! Vitneta and Column

Say thanks to the company HBO for our happy childhood. We owe this television channel to get acquainted with a galaxy of memorable movie heroes – here are the brave American marines of different eras, the beautiful and terrible kings and queens of Westeros, the charismatic Italian mafiosi of the Soprano family and no less charismatic corrupt officials and police from the Underground Empire.

I will not be mistaken if I say that with an eye on the last series studio Haemimont Games created its new strategy Omerta: City of Gangsters, telling about the difficult life of the novice bandit Atlantic City of the 20s, who went in pursuit of the “American dream”. No, I didn’t have to spend money on the purchase of a license-despite the fact that some characters in the series will certainly meet us in the game, the main plot of the “city of gangsters” with the “Underground Empire” is only connected by the total time and place of action. The similarity of these two projects is explained by the fact that both rely on the events that really took place in those years. However, even this is enough to attract the attention of Boardwalk Empire fans – here the developers did not lose.

“They wanted the best …”

The adoption of the “dry law” in the United States in 1920 significantly affected the lifestyle of all Americans, regardless of their social status, age and method of earnings. Much has changed, but the wrong direction wanted to turn the streams of the eighteenth amendment prohibiting the production, transportation and sale of alcohol products to turn the course of the events. They didn’t drink less, even vice versa – the forbidden fruit is more sweet, as you know, but worries about the creation and distribution of strong drinks have passed from instantly ruined official producers of alcohol to harsh guys who were not afraid to violate the law for money. Buthlegers (the so -called illegal alcohol merchants) began the struggle for a place under the sun with each other and the police, without disdaining the most radical methods. Entire alcoholic empires were created and destroyed, which entangled cities and states with their tentacles, bribery and threats got rid of the persistent attention of officials and law enforcement agencies. Of course, all this fun was accompanied by an explosive growth of organized crime, until in December 1933 the “dry law” was canceled.

City of Gangsters It provides the player with the opportunity to try himself as one of the similar luck hunters, of which there was enough in the United States in the “dashing 20s”. Choosing the name, appearance and background (which affects the initial characteristics) of my hero, I go to Atlantic City-the city of rich opportunities, promising success to those who are not afraid of difficulties.

“Merry Omert”

To convey the unique atmosphere of the underground alcoholic center of the North-Eastern coast of the beginning of the last century, the developers managed to perfectly, which is noticeable at first glance. Atlantic City turned out to be recognizable and memorable-fans of the same Boardwalk Empire will be especially happy. All this splendor simply perfectly complements the sound accompaniment: the music and voice acting of the dialogues of the main characters are made with love.

There are a lot of bonuses to study. Even too much-you do not have time to “pump” to some due to the fact that the game ends.

The city lives its own life. Passers-by are walking leisurely along the famous plank flooring in the embankment, chic limousines and trucks are in a hurry on the roads, at the factory they talk about something of their hard workers at the plant. The day is replaced at night, sometimes the weather spoils and the rain begins – pedestrians get umbrellas, and the asphalt of the streets is covered with puddles reflecting the light of lanterns ..

However, there is no time to admire the beauty – things are not waiting. “Do you want to live – know how to spin” – an unspoken rule of gangsters of all time. You can “spin” in two ways: by force and threats, getting money for a beautiful life or receiving this money from legal and not very legal trade in various goods and services.

On the map you can find buildings marked with special iconograms – at home for rent, warehouses, restaurants, dwellings of officials and sheriffs and other underground bars and breweries. Each of these buildings is available for various actions – for example, an institution can be rented and open there your production, or you can arrange an armed robbery or extort money from the owner. Choose one of several options and wait until the main character or one of his associates will fulfill the conceived. Strange, but for some reason our gangsters prefer to move to their two, with a desperate sprint. It looks a little ridiculous, especially when the head of the criminal clan from all legs runs to fulfill a “particularly important” task of renting some kind of race.

There is a refuge of our “brigade” in the form of a small cozy house, which, however, over time can grow to a chic mansion – there would be enough “green”. Dollars are always needed, and not only to the main character-opening a global card, you can start serious business relations with other respected residents of Atlantic City (from the gangster of the middle hand to a large Butleger). Serious people are a serious business: someone urgently needs to sell a large batch of alcohol, someone buys weapons, the usurer is ready to give a loan, and the sheriff’s assistant will help to divert close attention to our modest person.

The game has three types of resources necessary for trading and performing some actions: using beer or alcohol, you can unleash the tongue to the informant, and a resource such as weapons is necessary for the commission of armed raids. There is, of course, and money, but not everything is so simple with them. The whole currency is divided into two types: “dirty” money is received by illegal trade, racketeering and banal robberies, and official institutions like pharmacies and casinos bring “clean” money. Getting the latter is not so simple, but only they can pay for some goods and services. However, the “dirty” currency can be “washed” by using the services of intermediaries.

The gameplay is uncomplicated and after a couple of hours it begins to resemble the notorious “Fun farm” – click on the icons of buildings, choose improvements, trade on a global map and follow income and expenses, trying to prevent bankruptcy. Everything is measured and somehow too calm for those not at all calm times. If the story campaign sometimes throws some surprises, which make it a little distracted from the leisurely course of events, then the “sandbox” looks pretty boring. There is almost always enough money, especially if you do not develop too fast, which the game allows – no one will take the business, will not attack the gang members in the gateway. Yes, the main character is not alone – over time it is possible to assemble his “brigade”, consisting of several gangsters. They also carry out tasks in the area and beyond, are negotiating with officials and the police, they also have a set of characteristics and skills that are used mainly during the battles.

“It’s just a business, nothing personal!”

Step -by -step tactical battles – the second component of the “city of gangsters”. If on a strategic map it is necessary to solve things usually with a “kind word and a gun” (which, as you know, is much more effective just a good word), then it will have to be acted only with the help of weapons. One “short -barreled” thing is not limited to – there are customs with bats, rifles, shotgun, machine guns ..

Battles resemble a battle regime from the first Fallout. There are movements of movements that are spent, oddly enough, on the movement on the map, and the glasses of actions by which the character can shoot, treat others and treat others, throw grenades and knives … You can’t even mention a set of “perks” available for studyingvery rich, but each character has no more than three of them, plus three more skills gives the weapon he used. And if there are enough skills, then in terms of “customization” there is very much variety, opportunities for detailed configuration of appearance and equipment. Dress up his hero “under Al Capone»Will not work;you have to be content with what is – you can change the only weapon.

In addition, step -by -step battles look too schematic. The cartridges do not end, there is no recharge and shooting at certain parts of the enemy’s body, they also do not allow to choose the “trunk” dropped out by someone. Opponents are not very smart and prefer to crush in quantity – only then they are able to deliver serious inconvenience. Many scolded the recent XCOM for such simplifications, but compared to the local battles, Zaruba against aliens simply shine with a wealth of tactical possibilities.

The multiplayer does not save the situation, represented only by step -by -step battles one on one. The cards are small, events on them develop according to the same scenario, and with the configuration of the appearance of the characters of the case, the case here is exactly the same as in the “single”. As a result, a special influx of those who want to measure the forces in the network game is

not observed.

If you know by heart the names of all the bosses of the Sicilian mafia, you have a full meeting on the book shelf Mario Puzu, And on the desktop “Wallpaper” from Boardwalk Empire, then City of Gangsters – Definitely for you. All the rest can not be worried: the game is valuable primarily by the plot campaign and the atmosphere of the Atlantic-City of the Dry Law perfectly transmitted by the atmosphere of the Atlantic. Although nothing interferes with a couple of evenings for reselling beer and those who confuse Al Capone With Al Pacino.

Pros: stylish design;beautifully drawn city;Atmospheric music and voice acting dialogs.
Cons: too light and monotonous tactical battles;Lack of “customization” of characters.