Gangland Hands-On

Whiptail Interactive and MediaMobsters are currently developing a new strategy game, inspired by the infamous legends of organized crime. Combining a classic Godfather style premise, with a few elements from games like GTA: Vice City, Gangland puts you in control of a rising group of young gangsters. Logically, you must scale the ladder of crime and do your best to make things worse for anybody who dares oppose the uncompromising policy of your organization. Gangland is exactly one month away from release, and we were delighted to take a single-player ride through two levels (thanks MediaMobsters http://www.mediamobsters.com for that one).

How does that feel?

Story of my life...

The storyline is straightforward. Five brothers Romano, Angelo, Sonny, Chico, and Mario, were inseparable in childhood, growing up in Sicily with their grandparents. As time went by, three of the brothers were getting a bit fed up with the peaceful lifestyle on the Mediterranean (I assume you can all see where this is going). Instead of submitting to a tranquil Sicilian existence, they killed one of their brothers (Chico) and fled to America, with the intention of becoming powerful crime lords. Grandpa was very distressed with the whole situation, so he sent his youngest grandchild, Mario, to bring his brothers to justice. As Mario, your first task will be to visit Uncle Vincente (the local don) and follow whatever instructions he gives you. Of course, the ultimate goal is vendetta. Once you've tracked down your three malevolent brothers, you must punish them for their wrongdoings. Anyhow, until you find them, there's a whole host of illegal enterprises just waiting to be exploited - besides, the game takes place during Prohibition, and there are plenty of thirsty people out there just waiting for a good time.

The press version allowed us to enjoy two maps: Little Italy and Central Park; one map is playable in Conquest, while the other can be tested in Challenge mode. Throughout both maps we got a clear idea of what players can expect of the final version of the game. The action-oriented gameplay, present in both modes of play, possesses several elements borrowed from games like Vice City (i.e. you go around shooting at everything and you get to drive a few vehicles). The non-stop action also reminded me of Bullfrog's oldie Syndicate Wars and Arxel Tribe's RTS The Gladiators: Galactic Circus Games. At the beginning of the game, it's all about real-time action and finding numerous ways to put bullet holes into unfortunate victims. Later on, however, you face tougher decisions and additional responsibilities. This denotes an increased scale of tactical gameplay. So, yes, Gangland is a strategy game at heart.

Playing in Central Park, the Challenge mode is a straightforward clash between a gang of mobsters (you) and a bunch of highly skilled ninja warriors controlled by the Japanese Yakuza mob. (Oh Jeez, don't you just love these 'American Ninja' plots. - Ed.) Your job is to fight your way through the hordes of ninjas and obtain three expensive swords within a specific amount of time. You're given an opportunity to control five different characters, all of which have their own unique skills and equipment. The ninjas frequently gather in greater numbers, so we found ourselves resorting to heavier weapons such as, explosive bullets, dynamite, etc. Luckily, extra ammo and supplies are scattered all over the map, so you won't have to fight ninjas hand-to-hand (small chance of success, believe me).

In Conquest mode, your unlawful career starts in a place called Paradise City. As soon as you arrive to your Uncle Vincente, a variety of missions will be set before you; ranging from extortion to racketeering and assassination. Yep, it's all about averting the course of justice, baby. And there will be plenty of useful stuff throughout the game to help you advance your career as a mobster. My first few jobs with Uncle Vincente were quite simple. I had to pay a visit to a few local business establishments such as restaurants, arms dealerships, etc. Improving on my reputation as a local badass "businessman," I started to impress Uncle Vincente, eventually gaining more and more cash for my trouble. Cash rewards can be used for a variety of things. To begin with, there are a few things crucial to the success of your mission assignments. For one thing, getting your mitts on some serious weaponry and ammo should be your top priority. The only thing about Uncle Vincente is that he's not all that generous... plus, arms are quite pricey, especially the heavier stuff. Sometimes instead of wasting too much green on ammo refills, it's a good idea to hire a couple of extra henchmen. Some characters will be joining your gang automatically once you've completed certain missions. The cool thing is you can always cruise the streets for additional help (not that kind of help!). Every time a bundle of cash appears above a character, that means he's open for hire and will gladly lend a hand... for a hefty fee in return, naturally. By the way, some businesses and stores are willing to give you 50% percent of their income, as long as you have the money to invest in such an endeavor (usually, you'll need about 10 or 20 G's). It's always possible to go pick-pocketing around the neighborhood, thereby earning some extra cash for much needed equipment and weapon improvements. Collectors from opposing families are also good targets for looting since they often carry bundles of cash in suitcases. (How awfully... intelligent of them! - Ed.) Occasionally, a rival family might pay you a visit, offering you a loan and a slightly better deal than the one you have with your don. This is risky, since interest rate is extremely high, so you have to be quick about paying it back, or else...