, satisfying progression systems and plenty of content for wannabe mobsters." OVERALL: 7/10 |
OTHER 2000s SANDBOX GAMES REVIEWED
Narc (2005, Xbox)
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Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (2008, Xbox 360)
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