Despite being ignored upon its initial 1983 release, Scarface has since become an underground classic and décor for many a male-dominated dorm room thanks to Al Pacino’s caustic performance as Cuban drug lord/blow fiend Tony Montana. Emulating Tony’s colorful speech and homicidal tendencies might be a bad decision in real life, but it’s sick, twisted and fun to play on PlayStation 2 thanks to Scarface: The World is Yours.
But wait a second – didn’t Tony get blasted in the back at the end of the movie? That wouldn’t make for a very good game, so writer David McKenna (Blow) tweaks the story a bit: instead of dying, Tony escapes from the shootout in his mansion and must take back Miami’s drug trade with just his cojones and his word.
Scarface distinguishes itself from the countless Grand Theft Auto clones on the market on the strength of its namesake, Tony Montana. Developer Radical Entertainment captures Tony’s style and swagger with great attention to detail, from body language to dialogue. Andre Sogliuzzo provides plenty of great moments as the voice of Tony; it’s pure pleasure to bury some cock-a-roaches while he’s spewing obscenities like a maniac. Joining Sogliuzzo is an all-star cast of voice talent including James Woods and many others.
The game plays similarly to the GTA series, with the player controlling Tony as he freely roams Miami, completing missions and climbing the criminal ladder. The city is split into different turfs controlled by various cartels which Tony must eliminate.
In the beginning, you’ll have to put in work yourself, making connections and pushing slopes of snow. As operations expand, you’ll be able to hire thugs to do dirty work, purchase front businesses to wash dirty money and blow cash on expensive luxuries. Doing such hard-ass activities boosts Tony’s reputation around town; first you get the money, then you get the power, then the same maricons who dissed you in the beginning will be kissing your feet, man.
It may not break any new ground, but Scarface: The World is Yours packs the punch of a kilo of pure, uncut fishscale.