Routine Life of Gangsters in Omerta
If you are fond of turn-based strategies but are tired of different too typical elves and orcs, you should definitely play Omerta: City of Gangsters. This game is noticeable for being also a management sim which allows you to build your own criminal empire. Unfortunately, the visuals are rather poor and, in addition, you will be bored with this game as it is too repetitive.
The beginning of the game seems to be promising. You need to choose an avatar and distribute points into skills you want. Next, you will be taught how to play and to develop your future empire. This also seems interesting as you need to find new supporters, clean money, get some information – everything that real gangster should do. On the other hand, you are not provided with enough space for your great plans and the set of goals is restricted. In addition, levels are monotonous. You will have to spend lots of time trying to reach some goal, but the next one will be almost the same with the same methods of reaching it. What is even more frustrating is the fact that no matter what you choose in one city, you will leave everything behind moving into another and will never return. This brings the feeling that your efforts are constantly ruined and you have to start everything from scratch. You will even not care about the attitude of the citizens to your character.
There are some battles in Omerta, but they are also generally disappointing and even somehow strange. For example, a pillar is a better cover than a wall, or one side of it will protect you and the other will not, and, finally, you will be able to cause more damage in a melee battle rather than using a gun. In addition, your team is immortal. Every member will revive at the end of a battle with temporary status effect.
Sandbox and multiplayer modes are not much better. The last one will allow you to participate in battles with other gamers, but you will quickly get bored.
In general, Omerta: City of Gangsters is just a routine work which is not too pleasant or interesting.
Nice gangster-setting and easy to learn gameplay-mechanics. The game mixes tactical combat like in Jagged Alliance with a strategical management of your gangster-business. Unfortunately the gameplay itself isn’t that challenging or going in depth as it could be.
It could have been a modern version of Hothouse Creations’ Gangsters 2 mixed with XCOM. But what you get is rather superficial in every aspect. The turn based battles suffer from an inconsequent and sometimes broken cover system, while the business aspects don’t offer any challenge at all.