Omerta: City of Gangsters
- January 30, 2013
- Haemimont Games
- 68h median play time
Detailed but not too demanding. Buy this pacy 20s Mafia management game for the combat not the commerce.
Get on Steam"Omerta: City of Gangsters" is a simulation game with tactical turn-based combat set in 1920's Atlantic City. As a fresh immigrant, players work their way up the criminal hierarchy, recruiting a gang and expanding their empire by taking territory. The game features a historically accurate city overview, 15 unique characters, and a RPG system for character development.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Engaging atmosphere and setting in the Prohibition era with good music and voice acting.
- Fun turn-based combat that allows for strategic planning and character development.
- Decent city management mechanics that provide a sense of progression and empire building.
- Repetitive gameplay with missions that require starting over in new neighborhoods, leading to a lack of continuity.
- Combat mechanics can feel unbalanced and frustrating, with AI often having an advantage.
- Limited replayability and shallow economic systems that don't offer much depth or variety.
- story587 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally seen as engaging but somewhat clichéd, following a typical mafia narrative set during the Prohibition era. While some players appreciate the atmospheric setting and the depth of the storyline, many criticize the repetitive mission structure that resets progress after each chapter, leading to a lack of meaningful progression and engagement. Overall, the story is considered a highlight for some, but it struggles with predictability and a lack of innovation, making it feel less impactful amidst the game's repetitive gameplay mechanics.
“A very atmospheric experience with a surprisingly in-depth story and fun game mechanics.”
“The story is amazing, it's one of the best parts of it.”
“The story provides context and fleshes out the setting, giving you a nice backdrop for the game itself.”
“This is not fundamentally a bad game, it just gets repetitive very quickly and the story is extremely non-engaging, so the whole experience becomes boring grinding with very little reward.”
“The story is sadly just lacking; I felt uninterested in the story other than what the objectives were and paid no attention to the overall story of the game.”
“The 'story' is basically recycled from every mobster cliché there is, with nothing original about it.”
- gameplay255 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of simple economic management and turn-based combat, drawing comparisons to titles like Tropico and XCOM, but often criticized for its repetitive mechanics and lack of depth. While some players appreciate the nostalgic atmosphere and engaging premise, many find the gameplay shallow and frustrating, with a tendency to become monotonous over time. Overall, it offers a fun experience for those who enjoy the mafia theme, but it may not satisfy players seeking more complex or polished mechanics.
“Fun and varied gameplay.”
“The gameplay is entertaining; you manage your criminal empire, renting warehouses to expand storage facilities, drive-bys to vacate the competition, and establish your own joints or premises from which you draw income in dirty or clean money.”
“This game mixes (light) strategy gameplay with turn-based combat; it's quite fun.”
“Every mechanic in the game is fairly simplistic or shallow, so you don't get to enjoy any of the aspects a ton.”
“The game has a nice premise, but the gameplay loop is boring.”
“The campaign is ungodly long for how shallow the actual gameplay is.”
- graphics108 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the attention to detail and atmospheric design that evokes a classic gangster theme, while others criticize them as dated or mediocre. Many players appreciate the visual aesthetics and smooth performance, but note limitations in variety and depth, leading to a consensus that while the graphics are decent, they do not fully meet modern expectations. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's ambiance, but are often overshadowed by gameplay and technical shortcomings.
“Love the attention to detail in the graphics and the gangster theme.”
“The graphics really give off that Godfather video game vibe, which was one of the top reasons I wanted to buy the game.”
“The graphics are great, and I spent ages zooming in and looking at the details of houses and roadways while I was waiting for money to accumulate. The voiceovers are great, and there are a lot of details in the cities and menus that I loved.”
“Graphics are dated.”
“Bad graphics.”
“Visuals and soundtrack here are weak and pretty much no special effects.”
- music100 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric jazz and swing soundtrack, effectively capturing the prohibition era vibe and enhancing the overall experience. While many players find the music enjoyable and immersive, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“Voice acting, music, and environmental sounds are excellent and immersed me in the game.”
“The mood in the game is great with one of the best soundtracks in any game.”
“Seriously, the soundtrack is among the greatest jazz/swing stuff I have ever heard, and I listen to that type of music regularly.”
“Visuals and soundtrack here are weak and pretty much no special effects.”
“Art is so so and music very repetitive.”
“But this seemed to miss the mark with me, the main game feels a lot like a board game, and the music I swear I heard in a Monopoly computer game I got from a cereal box in the 90s.”
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the 1920s and the steampunk genre, particularly in the context of crime syndicates during Prohibition. Reviewers highlight the combination of music, graphics, and setting as key elements that enhance the overall experience, making it both relaxing and thrilling. Overall, the game successfully transports players into its richly crafted world, creating a nostalgic and captivating ambiance.
“A very atmospheric experience with a surprisingly in-depth story and fun game mechanics.”
“Great atmosphere game, which transports you into the 1920's Atlantic City and lets you climb the crime ladder in the turbulent times of the prohibition.”
“This game has the feel and overall atmosphere of the steampunk genre, although it revolves around 1920/1930 crime syndicates and their emergence due to the prohibition in America during that era, instead of a fantasy theme.”
“Omerta captures the atmosphere with the music, maps, and characters perfectly.”
“The ambiance, atmosphere, and management win this game.”
- replayability36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and fun for a limited time, while others criticize it for being overly scripted and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight that after the initial playthrough, the game offers little incentive to return, with some noting that multiplayer options are sparse and unchallenging. In summary, while there are moments of enjoyment, the consensus leans towards limited replay value.
“The actual strategic combat gameplay is relatively well done and it makes for a really engaging experience with lots of replayability.”
“This game has major replay value.”
“A simple, fun little game with decent replay value.”
“After you run through it a few times, it has almost no replayability.”
“It is all scripted and there is no replayability at all.”
“Boring, combat is poorly done, and the replay value is non-existent.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of funny moments and references to other games, with some players finding it enjoyable but not sustainable for long play sessions. While the voice acting and certain character interactions are noted as amusing, the overall comedic depth is considered shallow, and the game's execution is marred by bugs and a lack of polish. Despite these issues, there are some entertaining easter eggs and ironic situations that add to the humor.
“There are jokes in the game that are pretty funny and reference other games.”
“He runs further into the fire and shoots at me from there with a flamethrower… ok, ironic and a bit funny… I am now on fire, he is on fire, and the fire he is standing in is spreading.”
“The voice acting is funny and not too cheesy.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. The combat and resource management are described as poorly designed, resulting in an anti-climactic progression that feels more like a chore than a rewarding experience. Overall, the grinding elements contribute to a frustrating gameplay loop that detracts from the game's potential.
“This is not fundamentally a bad game, it just gets repetitive very quickly and the story is extremely non-engaging, so the whole experience becomes boring grinding with very little reward.”
“How you can make a mafia RPG this frustratingly pointless and tedious is beyond me, but you should receive an award for that.”
“Now I am a fan of turn-based strategy games and I gotta admit the combat in this game is tedious at best.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally enjoyable, but users report significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and unbalanced combat. While some find the bugs manageable, others feel they detract from the overall experience, likening it to a mobile game. The single-player mode is noted to be particularly buggy, though the co-op mode receives some praise.
“The original game wasn't really worthwhile, mainly because it was quite buggy.”
“Combat is terrible, buggy and unbalanced.”
“I could go through and point out all the flaws, the buggy combat and the boring management style, but it's best summed up that this game plays like a mobile game.”
- character development12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally regarded as effective, with some reviewers noting it as one of the best aspects, despite not being particularly deep. Players feel that their choices throughout the game do not significantly impact character growth, but the overall development is satisfactory and serves its purpose. Comparisons to other games, like Blackguards 2, highlight a desire for more complexity in this area.
“Not to spoil, the main character development is one of the best.”
“Good character development.”
“No matter if I play a level completely through, conquer all the properties, and finish every detail, or do the bare minimum, it does not change the character development.”
“Character development is not too deep but gets the job done.”
“The combat and maps were 'ok'; look to games like Blackguards 2 for an example of more complex maps and character development.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, reminiscent of typical Facebook games, with users expressing frustration over intrusive ads and forced registration for a service that lacks clear explanation. Overall, the experience is marred by expectations of paywalls and in-game purchase pressures, leading to a negative reception.
“It attempts to play off old gangster clichés to create a cheap cash grab that plays about as well as you would expect.”
“So I can only guess what all that means in terms of what rat race, paywall, and in-game purchase nightmares might await, in line with how most Facebook games work.”
“Well, I have installed the game, and when I try to start it, it throws some stupid ads in my face and tries to force me to register on a service it doesn't bother to even tell me about (some 'Kalypso' bull I presume by the tiny logo on the bottom of the startup screen). I don't want this, so this game is a no-go.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game's memorable characters, leading to feelings of attachment and investment in their fates. Moments of realization and stakes evoke powerful emotions, enhancing the overall experience and engagement with the narrative.
“Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
“Your gang members are such memorable characters that you can develop an emotional attachment to them, similar to XCOM or Darkest Dungeon (with much lower mortality rates than those two games).”
“It immediately made me feel better.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, with many users expressing doubt that it will ever be fully resolved. While character classes influence action execution, character stats do not affect performance on the strategic map, further highlighting the optimization issues.
“It's disgustingly unoptimized, and probably will never be fixed completely.”
“The stats of characters do not impact the performance of characters on the strategic map (moving around the map and building buildings); however, character classes do impact how well they execute their actions.”
