Last gen’s adaptation of one of the most highly regarded American films, The Godfather, featured tense third-person turf war shootouts, crime empire building, and an authentic all-star cast including Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and James Caan. The Godfather 2′s gameplay is almost identical. Shaking down businesses, bombing rival families, melee and cover-based combat. The Godfather 2 however also has it’s share of improvements as well as shortcomings.
The Godfather Part 2, one of the greatest movie sequels of all-time, stars Robert Deniro and Al Pacino. neither appear in the Godfather 2 game (Robert Duvall is the only star voice actor). Michael Corleone does not even feature Al Pacino’s likeness, nor does Deniro as young Vito as The Godfather 2 focuses entirely on the Michael Corleone era without any flashbacks of Vito whatsoever. The Godfather 2 even goes so far as to change key events from the film entirely such as how Michael and Fredo’s relationship ends (even the location of the event is different).
As above stated, the core gameplay remains mostly unchanged from it’s predecessor. The objective is to complete story missions as well as put other crime families out of business one at a time by assembling a crew (or family) of your own. Recruiting individuals with the correct skills will allow you to pick locks, break down doors, and create doors of your own (among other skills) to gain an advantage over your enemies. Also new to the game are the up close and personal executions, most of which are particularly brutal, easily earning it’s M rating.
While The Godfather 2 may not be winning any awards for it’s storytelling, graphics, or unnecessary (and now defunct) multiplayer mode, it’s still a decent play for Godfather fans and third-person action fans alike.