Review of The Sopranos: Road to Respect

I recently purchased the video game titled "The Sopranos: Road to Respect" which is based on the popular TV series "The Sopranos." At the beginning of the game, Joey LaRocca, the son of "Big Pussy", who is also the main character of the game, is introduced as the newest member of the crew. Joey starts out working for Paulie Walnuts, one of Tony Soprano's captains. Paulie runs into some trouble at the Bada Bing, the gang's favorite hangout, and Joey has to help him deal with the troublemaker, Mario Bucetti, the nephew of a mob boss from Philadelphia.

After he accidentally kills Mario, Joey has to dispose of the body with the assistance of his best friend Reggie. At the docks, Joey realizes that Mario isn't entirely dead yet. After seeing that Mario has gotten up and attempted to escape, Joey shoots and kills Mario. Following the murder, Joey and Reggie dispose of the body and ditch Mario's car.

Soon after Mario's death, his uncle becomes worried about him and starts interrogating Tony about it. Joey's friend Reggie stole Mario's watch and starts wearing it around. Some associates of Angelo Bucetti, Mario's uncle, spot Reggie wearing the watch and suspect that Tony had Mario whacked.

After Paulie finds out that Reggie is wearing Mario's watch, he orders Joey to kill Reggie so that Angie won't find out about Mario's death. After arriving at Reggie's apartment, Joey crosses path with Tuzzio, one of Angie's men, who kills Reggie after Joey agreed to let him leave town. Joey and Tuzzio get into a gun fight that ends with Joey nearly killing Tuzzio.

After dealing with Reggie and Tuzzio, Joey returns to the Bing and meets up with Paulie and the others. Christopher Multisanti, Tony's cousin, takes Joey with him to make a collection at Shapiro's Gym, where the owner is trafficking steroids. Chris finds out about the steroids and demands his cut. When Charles, one of the trainers, refuses to give Chris his cut due to the trafficking being illegal, Joey has to "convince" Charles to pay up.

After Chris gets his money, he and Joey return to the Bing, where Tony invites Joey to a bar mitzvah for a family friend. Once Joey arrives at Vesuvio's, the local restaurant owned by Tony's friend Artie, A.J. Soprano tells Joey about a rave that he and his friend Frankie are hosting. A.J. asks Joey to be security and to keep it between them. Joey swears he won't tell Tony and agrees to be security.

At the rave, Joey finds out that A.J. and Frankie made a deal with a gang known as the Dreads. When the leader, Desmond, finds out that Frankie tried to make a drug deal with the money he was supposed to be paid with, he stabs Frankie to death and steals A.J.'s car. Joey and A.J. fight their way out of the rave and Joey returns to the Bing.

A.J. calls Joey the next day and asks about the car. Joey says that he's found the place where the car is and that he will retrieve it. A.J. comes by the place to get the car after Joey kills the guys that stole it. Tony finds out about the car being stolen and is "steamed" about it. He goes off on Joey in the hospital before A.J. takes the wrap for it.

I won't give away anymore of the storyline for the game in case anyone hasn't played it yet. The game is similar to the TV show, language-wise and violence-wise. There is also some partial nudity that may not be appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Parents are cautioned when purchasing this game in case they have young children in the house.