A long time ago, well before numerous gamers out there were born, director Francis Ford Coppola and writer Mario Puzo crafted a classy gangster picture called The Godfather, telling the story of a young Don's rise to power and the people that frequently enter and exit the picture as his chronicles are shown. The film starred Al Pacino, the late Marlon Brando, and many other notable actors, and became a bonafide hit in terms of reaching out to audiences with its brutality and becoming a bonafide classic in cinema. Two sequels have since followed, as well as a DVD packaging that many collectors have since snatched up. Now, Electronic Arts is about to bring the saga to video games in a whole new light, one that looks like a class act in itself.

The Godfather will play itself out in a Grand Theft Auto-style fashion, crafted by the folks at EA Redwood, the same studio that brings us the Tiger Woods and Lord of the Rings games. It puts you in the shoes of a young man who's looking to make his way into the Corleone family, where power and respect await. However, he has to earn his way there by completing a few tasks and muscling his way ahead. This could be anything, like intimidating a certain guy into paying Don Corleone a visit or even viciously attacking a clerk who refuses to bow down to the mob's power. Once you get this respect earned, you become a member, and your climb to power involves more control of things, like ordering mob hits, strategically figuring out problems, and even some odd tasks- like leaving a horse head in some guy's bed, a classic scene from the film.

The presentation elements of The Godfather still look a bit early, but the game will faithfully recapture the atmosphere of the late 40's-early 50's of New York City, right down to the grimy streets, the classy cars, and some shady looking types that you'll be dealing with on your missions. The mission styles will vary quiet frequently, although the game will give you access to a number of vehicles and weapons that you can use as you proceed from point A to point B in a very bloody manner. And there'll be nice little touches as well that will be true to the visions of the Puzo novelization, as well as the film, that fans will appreciate.

Another factor that has to be considered with the presentation is the length EA is going to so they can make sure that the full essence of the classic film is captured. Along with making sure the graphics look good, they're also working closely with actors from the film. Before his untimely death last year, Marlon Brando agreed to use his likeliness and even recorded a voice session for the game, so the sound and look of Don Corleone will be pitch-perfect. Also in on the cast will be Robert Duvall as consigliore Tom Hagen and James Caan as Sonny Corleone, two other key characters from the film, and a few other actors will also be filling in roles to keep everything in tip top shape. The score from the film should also be in full presence, right down to the memorable Godfather theme.

We'll have more hands-on time with the world of the Corleones once E3 comes around, but, in the meantime, keep an eye on the development of The Godfather. It looks like it's bound to get some respect.