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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 2004)
8 * the C lackamas F ebruary 11, 2004 priot 'Mafia' ravivés old-style gangsters INTERNET PHOTO You are part of the family now, so get ready for a nonstop shotgun frenzy in ‘Mafia.’ Just don’t forget to reload now and again, or you may end up sleeping with the fishes. Jadon Triplett T he C lackamas P rint ■“Mafia,” just released for PlayStation 2 on Jan. 29, is the game for anybody who has ever yearned for a shot at being a part of the legendary mob during its golden years in die 1930s. Set in the depression era, “Mafia” is a video game about one man, Tommy Angelo, and his rise through the ranks of Don Salieri’s crime family. In the beginning of the game, players drive clunky vehicles similar to Model T’s to get from one place to another. The city in which the game takes place, Lost Heaven, is very similar to a ‘30s metropolis, with streets that wind through both slums and sky scrapers. The attention to realism and detail is so good, it almost becomes annoying. If players run a red light or go just a little over the speed limit, they can get a tick et, sometimes from a police offi cer walking down the street armed with nothing but a whisde that he blows repeatedly until the player pulls over (or pulls evasive action). Game play is similar to “Grand Theft Auto 3,” but the story is much more real and less over-the- top than the almost cartoon-like violence portrayed by “Grand Theft Auto.” Yes, players can steal cars from hapless commuters, and yes, they drive to get from one place to the next, but the cars in “Mafia” are more of a means to get players from one scenario to another rather than being a part of the sce nario itself. This isn’t to say that driving isn’t important, because it is defi nitely a big part of the game. At one point, the player gets to drive authentic racecars around a track ■after the man who was supposed to race gets beaten up by thugs who bet against him. Once a player actually gets to the non-driving part of the jobs, the real fun begins. The third-per son style of this game is reminis cent of Max Payne, but with better graphics and a richer story. There are various duties to per form, such as smuggling Canadian whiskey in for U.S. citizens left thirsty by prohibition, beating up thugs who are terrorizing neigh borhoods under Don Salieri’s “protection,” or walking a lovely young lady home from Salieri’s restaurant (which may or may not lead to a steamy sex scene). This is but a sampling of the fun, as there are many more places to inflict destruction, including but not limited too: a border farm, a whorehouse and a Catholic Church. While the voice-over acting isn’t perfect, and at times even cheesy, it is authentic and easy to imagine as emulating old gang sters. The writers had a good sense of humor as well. For example, there is a scene where players go to get weapons for one of the first jobs and the weapons man hands over a baseball bat with a warning to be careful because it belongs to his little nephew. Over all, I was surprised at how much fun I had playing this game. I was skeptical that it would be just a “Grand Theft Auto” clone, but I was surprised at how deeply involvingThe game play was. This gets 372 out of 4 stars and I recommend it to anyone who has a PlayStation 2 and is itching to be a real gangster. 'The Bronze Horseman' captivates readers Jessica LeClaire T he C lackamas P rint Many books have been writ ten about World War II, but one of the few novels to go into detail about the famine, separa tion, heartache and death that occurred around 1941 in Russia, is “The Bronze Horseman” by Paullina Simons. It is one book that I found I could not put down until it was finished. The story starts out in Leningrad at the beginning of the war. Simons is able to imme diately hold a reader’s attention by her graphic descriptions about the conditions of the city before the war started. Leningrad was a peaceful city that was soon to be interrupted by a war that seemed to be so far away. The story focuses around main character Tatiana Metanova. She lives in an apart ment with her twin brother, her parents and her sister Dasha. Dasha and Tatiana are not only sisters, but best friends as well. In the tiny apartment, they share a room and tell each other the deepest of secrets. Tatiana learns that Dasha has fallen deeply in love but fails to tell with whom. Tatiada is ordered to run an errand but is sidetracked by ice cream. While sitting on the bench eating her ice cream cone and waiting for the bus, she encounters a handsome soldier. She finds herself to be quite enchanted by Alexander. It is only a short time before she discovers that he is the one her sister has fallen in love with. Tatiana and Alexander feel an immense connection to one another. While the family is in poverty because of the war, Alexander is able to bring them some of his rations for being a soldier. He knowingly visits when he knows that Dasha will not be there so he can see Tatiana. Alexander and Tatiana fall in love, but this passion could end up not only destroying her fami ly, but reveal his secret, a secret that is almost as deadly as the war. Tatiana finds that the secret is hard to keep from her sister, but she has to keep her mouth shut because of everything that is happening around her. The war had created a major famine and food is extremely hard to come by. People become greedy and only look out for themselves. Even the family turns on one another. The only person in the house that keeps everyone in line was Tatiana. She sacrifices her food for her sister and her parents, all because she has an open and lov ing heart. She starves herself to save them in this drastic time of need. Their family begins to fall apart. Her brother goes off to the war; her mother and father die. In a struggle that seems end less, Tatiana is able to beat the odds with her passion, her hon esty, her risks and, most of all, her love for Alexander. “The Bronze Horseman” took me through all of the emo tions that make for a good book. I cried, I laughed, and the best part was that I was able to iden tify with the main character. This book is not only excellent, but is also historically accurate. It has a surprise ending that one can only discover by reading this enchanting novel. fowswiiaig Atniw« oí LIVE UP TO YOURS. An Associate Degree is just the beginning. How’far you go is entirely up to you. At DeVry University, you can get a Bachelor's Degree on your terms. Classes are offered days, nights, weekends and online at locations convenient to where you live or work. Then add to your education with a Master's Degree from our Keller Graduate School of Management. Our goal at DeVry is to give you the education, skills and confidence you need to reach your career potential. All items are homemade, fresh daily Students can get the daily special for $4.25 Just bring in your student ID card to get the discount 212 Molalla Ave. Oregon City,OR 97045 (503) 655-7197 Portland 866-863-7810 Petercort Center II 9755 SW Bames Road, Suite 150 Portland, OR 97225 Or, e-mail us at transfer@devry.edu Now recruiting for our Winter Class from our temporary recruiting office located at Petercort Center I, 9555 SW Bames Road, Suite 295. DeVry K7 University YOUR BEST CAREER MOVE’ www.devry.edu © 2003 DeVry University. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (NCA), 30 N. LaSalle Street. Chicago, IL 60602, ncahighefleamingcommission.org
