You begin as an upstart thug running certain errands for a low-level crime boss. Your goal is to do as much criminal damage and earn as much respect as possible to become a boss yourself. Getting "made" isn't easy though. You must successfully bribe, steal, kill, bootleg, seduce women, take over shops, blow up buildings, gamble, commit drive by killings, and much more to get the respect from your underlings and bosses alike. You don't become successful by just going on a kill crazy spree. Becoming a boss takes planning and brains, and if you ain't got'em, you'll get whacked.

Done in a point and click style of game play, a la Diablo, Gangland makes running the streets a click away. Unfortunately there is no tutorial in the game, so you must hit the books young man…that's right the instruction book. Even for the most seasoned RTS/Action RPG fan, there is plenty to learn in this game, and you get no hints or help from anyone but the paperback itself. A chore, I know, but believe me, the time invested on brushing up on the game's critiques will pay off in the end. And who says crime doesn't pay?

Visually, Gangland looks really nice. The textures are crisp and clean, the colors and lighting is top notch, and even the animations are admirable. The game is in full 3D with the ability to zoom in and out and check out the digs at anytime. Character models are plentiful and varied, with some real nice artwork and design to each model. The city streets are detailed, as they are dirty. Nothing looks cooler than the light coming off the spray of your AK. Living the life of a mobster has never looked this good.

Gangland doesn't skimp in the sound department. Most everyone has something to say, from the bosses, to your cronies, all your NPC's will eventually make you say, "Are you talkin' to me?" Among other audio notables, the ambient sounds are done well, giving each local an authentic appeal. From the pool halls, to the strip clubs, the game captures all the flavor of Little Italy. Lastly, the game wouldn't be complete without the sweet sound of gunfire, and with the great assortment of arsenal, you'll hear plenty of it, that is until you're whacked and you won't be hearing anything.

As mentioned before the game is based on the point and click type. What sets this game apart from the carpel tunnel games before it is the variety of ways to accomplish each mission. In over 26 missions, there are multiple ways to complete each one, so getting the result you want shouldn't be a problem here. To make the game even more exciting, the game is non-linear, so doing things at your own pace is acceptable. Heck, you can even give yourself a cool nick name like "Speedy Largesse" if you just do hit and run type of kills, or "Pace Marinara" if you just like to take your time and move slowly. However you play, the amount of crimes you can accomplish in this game is fabulous, and it never gets old. There is support online for up to 8 players to see who can reach crime boss status first, but as of this review, not many were ready to tangle with "Tommy Wommy O'Leary".

If you have any fascinations with the mob, wise guys, or even criminal justice, Gangland easily deserves your respect. Even at 50 bucks retail, it's easily an offer you can't refuse when it comes to Action RPG/RTS type of games.