The moderate success of Electronic Arts' interactive adaptation of The Godfather has ushered in a sequel. The good news is that this new chapter brings to the table an ambitious new approach.

As Creative Director Mike Perry explained, The Godfather II picks up after the events of the first game. Simultaneously embarking on an original storyline and pulling narrative elements from the second film, the game places you at the head of the Corleone family. In a true Tom Hagen moment, Michael Corleone asks you to take lead of the family's business in light of the government's investigation into his operations. Your objective lies in consolidating power in the cities of New York, Miami, and Havana--a tall order for a young Don. Of course you accept, launching you into the thick of mobster life in the sixties.

More than just a mobster, stated Perry, you're a powerful Don. "Part of playing like a Don means you're not just a thug running around the city." He continued, "You have to manage the family and take a Don's view." In The Godfather II, that's literally what you do. Complementing the default third-person perspective is a new Don's view that gives you an overhead look at your current city, who is controlling what businesses, and any movement on the streets. Even better, you can instruct underlings within your family to protect your possessions or even sit back and issue orders to wrest control of a rival family's business.

It would be unwise for a Don to just kick back and dole out orders to his subordinate family members, though. Perry warned, "A Don should lead by example, he should be out there regularly conducting the business himself." That doesn't imply you'll be going it alone; on the contrary, you're able to have up to three soldiers at your side when traipsing about the town. If one of these sidekicks handles himself particularly well, perhaps a promotion is in order. The game allows you to promote individuals within the family to capo and even sub-boss, openings permitting.

The element of leadership adds new dimension to the sequel, but it still promises to pack the same action as the first game. Seizing control of each city requires ousting rival families and extorting businesses. Scoping out business defenses via Don's view allows you to determine which target is ripe for the picking. Obviously, you don't want to waste time and resources trying to take over a well fortified business when there's a perfectly vulnerable one down the road. Another consideration revolves around bonuses earned for controlling a suite of businesses. For instance, if you're in possession of every gun racket operation in Miami, you receive an ammunition bonus.