Godfather II

Release Date – April 2009

Developer – Electronic Arts

Platforms - PS3, X360, PC

EA's second installment in the Godfather franchise is quite memorable for the hype it received during release time and the polarised reviews it accumulated as some found the gameplay fun while others considered it bland.

8 years later, the game hasn't aged that much and its reception has improved with the years that have passed by, and the nostalgia factor remains ever present.

The game starts off with the protagonist Dominic in a New Year's party in Cuba with the important figures of the Corleone family. And players get to meet the previous game's unnamed protagonist, Aldo Trapani. Aldo is shown to be the in charge of the Corleone Family in New York, in continuation of the previous title. But the party gets ambushed and Dominic and co. have to get Michael and the others to safety to their private airplane. Midway, Aldo gets shot and upon completion of the mission, Michael announces that Dominic is the new head of the Corleone Family's criminal empire.

From that point onwards, the game turns into a story of vengeance and betrayals. What makes Godfather II stand out is its frenetic gameplay. The shooting aspects of the game are fun and aren't buggy nor complicated. The simplicity of it makes the game's shooting system smoother than most sandbox titles. The free roam features of the game consists of a beautiful environment to explore with the sunny visuals of Miami, the big city feel of New York and a war torn Cuba serving as the perfect 60s setting. The driving elements also feature smooth mechanics and give a very soothing experience considering how many sandbox titles lack a good driving mechanism.

One of the game's most unique aspects is the involvement of pedestrians. If locals see you doing something illegal, they will tell on you to the cops and you can choose to bribe them or downright eliminate them. Another aspect is getting to control a criminal family. As the head, Dominic must take over all the businesses owned by the other families and he has the ability to recruit soldiers for his family. Each character has a different skill set and they can be sent to take over different businesses if you feel like not doing it. Dominic can also use links within the government and police as favours while having to do something for them in exchange. These favours come in handy as the game progresses.

Godfather II is a great title with a lively environment and makes up for a lack of side features with frantic gameplay and an innovative business features that require you to be strategic with your approach. So what are you waiting for? Revisit this amazing title and have a blast.