Last week, EA was kind enough to invite us out to get a preview of the sequel to Godfather the game. I, like a eager little hobbit, jumped at the chance to check it out. You all ready saw my first impressions, and if you didn’t, you can see them here (Thanks Dave). Ready with questions, I was prepared for anything… or so I thought. What they showed us changed my opinion of the franchise.

To find out for better, or worse after the jump.

After dinner and schmoozing Tuesday night, EA had a surprise for us. First things first. If I didn’t tell you about the game, I’d be doing a injustice and they don’t call me Truth and Justice for nothing. Anyway, so, they sat us all down to play a card game. Not just any card game, a card game they created as a way to help us understand the way the new single player worked. Which is pretty dang cool if you ask me. Several of us described it as a mix of Monopoly and Risk. Are you intrigued yet?

So, in the game there are 4 families to choose from and a bunch of different businesses to own.  Each round you get a attack and defense move . If you decide to Attack another player’s business you and your opponent roll dice to see whether or not your attack will be a success. Here is the catch. With each business in the game there is a monopoly of that type of racket, be it gambling, drug running heck even prostitution. By owning a monopoly of any type nets you the bonus of that racket. In the card game bonuses included +2 attack and +3 defense, Guards for your businesses are 50% off among others. So, controlling all of a racket and maintaining that monopoly is a big deal. We had a great time playing, it was full of intense moments as your bonuses were riding on the roll of a dice.

EA had us play the game to see how learning to manage attacking and maintaining our monopolies was key for success. The whole time we were there they impressed their marketing slogan upon us:  “Act like a mobster… Think like a Don.”

Most games of this nature force you to be the big badass and do everything yourself. GTA4 and Saints Row both had you running all around town doing everything yourself.  With Godfather 2 you get to be the Don. Something a lot of people felt the first game lacked. This time around EA gives us the new “Don’s View.” The Don’s view is basically a map of the city showing all businesses controlled by you, or a rival family. This new feature adds a whole new aspect to the game. From the Don’s View you can order your family to do your dirty work. If you wanted to disrupt your enemies racket just send a couple of guys to set it on fire and its done. All this is done without making you feel burdened by micro-managing. It works very well and is a really cool new feature to this genre of game.

More on the gameplay, on page 2.

Popularity: 1% [?]

CONTINUE TO PAGE: 1 2