Scarface: The World Is Yours

[unfocused]

There's been Grand Theft Auto ripoffs before. Although I'd like to see the style of a free-roam cities often enough that it wouldn't be considered a ripoff, but more of a trend or even so much as a genre. But no, the first few tries at it bombed. My theory is that these other games attempting GTA-style just tried imitating it, never improving it.

Where those few games fail, and even where GTA lacks, is where Scarface makes the most out of free-roam city play. The graphics are much more improved than all the others, including GTA: SA. Much of the loading times are cut down, plus, NO loading at all when entering buildings and such. The general gameplay is the same, there aren't many surprises with that. Which is a good thing, not many people had issues with it before.

First, the bad review: attempting moral stability while trying to stay true to the movie. The characters you play would not fire any weapon at a pedestrian, instead, they will make a comment about why they shouldn't harm anyone innocent. This is not an attempt to lower any ratings or save any violence. In the film, Montana claims "I've never killed anyone who didn't have it coming to them." He makes the same claims in the game. There is no prostitution, something that's been a problem with free-roam games in the past. But, of course, there is plenty of violence. Still, this isn't the problem. It's been noted that the movie uses too much foul language, in any language. The same goes for the game. I noticed swearing in most conversational instances. Still, other games are like this, it's not the problem. I'd let my nephews and nieces play GTA, even with the cursing and violence. But i'd never let them play Scarface: The World is Yours. The reason? This game glorifies the distribution of harmful drugs more than anything I've seen before, in videogames or in real life. It's the spine that keeps your character advancing through the game. The more drugs you buy, the more you sell, the more money you make, hence, more power. Until you have enough power to take on the big ranks yourself, ie. complete the game.

the good review:

What you will notice in Scarface that is most significantly different than Grand Theft Auto are the much improved graphics. The likeliness of the movie actors are dead-on, and the modeling is fantastic compared. The loss of speed isn't much of a factor, since it's only slightly slower than other free-roam city games. It can even be a plus, making vehicles and characters easier to handle.

So, all this game needed was a great story to wrap around its great improvements. The game begins where the 1983 movie ended. With lead character Tony Montana at war with drug-lord Alexandro Sosa's assassins. In the closing seconds of the film, Montana is ambushed and murdered, the game allows you to begin play seconds before his death in the movie. Giving the gamer the chance to change history, and keep Cuban drug-lord Tony Montana alive to finish his war.

This lays out the format in which you have to rebuild your empire after everyone and everything was taken from you. With little connections, money and power, all you have are your balls and your word to begin your destructive path back to the top. You gain reputation to make people fear and respect you. You make deals to make money, money to get power. You take over sections of Miami, one turf at a time, until you own it all. Setting up the much anticipated yet enduring final confrontation with the men who destroyed you, to take it all back. And once again... the world is yours.

I enjoyed the game a lot, probably mostly because I love the movie. Still, I'd recommend it to even those who have yet to see the movie. See the movie first tho, then play the game. you'd get far more than what you paid for.
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"edit : i luv james" - Layzcarter

[WizardoftheWood]

When it comes to sandbox type games I really enjoyed the Godfather. Just because you get to play scenes from the movie. The ending was pretty pitiful though. Scarface looks promising but I haven't played it yet.