Omerta – City of Gangsters

Omerta - City of Gangsters is a technology developed by Haemimont Games and published by Kalypso Media building simulation with turn-based game elements for Windows, Mac OS X and Xbox 360 The game was released in German-speaking countries on January 31 at the same time for the platforms Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, also on 31 January was the publication of the German version of Windows via Steam. The English version was released a day later on February 1 in the remaining Europe, while the version for the American market, is released on February 13, 2013 a little later. A Mac OS X version will be published in Q1 2013.

• 2.1 Historical basis

• 3.1 reviews

Action

The title covers the period of the 1920s - the Roaring Twenties - the time of Prohibition in the United States. The plot itself plays in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the resulting crowded at that time due to the ban on alcohol in the underground organized crime and its ensuing mafia structures in America are the main feature of the game character.

At a time in which criminal gangs dominate the city and a few people have done it with illegal gambling spirits and other dubious machinations to the very top, the action of the player who is stranded in this melting pot of illegality begins. The player takes on the role of Mediterranean immigrant named Freddie Tannino, born in a small village in Sicily, just arrived after his crossing from Italy in Atlantic City. He must find his way in the rugged new environment and work step by step in the mafia world up. To him it is now to bring an initially small part of the business under his control and thus its way of the American dream - a reality - the " American Way of Life".

Trivia

Omerta, the game title refers to the mafia-like secrecy ( code of honor ) called " Omerta ", the members of a mafia -like criminal organizations towards outsiders sworn to secrecy.

With the official release of the boxed retail and digital download version of the game, the title has also been published in parallel on the platform GoG.com. This version has no copy protection or other DRM restrictions.

Gameplay

About initial small ripoffs the player in the hierarchy works ever in his career up and left to their own syndicate arise as with progression of the game. By buying vacant commercial buildings and shops, the player the opportunity by opening their own bars and hidden brewpubs to always continue to expand. Also can be bought localities as speakeasies of the competition without further ado. On legal channels of acquisition of apartments to maintain the income is also possible. Ultimately is to store enough space available to any dodgy things like spirits and weapons of the purchase of warehouses.

With increasing progress in the game the character 's own associates recruited its various qualities can be used differently and so manifests his own gang with the help of which he further areas other gangster bosses conquered, thus consolidating his criminal organization. In turn-based confrontations with other colleagues, the player can expand its sphere of influence little by little and allow other sponsors of the competition are pushing to become finally the undisputed patron of Atlantic City.

The game offers beside the multiplayer mode, where the player can also act cooperatively, a sandbox mode. This allows the free exploration of the game world to whatever the single player campaign on four different cards - to expand freely in an endless game - which treat the specific parts of the city Atlantic City.

Historical basis

The game offers a free -roaming, three-dimensional game world into the air. The game world represents - according to the publisher Kalypso Media - an almost historically accurate replica of the U.S. city of Atlantic City that time.

Real classic buildings and locations such as the renowned Traymore Hotel, the Absecon Lighthouse, and the urban prison Atlantic City Jail -house are included as well as the Ostpromenade "Eastern Promenade" as streets of Illinois Avenue and North Carolina Avenue, which ends directly on the beach. In addition to these real buildings contribute the remaining buildings - which are held in Art Deco - quite similar, even seem to consist only of a few types.

Reception

Omerta - City of Gangsters received by the press subdued to moderate criticism. Recognition earned the game above all for its successful implementation of the subject at the time of Prohibition. Even the harmonious scenes of action at that time found a lot of positive mention. However, the lean and unpretentious state of action and their lackluster implementation was a bitter defeat the great potential of the game - been away - from which the title reportedly actually have a lot.

On Metacritic the PC version achieved a score of 54 out of 100.

Reviews

PCGamer awarded for the PC version a score of 78 out of 100 points, praised the game mechanics and the AI and compared the game in his command post elements even with X -COM or Jagged Alliance. The plot had to put in contrast and has been described as too shallow and simple, yes too smooth. The atmospheric music, however, is a brilliant blend of jazz at that time, ragtime and klezmer - and his lack of naming a scandal.

" Not nearly as can be extraordinary and profound as it would Omerta is nevertheless a destination well worth a visit. "

The editors of Metro Game Central teamed up to award more than 30 percentage points due to the difficult state of the game. Initially excited about a game that finally once again focuses on the scenario of the mafiosi, the turn-based battles in the PC version tested had simply awkward. The background music was initially moving and the graphical strategy elements impressive - at least at first glance. Finally is " Omerta " therefore disappointing, not only because of more bad than good unredeemed promise but rather due to the fact, because the game itself is too simple in advanced missions.

" " You can see the base of a good game, but Omerta makes almost everything wrong. From the shallow game mechanics to bland, characterless gangster atmosphere. " "

In Hooked Gamers one was delighted with the potential and gave the title of the PC version a score of 8.4 out of 10. When the game was "different" describes the turn-based combat elements as a short but satisfactory. The single player campaign offeriere some new, albeit small game elements. Graphically, unfortunately oversubscribed, the opponent would offer no challenge even later in the game. In summary, the game play according to the simple introduction only too easily and let the player for more demanding too fast alone.

" " What shocked me most was the potential. Omerta is a good game, if it should succeed, then, a great game. [ ... ] " "