Author – HBO

Publisher – THQ

Available format(s) – PlayStation 2

Price - £34.99

Format tested – PlayStation 2

In a nutshell?

A gangster turf war is about to explode in Sopranosville and as the new hardman on the block, you’re placed firmly in the thick of it, collecting debts, roughing up enemies and dazzling the girls. Despite featuring ‘Road’ in the name, the car action is limited to raiding a dodgy garage who are in the process of working on the boss’s car which was stolen two missions earlier. It’s not Grand Theft Auto, but there’s plenty of wandering about, talking, stealing and watching the strippers in the Bada Bing.

There’s plenty of nudity and the kind of language Quentin Tarantino would think twice about, so this 18 certificate game isn’t one for the kids.

Does it look the part?

On the Xbox 360, the Sopranos would look as good as the TV series, but this game shows the limitations of the PS2. It’s not bad, but it's hard to take the criminal bigwigs seriously when they’ve got heads like Kryton from Red Dwarf.

Realistic simulation or arcade fun?

Depends if you spend your days knocking villains about and shooting anyone who threatens your ‘family’s’ respect, really.

How does it play?

It’s a ‘batter the buttons and see what happens’ kind of game. As you progress through the missions, you can throw your adversaries around in ever more elaborate ways. In the dialogue scenes you have a choice whether to talk tough, smooth or somewhere in between; but it doesn’t make much difference to the outcome of the situation.

How much gaming will you get out of it?

Not much really. There is a large number of missions, but they’re mostly short and don’t offer much in the way of diversions like Grand Theft Auto.

Pole position or flaming wreck?

6/10 – strangely addictive, if a little limited toe in the water of gangster chic

Review by Stuart Milne