Mob Rule Review (no fat)

Game Description

Godfather and Goodfellas aficionados rejoice! Your fantasy has arrived. If you have ever dreamed of thriving as a crime boss during the days of Prohibition, then Mob Rule was made for you. The Roaring Twenties have come back to life in the real time strategy game for the PC, Mob Rule.

Mob Rule Gameplay

This much-anticipated game was a huge let down for many who waited with baited breath for its release. It plays comparable to a typical Sim/Tycoon game in that you are given resources (cash) and have to conquer and expand your crime empire.

As soon as you start Mob Rule, you are projected into the mob lifestyle with an in depth tutorial. Being that the game is very complex, the developers felt that a mandatory and intense tutorial was necessary. However, you might even come out with the impression that the tutorial is a little too intense. Because it IS mandatory, it prevents one from jumping right into the game. If anything, gamers have been spoiled for choices over the last few years and if a game makes you play the tutorial out before you can even get a multiplayer game going, there are not many who have the patience to forgive such oppressions.

Once you struggle through the tutorial (running errands for the “godfather” figure), you can start creating your empire. Buildings are constructed and constantly at risk of being destroyed or shut down (police raids and other disasters). Mob Rile requires you to acquire land and build upon it. In order to become the king of your domain, you must also bribe politicians/policemen, fraternize with the other local criminals, and participate in a myriad of other tasks.

One unique aspect to Mob Rule is crafting and manufacturing gadgets. At first glance, this seems grossly out of place in a mob-related simulation game. However, it ties in quite nicely. When you manufacture trees, you can place them in front of your businesses so the cops don’t get too nosy. Other objects fit in quite nicely to the mob motif as well. Things such as telephones connect your gang through the wires, and stills can be extremely handy in the up gradation of your breweries.

Your army in Mob Rule consists of a varied and purposely-too-cliché set of cast members. You start out with a basic “Worker,” who is basically just a dumb grunt (think of Luca Brasi with less muscle). As your buildings and business grows, you can recruit more skilled workers such as “The Fixer” and “The Gangster.” The bigger your empire, the better your henchmen...and the more you need them.

This game has its moments with its simple and cliché humor. Your henchmen can be distracted by swarms of sleazy prostitutes, but then again, so can be the police.

Mob Rule Audio and Graphics

Mob Rule was released in 1999. To the modern gamer’s spoiled eyes the visuals may appear a little dated and poor. However, for the time of the game’s release, they were fairly good with a smooth flow.

The audio department, however, could have pulled off a better showing. There is music and sound effects that convey the action going on in the game, but if anything, the sound effects are never top notch and the occasional glitches don’t help either.

Mob Rule Multiplayer

Mob Rule does offer a multiplay option which is not terribly common in the RTS world. Games like SimCity never touched on a multiplay option. Though this game does not have an incredible amount of play to offer with another person, it is interesting to team up with a coworker and play Al Capone for a while...even if only through the LAN connection.

Mob Rule – Summing Up

Unfortunately, that world you worked so hard to build up becomes ridiculous ludicrous to maintain. Your buildings are constantly under the threat of a raid or in need of repairs which you simply do not have the money or resources to tend to. You are left to micro-manage your world when you feel you should be focused on bigger and better things (such as fraternizing with rival gangs).

The concept is wonderful and appealing. However, with some frustrating glitches and bugs, this game falls short in fulfilling our Scarface fantasies. RTS fans who are up for a very challenging game, and who are ready to forgive some pretty frustrating glameplay issues, will more than likely enjoy the outing…the rest can wait for a new don…err, dawn.

Mob Rule Cost

The game retails for $6.50US, at the time of this review.