“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

If you have been living under a rock the past three decades, then you may have no clue who uttered this infamous quote. Give up? This came from none other than screen legend Marlon Brando -- as Don Corleone -- in the classic movie “The Godfather.” Electronic Arts has brought this gritty world of the Italian mafia to life in their latest multi-platform title The Godfather: The Game. So what is the deal with this return to the nostalgia of the 1970's? In 2005, we had the hit Rockstar Game The Warriors, and now this title from EA. What is next…. a remake of “E.T.”? Regardless of the current rebirth of a latter cinematic era, EA has put together an impressive package that honors the legacy of “The Godfather” series. But… is this just GTA with a dose of severed horse head?

Graphically, this late generation PS2 title (*sniff sniff your days are numbered PS2), has a rather strong showing in this department. Character models display a wealth of detail, and animate nicely and realistically to boot, showing off body language customary of thugs and pedestrians alike. There is a little roughness to some of the characters, especially up close, but it doesn’t detract that much. Authentic hair and clothing styles also help this era look nothing but classy.

EA also has recreated a vibrant New York of the mid-20th century - cozy shops, shady alleyways and antique cars round out the scenery. Such places as Brooklyn, Hell’s Kitchen, Little Italy, Midtown and New Jersey are present, complete with signature landmarks. In comparison to the make-believe of GTA, this attention to realism is duly noted. Even inside of these buildings, we can see more faithfulness to the era’s interior design from quaint light fixtures, hardwood floors, exposed bricks and more. Rounding out the solid graphics are some equally eye-catching particle effects, highlighted by fiery explosions, something you will grow accustomed to in this savage world of mob warfare.

Sound is another strong area for The Godfather. Expect classic orchestral music bringing home visions of meatballs and Tommy guns alike. Obviously with the movie tie-in, Paramount Studios and EA brought together some of the very same actors to reprise their roles in virtual form. Such consummate professionals like James Caan, Robert Duvall, and even the late Marlon Brando, add a rich tapestry of voice work. Sadly though, Al Pacino was not onboard for this product, no doubt a real puzzler, and I can only guess on why he didn’t rejoin his fellow actors to celebrate their respective roles. It may have something to do with Universal and the upcoming Scarface game… Kinda reminds me of the whole issue with Michael Jordan in video games. All you had was a number for the greatest player in all of basketball… just because someone else signed him away. Pretty depressing. Sentimentality aside, there is some excellent sound quality here and it helps to reinforce the increasing trend of major talent signing on to videogames.

You begin the game as the young son of a recently gunned down Corleone family mobster. Don Vito Corleone promises you revenge for your grief, and in return you side with his cause, however nefarious it turns out to be. Years later, you can fully customize this character-down to hair, nose, eyes, clothes and so on. While not as impressive or deep as the City of Heroes/Villains creation screen, it adds a further layer of immersion that is nicely done.

Like Grand Theft Auto, the game world is laid out in non-linear fashion, with lots of side-missions to go on, and these are often more enjoyable than the central storyline (Oblivion anyone…?). The real measure of success in the world of the gangster is respect - and of course, having a nice chunk of cash doesn’t hurt either. But without the respect factor that can lead to bribing of local law enforcement, the coercion of shopkeepers and the other families, these Mafiosos would be hollow creatures, reeking of cigar smoke and marinara sauce. You can actually build up these respect points, and people will react in various ways as they interact with you - most notably fear or appreciation. You will also accrue skill points as you progress, which can be applied to health, speed, shooting and this adds a small element of RPG dynamics to the table.

Now… you may ask how exactly does your made-up character factor into a movie storyline, one in which many diehard fans have memorized backwards and forwards. Well, you will often be an accessory to an event, such as a “hit” or driving an escape car. Personally, being one of the few folks who never really got into the series, I found the in-game cut scenes (that mirror the movie scenes) pretty intriguing and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the real deal soon enough. No doubt EA/Paramount banks on the fact that the majority of their audience being young adults and teens, probably have never seen this classic either … I mean, there is only so much time in the day to fit in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and Calculus homework…

Most of the gameplay is concerned with violence. Big surprise, eh? As the strong-arm of the Corleone family, you will often have to rough up a few shopkeepers in order to garner some extra green. Of course, you aren’t the only "paisan" in the area, and other families will take offense to you cutting in on their territory. This is best remedied by a solid dose of lead, followed by a touch of Molotov cocktail. Speaking of the arsenal, you have a wide assortment of arms beside the infamous alcoholic bomb. Shotguns, Tommy guns, revolvers, bats and so forth round out the rest of your tools of the trade. After all, a plumber has his trusty wrench, and a mobster is never without his faithful gun. The lock-on feature is pretty smart most of the time, and you can manual aim as well, so there aren’t too many hiccups in the heat of combat. Location damage and effects are also possible, such as the venerable headshot, or even taking out someone’s knees in grisly fashion. Melee-combat is surprisingly robust as well. You can tweak your moves by flicking the analog sticks while locked onto your enemies; we are talking street brawling at it’s finest -- elbows, head-butts and the good ‘ol haymaker for the K.O. Beyond the real-time action, you can also extort folks for information of allegiance if they happen to be a merchant, sort of like in last year's The Punisher. While I’m still partial to disposing of my enemies in an aquarium of piranhas, the system in The Godfather also works quite well.

Finally, if the random missions and main storyline don’t grab you, the opportunity to rise to the top of the food chain and take over all of New York is at your fingertips -- but it ain’t easy. You have to disrupt rival families' businesses, from blowing up warehouses or eliminating the muscle, all of which culminates in a final showdown at the enemy compound.

Don’t be alarmed when I say this game is no cakewalk. It takes some time to grasp the game controls -- from the targeting, driving and how the world interacts with your persona. It’s not so much an issue of wonky controls, as those are rather snappy and responsive, but more to do with the 3rd-person angles of combat, specifically when things get a bit hectic. Tracking the enemies, switching to manual, changing firearms to melee weapons - it can be a tad daunting at first.

A.I. is competent enough to serve your butt a few times as well. They do the customary actions like ducking, using cover and are decent shots. Overall, gamers familiar with Mafia or GTA, should be better off than coming than others, but it’s ultimately nothing to fret about -- so “fugghet about it!”

As mentioned before, the controls are pretty spot on. The intuitive combat system that utilizes the analog sticks in an innovative way is a refreshing break from the monotony of button mashing. Here, you have to deftly work all manner of buttons to enact some visceral moves on your opponents. It’s not too complex so that it will fluster you, but it’s just enough to keep you involved and excited about dishing out some punishment.

In the end, The Godfather is an excellent game for any gamer’s library, and those fans of the classic Francis Ford Coppola movies will be remiss if they go without. No doubt, this title will eventually shift to the Classic Hits, and bump down to the customary $20 range, so don’t fret the initial price tag. While some may cite it’s reliance on too many overused formulas, there is no doubt that the gameplay is still entertaining, the graphics and sound equally solid, and the storyline gripping. All this adds up to provide plenty of incentive to buy this game, and might just be, “...an offer you can’t refuse.”