The Godfather started life as a 1969 crime novel. Quite soon after its release, it was adapted by the author Mario Puzo, along with Francis Ford Coppola, into a sprawling three-part movie epic. It tells the story of a mob family, headed by Vito Corleone, and the story of his son Michael as he goes from shunning the family business to becoming its ruthless head. With such a sprawling narrative, turning it into a game has proven troublesome.
The Side Scroller
The first outing for the Godfather in gaming was in 1991, on a version made for home computers. The game featured many of the scenes and locations from the movie itself.
Though it changed from first-person to side scroller and contained a few minigames, it was quite a generic shooter. This left critics less than impressed, and probably explained why it never found its way to the popular consoles or arcades of the day. A port had been planned for the Sega Master System, though this was cancelled.
Miscellaneous Titles
Between these outings, there have been a few odd titles outside the realm of console gaming. One of the most recent was Godfather: Family Dynasty. Available on mobile devices, it is a city builder of sorts. You play as Don Corleone’s new understudy, and as you build your crime empire, you must amass a property portfolio to go with it.
There have also been a few incursions into the world of iGaming. A Godfather slot game is available, but more popular is the Megaways title that licenses the property. It uses the famous mechanics that allow the reels to expand as you play, creating hundreds of ways to win. When combined with the iconic characters and imagery from the game, it is one of the more popular movie tie-ins.
The Godfather Part I and II
Arguably, the greatest iteration came in 2006. Released for Xbox and PlayStation 2, along with more consoles later, the game was the best representation of what the movie could look like on a gaming screen. You took the part of a new character who is not present in the film. Working for the family, as you rise through the ranks, you get to avenge your family’s killers.
The game sold over four million copies. What made it so special was its love of the source material. Your character missions often involve taking part in events that happened off-screen, adding to the narrative. It also featured voiceovers from several major actors who starred in the original, such as James Caan.
Its success inevitably led to a sequel, but this had mixed results. A diversion from the original plot, a confusing chronology, and omission of Vito Corleone’s story arc made it more of a generic sandbox gangster title. In contrast to its predecessor, it sold 400,000 copies worldwide.
It is unlikely a third game will be made, though it was planned. What is more likely is a reboot of the game. With its use in mobile and iGaming titles, the demand is still there. It may be time for the Godfather to step up once more and welcome you to the family.
