GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	Electronic Arts
	PUBLISHER
	Electronic Arts
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Wii owners looking for something on the meatier side haven't been given a great deal to chew on. No doubt Ganon has been torn apart by now on more than one occasion. Some of the more ravenous gamers may even have already gobbled up Mario's newest multi-dimensional adventure. EA looks to satiate some of that hunger until the next (possibly Metroid-flavored) gaming feast and has dressed up its year-old Godfather with some new Wii-exclusive trimmings. The newly-emblazoned Blackhand Edition probably won't be too appetizing to those who have played the previous versions on non-Nintendo consoles, but it's worth a look to anyone else seeking to sink their teeth into a Wii title.

visuals

Compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, Blackhand Edition holds up surprisingly well; although, this might have more to do with the lack of flair in those ports than anything else. A few details stand out, such as the great face models for the characters from the films. The mid-century cars look fine -- better when they're on fire, great when they blow up. Unfortunately, the rest of the world suffers from a severe lack of detail. New York was still brimming with people fifty years ago, but these streets are mostly devoid of people. Without warm bodies to cover them, the bland textures and boring buildings make most of the areas blend together. Besides a few bright spots, the visuals remain mostly unremarkable.

audio

Port or no, the voice team that EA assembled for The Godfather is simply phenomenal. Abe Vigoda, James Caan, Robert Duvall and even the late Marlon Brando lend lines, which really fills out the Godfather feel. The authentic score is also here, though the main theme's impact is diminished by its repetition. These elements are high above the rest of the sound department, which doesn't bang, crash or screech any better or worse than other games of the genre.

gameplay

It may sound too easy, and it may make the developers cringe, but Blackhand Edition can really just be summed up as Grand Theft Auto set in the 1950s. Players create a character and are set in a familiar storyline wherein Don Vito Corleone takes you in and starts you off as a thug. Soon enough, you'll climb the ranks to become the ruler of the New York underground. Missions vary from shooting guys and racing away from the cops to blowing up guys and racing away from rival mobs and so on. Every mission is just varied enough -- whether by its location or specific objectives -- to separate each one from the last. It's fine enough for a while, but it becomes monotonous in long play periods.

Peppered in between the main storyline are various hit contracts and the ability to extort businesses and rackets to earn money. The latter is done by intimidating the business owner or ringleader by either smashing up their goods or their face. It's a bit addicting to travel around the city, collecting faithful protection payments like so many pocket-sized monsters, but the actual dirty work itself gets a bit boring after a while. At least going through the motions earns respect points, which can be used to beef up your character in a variety of ways from weapons handling to extorting bonuses. Blackhand Edition also features all the bonus content of the 360 version along with even more new areas, missions and weapons. These wrinkles help distinguish Blackhand Edition from the rest of the genre.

The other thing that distinguishes Blackhand is, of course, the Wii control scheme. The setup isn't unlike Twilight Princess. Movement is controlled by the nunchuk, precise aiming is available by pointing the Wii remote at the scree, and melee weapons are swung with flicks of the remote. Things get interesting when extorting or interrogating, though. Throwing someone backwards into a table is as simple as pushing forward with both hands and letting go of a button. Picking the victim back up takes just a quick thrust upwards, as if pulling him by his coat. Jabs can be thrown with the nunchuk and remote corresponding as each hand, and slamming both down results in a satisfying headbutt. While a bit sadistic, this is the best implementation of Wii controls in the game. The slightly gratuitous execution moves are harder to pull off, requiring odd swings of the controller to dispatch enemies in stylish fashions. This becomes especially frustrating in a firefight, but at least the moves are optional.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

When the original games were announced, many bemoaned the idea of a classic like The Godfather being cashed in for a quick buck on a video game. Though the game didn't turn out too bad, it's still a shame to see such a cinematic landmark be reduced to running and gunning. A game that deserves to be alongside the film would have to be a breathtaking achievement in original design and execution. Blackhand Edition has a few high points, but it's hard not to think of what a Godfather game could have truly been.

7.0/10