System: Wii
Dev: EA
Pub: EA
Release: March 20, 2007
Players: 1
Rating: Pending
Review by Matthew Walker

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

While the city environments bring nothing to speak about to the game. The character models are some of the best available on the Wii right now. It all starts when you make your Mob Face, just like other games where you can make you own character, except they look better here. There have also been improvements to the design of your character from previous versions of the game.

From the first moment you see Don Vito Corleone, you realize how much time was spent into making this game an homage to the films. Unfortunately, not everyone will look as good as the Don or you. Some of the characters, Luca for instance, fell victim to the over-detail-syndrome plaguing the gaming world. What should have been a very close resemblance to Luca, turned out to be more of Luca meets a cheese grater that did not work. Again though, most of the character models add a sense of realism to the game unlike the less than perfect environments. Even though they are a far cry from the cardboard cutouts of the PS2 version, there could have been a little more detail mixed into the cities.

The sound quality of the game is great. The only complaint I have for the voice over work is the absence of Al Pacino. Having him would have brought that little extra to the already stellar script of the game. In fact, the script is so well executed that you really feel like this was another story going on inside of the film, to the point of watching the film just to see if you can find a character sitting off to the side that could be the role you are playing in the game. Even the repetitive rival family members do not get on your nerves that much. However, the repetitive nature of the music when you are in a vehicle diminishes the stellar score of the film. If you were a fan of the memorable Godfather theme before, you may not be once you are done with the game.

The Blackhand Edition brings a lot to the table for a remake of a remake. There is more to do than in the previous installments to stretch out those hours of gameplay. The dynamic Wii-mote allows you to really become involved with "family business" like never before. If you have played the Godfather before, it does not matter in the least, you will enjoy this game if for no other reason than to hold you over until the new Grand Theft Auto. Sit back and dig in with your fists as you work you way to the top of New York as the new Don.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Freelance Writer

Features:

Family Business with the Wii
by Matthew Walker

If you have never experienced The Godfather films, then I recommend you stop reading this preview and race out to your local video store and rent them (well, at least the first two). As I am sure that no one is guilty of committing such an entertainment fallacy, we can continue. When The Godfather game premiered on the PS2, fans of the books and the movies clamored together and showed how much they appreciate the Corleone family. Not long after, The Godfather made its next-gen debut on the Xbox 360 with new content and sharper graphics.

Well, now EA wants to let you experience the life of a Don in a way that involves a level of immersion that everyone should be excited about. Especially Wii enthusiasts, since March is the month to build your empire in The Godfather: Blackhand Edition.

Do not be fooled into thinking that this is just a replica of the 360 version. While most would consider the 360 version to be the Director's Cut of the PS2 title, the Blackhand Edition would be the Ultimate Collector's Edition. With additional missions and overall game content, the Wii version will bring that something extra that other systems cannot - true player involvement. The main story will be the same. A child witnesses the death of his father and Don Corleone comforts the child telling him that when he gets older he will have his opportunity to take revenge upon his father's murderers. Fast-forward a few years and you are recruited in a way by Luca. Through Luca, you will begin your career as the future Don. From this point on, your storyline will intertwine with the events from the first movie and your own story.

This new edition will incorporate new ways for you to go from Street Thug to the Don. For instance, you will be able to walk down the path of the Enforcer or Operator, each with its own unique benefits and abilities to earn. Now you can chat up specific characters to get the skinny on dirty cops, take down two additional updated compounds of rival families, execute five new contract hits, and call in larger Corleone Hit Squads when the going gets tough. Speaking of the Hit Squads, you can call in the four man squads that will wipe the floor with anyone around you. They will also stick with you for a little bit, add this to the continued ability to hire someone to stick by you on missions, and you have got yourself a small jaw-busting bruiser crew. You also can pay to have the Police on your side. Still available is the bribe option, where you can pay the cop to look the other way; now, however, you pay the entire police force to take to the streets heeding your command. Combined with your already impressive hit squad and any rival family in your path should just step aside, but they won't and that will be the fun of it.

The Blackhand Edition will make full use of the Wii-mote and Nunchuk for many of the game's actions. If someone is on their knees, you just pull the controllers in an upwards manner to lift them off the ground. Moving the controllers from side to side will yank them around, and pushing them forward and then releasing the grab buttons will shove them away. The combat is handled in a very familiar way reminiscent to Wii Sports Boxing. If you want to throw a hook, you actually have to throw one and your onscreen persona will land your vicious left-hook. Execution moves will be done via performing gestures. If you have a bat in your hand, you can sneak up behind someone and pull both controllers towards you and your character will strangle the guy. Pushing the controllers forward while wielding a shotgun will toss the guy to the ground and then blow his head off. Similarly, you will strangle someone with your bare hands if you move your hands from your sides to meet together out in front of you. Using the Wiimote in these innovative ways is what we have been waiting for from the Wii.

Driving and general movement will default to being controlled via the Nunchuk's analog stick, with camera movement assigned to the D-pad on the Wii-mote. Aiming will still be done via a lock-on system with the Wii-mote used to dial in pressure point shots to the knees, arms or whatever. On the other hand, you will be given the option to switch to a free-aiming mode, in which all of your aiming and steering will be done with just the Wii-mote.

The skill tree will still be present with additions to support the Enforcer and Operator paths you can now take. In addition to all of the great things already present for the Blackhand Edition, there will still be rooftop battles, but now they will feel more commonplace. You will also be able to take over a couple of transportation hubs, like a train station. These hubs will increase the amount of loot you get exponentially. Finally, the small tweaks that EA has added will please any gamer. Now the compounds will be uniquely designed, as opposed to the carbon copies from earlier editions. There will also be more pedestrians roaming the streets, with their own model uniqueness, amongst the vehicles. One of the new skills that you can acquire involves the many vehicles throughout the game. You can now inflict your own kind of justice with brutal results using innovative car bombs.

You would think that a new edition to a game, actually a new edition to the new edition, would not generate this much excitement, but it looks like this installment might live up to the hype. The exciting thing about the Wii has been the thought process behind the Wii-mote and now we get to see developers like EA integrating elements into their games that separate the Wii from power hungry next-gen competitors. With the stage set for one of the first rivalries in the next-gen gaming wars, only time will tell which console will become the Don of The Godfather. Check back here soon to read our review.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Freelance Writer