The Godfather: The Game for Windows

Free rerelease of an RPG classic

The Godfather: The Game is a free adventure game from Electronic Arts. Originally released in 2006, this open-world experience puts the player in the fictional 1970s that served as the setting for the classic film of the same title. In this game, you play as an original, non-canon character, Aldo Trapani. You join the Corleone family and rise through the ranks by performing different tasks for the family.

Despite its blocky and dated graphics, The Godfather: The Game remains known for its immersive storytelling that complements the films. It’s a lot like Mafia 2 and Grand Theft Auto V.

Become the New York underboss

In terms of story, concept, and gameplay progression, The Godfather: The Game sticks closely to the source material. You play as a new family underling for the Corleones, working directly under Vito Corleone. As a soldier for the family, you accomplish a series of increasingly challenging tasks, ending in a well-executed final mission that cements the family’s hold on New York City.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a lot like the GTA games. It is mostly open-world but offers a main storyline dedicated players can follow. It’s also worth noting that it isn’t an official release from EA, but rather a rebuild. Therefore, it retains the original art style but uses improved animation and graphics texture. More importantly, this version includes a couple of missions and hits not included in the original release.

Also, by retaining the original voice acting, players also get to experience quality sound lines from actors in the film who reprised their roles in the game. Of course, with standards as high as those of the source material, it’s no surprise that it comes up short. The cutscenes, in particular, feel lifeless and lack the cinematic appeal the source material was known for.

An imperfect but enjoyable spinoff

Ultimately, this rebuilt The Godfather: The Game retains the good points of the original game while also leveraging technology to improve some of its technical aspects. Better graphics, original voice-over lines, and improved animations all make this classic worth revisiting. Still, the cinematic cutscenes lack the flair of the source materials, creating a minor space for opportunity. Fans of the film or the original release should check this out.