Hobbies And Interests
"Yakuza" Series
The often-tattooed Yakuza are the biggest organized crime group in Japan, with ventures in politics, gambling and prostitution in all major cities of the country. On the PlayStation 2, Sega has released two titles in the "Yakuza" series. Both games were originally released in Japan and ported over for North American consoles; North American localization includes an English voice soundtrack ("Yakuza") or English subtitles with Japanese dialogue ("Yakuza 2"). The "Yakuza" games feature fast-paced action-adventure with role-playing elements, told from a third-person perspective. Both games also have many side-missions in addition to the main storyline: gamers can play pachinko, hit a bowling alley, or invest time in dating mini-games.
"Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven"
Another action-adventure game based in the world of organized crime is "Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven," which was originally released for Windows PCs and ported over to both the Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox in 2004. The main storyline is based in the 1930s and places the player in the role of Thomas "Tommy" Angelo, a young man who starts his career with the mafia first as a driver for the crime boss, then becoming more and more involved with the criminal aspects of the organization. "Mafia" features third-person action with an emphasis on driving vehicles. This is the first game in a series that has since moved on to current-generation home consoles.
"The Godfather: The Game"
"The Godfather: The Game" was released in 2006 for several home consoles, including the PlayStation 2. The game features character models based on actors from the 1972 film and a main storyline that takes you through several areas of New York City. There is a lot of action sequences and driving involved, along with a role-playing element, as the player can interact with local shop-owners and low-level gangsters to start a racketeering business that is unrelated to the main mission. This is the first game in a series that has now moved on to current-generation consoles.
"Scarface: The World is Yours"
Another film-based mob game is "Scarface: The World is Yours," which was also released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. The game tells the tale of Tony Montana, a fledgling crime boss in Miami, Florida. The game is open-ended: the player is allowed to freely roam the city at will at any point in the game. Guns, cars and drugs all play a central part in the game, with violence occurring on street corners, local businesses and Tony's sprawling beach-front mansion. Rival gangs and the police force attempt to make Tony's life hard as he fulfills his missions throughout the city.
"Grand Theft Auto" Series
Five games in the "Grand Theft Auto" series are available on the PlayStation 2: "Grand Theft Auto III," "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories," and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories." Though the main protagonist and plot varies throughout the titles, each "Grand Theft Auto" game is rooted in organized crime, with a "sandbox" style of open-ended game play. Gun and vehicle-driven action is the central part of the series, with a role-playing aspect in the form of main storyline and side missions.
"The Sopranos: Road to Respect"
"The Sopranos: Road to Respect" was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and is based on the award-winning HBO television series. The cast from the TV series voiced their respective characters in the game, and character models are based on the actors. The game features action told from a third-person perspective, with missions taking place in various locations across New Jersey.