It could definitely be considered an uphill battle to get me to even think about playing a game like The Godfather: Blackhand Edition for the Wii. It has a lot of negative history stacked against it.

First of all, I ordinarily strive to avoid any and all Electronic Arts games like the plague, and have for years. EA has built up a solid reputation of shunning Nintendo and its systems. And when they have chanced to turn their gaze towards Nintendo, it’s only to unceremoniously toss a shoddy, haphazard PS2 port its way.

Second, it’s a movie-licensed game. The plus here was that it wasn’t a quick buck movie license, something EA would have to rush out the door in order to be on shelves at relatively the same time the movie was in theaters. No, instead it’s a game based on the license of a fantastic, classic 35-year old film. Still, licensed properties are generally guilty until proven innocent.

Third, it’s a Wii “forerunner”. It wasn’t a launch title, mind you, but it showed up in March, during the early days of the Wii lifecycle, which held some quality titles, and some decidedly NOT quality titles.

But with EA’s surprisingly well-received Madden 07, it looked as though they were finally starting to take Nintendo seriously. Could EA actually be trusted to create a quality game for a Nintendo system again? It looked hopeful.

I have no problem saying that it is definitely true. EA can be trusted to create a quality licensed product, and let me sing the praises of the Godfather: Blackhand game in every way imaginable.

Blackhand very simply does everything right. Everything you think the game should do, it does, and well. I’ll start with the most obvious element for any Wii game: the control scheme.

What does a good gangster in 1940’s New York need to be able to do? Run his businesses, and take over new ones. How does one do this? By using the Wiimote and nunchuk to intuitively harass the citizens of New York for his enjoyment. Target a shopkeeper that just won’t pay up with the Z button on the nunchuk and then grab him by the collar with the B button on the Wiimote. With these actions, it actually feels like you’re grabbing someone. Thrust the controllers forward to slam the shopkeep against a wall. Tilt them to the side to thrash their cantaloupe-shaped head into the counter. Swing either controller independent of the other to start jabbing. It works effortlessly. You don’t even need to think about it for a second. You just do what comes naturally, and before you know it, you’ve taken over an entire city block of Little Italy. Congratulations! Oh, by the way, the cops are looking for you.

Need some more firepower? Just hold the C button on the nunchuk to bring up your firearms selection menu. In a method very similar to selecting surgical implements in Trauma Center, simply tilt the analog stick in the direction of your weapon of choice, let go of the C button, and you got it. Once the gun is out, hit C to quickly holster the weapon when the cops show up. Hit C again, and the last gun you had selected will pop into your hand. Just like that.

Hold Z to target an enemy and a reticle shows up. At this point, Blackhand sort of “auto-aims” the weapon, allowing you to easily target specific parts of the body. Take out a gun-hand to disarm, take out a kneecap to incapacitate, blow off the head to…well, you know. Hit the + button to free aim and shoot at whatever strikes your fancy. Might be helpful in getting some stubborn shopkeeper to see just why they might require your protection.

There’s a part of me that wishes driving were handled ala Excite Truck, by tilting the Wiimote side to side to steer. With a nunchuk attached, that’s a level of complexity the game simply doesn’t need, but I still long for that control for driving. Let’s just say, the way you drive in Blackhand (using the analog stick to steer, and the B button as your accelerator), I’m not actually an excellent driver. It’s not a complaint, just an inevitability.

Aside from the controls, the game itself pulls off some excellent gameplay maneuvers. In true Grand Theft Auto fashion, you’re essentially free to roam the entire city. Go into any shop on the map that’s run by a rival family, and take over the business in whatever way suits your personality. Get access to their racket upstairs and take that over as well. Each new business lines your pocket and increases your influence. Just watch out for businesses that have a heavy rival family presence, you may find taking over a shop becomes pricier than it’s worth. Watching the story of The Godfather unfold through your character’s eyes is truly astounding. You feel almost as if you’ve supplanted a major character in the film and are actually participating in the movie itself.

Overall, Blackhand is an exquisite and remarkable title. It’s enormous, rich, innovative, and engrossing. Any Wii owner is doing themselves a disservice if they haven’t touched this game yet. I strongly encourage you to pick it up.

Just remember: leave the gun, take the cannolis.