This game just keeps getting better. The Godfather: The Don's Edition for the Sony PS3 is going to be the best version of this title yet. Sharper graphics, added content, and Sony's Sixaxis controller have all combined to make a real winner of a game. EA seems to have taken the time to improve upon a great concept and produce a truly tight gaming experience. The Don's Edition seems genuinely fresh and updated. The controls are smoother, the explosions are better, and the character development is much deeper.

Sony's Sixaxis controller has not yet been put to the test. Until now it has seemed to be more of a novelty rather than a new control-scheme. The Godfather: The Don's Edition changes all that. The majority of the time the gamer will be using the familiar analog sticks but at just the right moments you will be swinging the controller to smash a merchant's head into his cash register, or thrust it forward and back to give a rival thug a much needed head-butt. The incorporation of the motion controls are seamless and greatly enhance the overall experience.

Graphically, the game is sharper than it was on the PS2 but really isn't any better than it was on the Xbox 360. One noticeable difference can be seen in the various explosions throughout the game. They are much more realistic and impressive. Interactive environments will also make the firefights seem very chaotic and raise your blood pressure. Also, if you have an HDTV and an HDMI cable linking your PS3 to it, you will notice hundreds of sharp "jaggies" outlining the objects and characters. Certainly the graphics are as good as they have ever been for the series, but are not as intensely rich as PS3 owners expect them to be.

The amount of new content brought to The Don's Edition is impressive. New vehicles, side missions, expanded areas, hit squads, and character progression all make this game much deeper. There is a lot more to do in this version and the new branching character development almost makes it feel like an RPG. No, you're not going to have to incessantly manage inventory, but you can choose the way in which you want your character to deal with the world around him. For example, if you want to break skulls like Luca Brasi then go ahead and make your character an enforcer by strengthening combat attributes. However, if you want to pull the strings like Don Corleone himself, then you need to become an operator. As you progress through the game, not only will you choose which attributes to develop, you will also be given perks that will make your character even more powerful and more specialized.

Overall, The Godfather: The Don's Edition will make a welcome addition to your PS3 library. Even if you already own the game on your PS2 you may want to give the game a second try. The game developers at EA seem to have outdone themselves and have taken a quality game and made it into a very polished and very special one. If you're a fan of the original game and are looking for more fun or if you haven't played The Godfather before, look for its release in mid-March. You won't be disappointed. Check back with CCC in the coming weeks to get the skinny from our full review.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

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