Scarface: The World Is Yours

Scarface: The World Is Yours

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	2006
Founder	Radical Entertainment
Headquarters	Canada
Products	Video game
Parent	Vivendi Games

Scarface: The World Is Yours is an action-adventure title released in 2006, developed by Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows platforms, with Vivendi Games as the publisher. The game draws inspiration from the 1983 motion picture of the same name, penned by Oliver Stone and helmed by director Brian De Palma. In 2007, an upgraded version featuring enhanced graphics was launched for the Wii. A proposed port for the Xbox 360 was ultimately discontinued.

Serving as a broad continuation of the film's storyline, the game reimagines the ending by allowing Tony Montana—originally portrayed by Al Pacino—to survive and seek vengeance through reestablishing his drug empire in Miami. Although Montana’s visual representation is modeled after Pacino, his voice is provided by André Sogliuzzo, who was personally selected by Pacino due to changes in the actor’s voice since the original film. Several original cast members, including Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, and Al Israel, returned to lend their voices reprising their characters.

Critics generally responded favorably to the game, often drawing comparisons to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, particularly commending its faithful capture of the film’s atmosphere, humor, and an authentic depiction of Tony Montana. From a commercial standpoint, it achieved sales exceeding two million copies across all systems.

Gameplay

Scarface offers an open-world experience viewed from a third-person perspective, where players assume control of Tony Montana as he endeavors to reclaim dominance over Miami’s illicit drug market, dismantle competing gangs, and rebuild his criminal legacy.

Combat

The gameplay mechanics fall within the Grand Theft Auto clone category. Players have the ability to operate various vehicles, explore on foot, engage with civilians and NPCs, complete missions, and wield an extensive arsenal including pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, chainsaws, and melee weapons such as pipes and machetes. A notable distinction from similar games in this genre is that Tony is unable to kill innocent bystanders; attempts to attack non-hostile characters are either blocked or result only in minor injuries, reflecting his personal code of ethics.

As Tony's empire expands, players gain access to hire personnel including a driver, a boat captain responsible for smuggling larger cocaine shipments, an arms dealer who supplies weaponry, an enforcer tasked with protection and offensive operations against adversaries, and a hitman assigned for precise assassinations. Control can be transferred to these associates (excluding the arms dealer); when playing as either the enforcer or hitman, players are permitted to kill innocents.

Combat features both manual aiming and lock-on targeting systems with shot placement affecting enemy behavior—shots to the legs cause foes to collapse yet continue firing; hits to arms reduce their accuracy. Manual aiming accumulates "balls," which fill a "Balls meter" critical for combat effectiveness. Upon reaching full capacity, "Blind Rage" mode activates: gameplay switches to a first-person viewpoint with slow-motion effects, automatic targeting accompanied by unlimited ammunition, and health regeneration upon eliminating enemies. Balls are also earned through actions such as taunting opponents, insulting others after collisions, winning street races, completing missions, and engaging in dialogues.

Empire

To complete the game, Tony must gain control over four principal Miami areas: Little Havana, Downtown, South Beach, and North Beach. At the outset, only Little Havana permits undertaking missions, launching assaults on opposing gangs, or acquiring properties. Each district demands full 100% domination before the subsequent one becomes accessible. This is achieved by purchasing a specified number of fronts, defeating enemy factions, and finishing cocaine-related assignments. Before buying fronts, Tony is required to complete tasks for their proprietors; these missions form the core gameplay alongside the main storyline objectives. Fronts that have been bought remain vulnerable to attacks from rival gangs; to protect them until his arrival, Tony can install security cameras and employ guards. After securing a sufficient number of fronts in a territory, Tony must capture that region’s storehouse from adversaries.

A pivotal gameplay mechanic is the "Reputation" system, which consists of eight tiers represented by letters from the word "Scarface." Advancing Reputation unlocks new items and missions and is increased through mission completion, front acquisitions, side quests, and purchasing mansion "exotics." As Reputation rises alongside Tony’s "balls" stat, "femme fatales" become available; inviting them to his mansion grants various attribute enhancements such as stamina boosts.

Tony’s empire fundamentally revolves around cocaine trafficking. Players engage in side missions known as "Felix leads" to establish connections with suppliers. Smaller suppliers offer limited quantities measured in grams for street or front sales; larger suppliers provide kilos that must be transported to storehouses before drug runs distribute cocaine across all fronts while evading rival factions. At later stages, Tony can import bulk cocaine shipments from Caribbean islands via boat, navigating past pirates and the coast guard, then execute distribution through drug runs.

Money and heat

Tony’s finances involve two categories: cash in hand ("dirty money") and laundered funds held in a bank account. Dirty money is at risk of being lost upon death, arrest, or gang raids, making laundering vital for asset protection. However, laundering incurs bank fees that escalate proportionally with Tony’s "cop heat" level.

Both "cop heat" and "gang heat" meters significantly affect gameplay and financial aspects. Cop heat influences police pursuit severity and increases bank interest rates, while gang heat affects cocaine prices—higher gang heat results in lower prices. Acts of public violence raise cop heat levels, triggering police chases that may culminate in an unavoidable "You're fucked" scenario. Players can reduce cop heat via bribes and diminish gang heat by intimidating rival gangs. A minigame modeled on a "golf swing" mechanic governs drug transactions, gang intimidation tactics, and bribery negotiations.

Plot

Scarface: The World Is Yours picks up immediately following the film’s conclusion, with Tony Montana (voiced by André Sogliuzzo) surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by Alejandro Sosa’s men. After losing his mansion and having his empire dismantled, Tony retreats into Miami’s Everglades, swearing vengeance and plotting to rebuild his criminal network.

Three months later (March 1984), Tony returns to Miami intent on reclaiming his drug empire. His assets remain frozen while rival cartels control his former territories. He hires attorney George Sheffield (James Woods) at a premium rate and reconnects with Felix (Carlos Ferro), who warns that Sosa and crime lord Gaspar Gomez (Cheech Marin) now dominate Tony’s previous domains.

Tony begins laundering confiscated cash through banker Jerry (Michael York) and regains control of Little Havana by taking down the Diaz Brothers after discovering their involvement in his mother’s murder. Following a betrayal involving a setup by Pablo (Wilmer Valderrama), Tony cuts ties with Sheffield.

Expanding into Downtown Miami against the Contreras cartel, Tony forms an alliance with Caribbean cocaine producer "The Sandman" (Steven Bauer). After eliminating Nacho Contreras—who owns a casino aboard an oil tanker engaged in illegal operations—Tony seizes control of South Beach and North Beach territories from Gomez.

Supporting Sandman against Colombian cartels enables Tony to acquire a plantation and processing facility, consolidating both production and distribution capabilities. With his empire restored, he sets his sights on Sosa in Bolivia.

During the final assault on Sosa’s mansion, Tony eliminates Sheffield, Gomez, and ultimately Sosa himself following a confrontation over business principles. The game concludes with Tony appointing a surviving henchman as his butler and celebrating success alongside Venus (Cree Summer), signifying he has finally claimed "the world."

Development

The game was officially announced on August 10, 2004, when Vivendi Universal Games disclosed that Radical Entertainment was working on a third-person shooter adaptation of the film for PC and contemporary consoles, aiming for a release in the third quarter of 2005.

Writing

Originally intended as a faithful retelling of the film, the development team altered their approach after recognizing the strength of the original screenplay and the limitation posed by Tony Montana’s death, which restricted player involvement. Consequently, the game features an original narrative set following the events of the movie. Combat designer Jason Bone noted that this decision allowed greater creative liberty to introduce new material and sustain player engagement.

The developers initially sought out film screenwriter Oliver Stone, who declined to participate. They then brought on board David McKenna, known for his work on American History X and Blow. A fan of the film himself, McKenna emphasized Montana’s exaggerated humor within his script. He was instrumental in crafting approximately 40,000 lines of dialogue, describing his involvement as providing an overarching framework and directing supporting scenes while Radical managed the development process.

Regarding Tony Montana’s survival in the game’s alternate ending, McKenna dismissed concerns about deviating from the film’s storyline:

McKenna further explained his intention to create something fresh yet consistent with the original film’s tone, believing that players desire a blend of humor alongside action in gaming experiences.

Development and delay

In December 2004, Vivendi confirmed plans to release the game on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC.

The game was first shown as a non-playable demo at the 2005 GDC in March, unveiling a transition from a third-person shooter to an open world format inspired by GTA. Vivendi highlighted nonlinear gameplay, allowing missions to be completed in any sequence, with an estimated playtime between 50 and 60 hours. The design ensured that Montana could not harm innocent bystanders. Producer Cam Weber pointed out the Rage mode, influenced by Tony’s explosive temper portrayed in the film.

In April, Vivendi announced the title as Scarface: The World is Yours, confirming Al Pacino’s likeness would be featured but not his voice. The voice cast included notable actors such as Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Jay Mohr, Cheech Marin, James Woods, Miguel Sandoval, Robert Davi, Michael Rapaport, and Michael York. Vivendi’s chief strategy officer Cindy Cook underscored Pacino’s likeness as essential for authenticity and praised the distinguished voice talent for enriching the game’s depth.

By May, Vivendi postponed the release to 2006 and revealed plans to develop versions for Xbox 360 alongside PS2, Xbox, and PC. The Xbox edition was presented at E3 2005; Radical confirmed that PC and PS2 versions would incorporate features similar to Xbox, while Xbox 360 would offer exclusive content.

Re-design

In March 2006, Vivendi distributed pre-alpha versions of the PlayStation 2 edition to IGN and GameSpot. Since E3 2005, Radical had completely revamped the game, improving both the design and narrative to deliver a more engaging experience. Gameplay modifications were implemented to attract a wider audience, balancing appeal between casual players and dedicated gamers, in response to unfavorable reactions from both media and the public following the E3 demonstration. Critiques primarily targeted the visual elements, which led Radical to redo every external texture.<ref>Jason Bone observed that this feedback underscored the difficulties involved in crafting a vast open-world game with cinematic ambitions, prompting further development efforts. Work on the Xbox 360 version had yet to begin, as Radical intended to avoid a straightforward port and instead concentrate on the PS2, PC, and Xbox platforms; a PlayStation 3 version was also being considered.

Vivendi presented the alpha build at a pre-E3 event in April 2006.<ref>During this time, an extensive roster of voice actors was revealed, including Al Israel, Ice-T, Oliver Platt, Daniel Dae Kim, Willa Holland, Roma Maffia, Robert LaSardo, Brenda Strong, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Gervais, Michael Rooker, Jason Mewes, Anthony Anderson, Rick Yune, Wilmer Valderrama, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Richard Roundtree, Tiny Lister Jr., Bai Ling, Bam Margera, Cree Summer, N.O.R.E., Tommy Lee, B-Real, Sen Dog, and Elliott Gould. André Sogliuzzo was personally chosen by Al Pacino to provide the voice for Montana.<ref><ref>Pacino opted not to lend his likeness for Electronic Arts’ Godfather game in order to participate in Scarface instead. Vivendi clarified that Pacino did not perform Montana’s voice because his current voice no longer matched the character’s; additionally, voicing Montana demanded considerable physical exertion due to the character’s pronounced accent.

In August 2006, a Collector's Edition for PlayStation 2 was announced. This edition included the game along with a bonus DVD containing a "Making of" documentary, producer commentary walkthroughs, interviews with cast members, gameplay hints and tips, a comprehensive game map, and concept art.<ref><ref>

PSP version

On July 28, Vivendi announced a Scarface title for the PlayStation Portable named Scarface: Money. Power. Respect., developed by FarSight Studios. Unlike The World is Yours, this game merged turn-based strategy elements with real-time combat as players vie for dominance over Miami's criminal underworld. Concurrently, Vivendi disclosed the cancellation of the Xbox 360 adaptation of The World is Yours for undisclosed reasons.

Music

In August, Vivendi introduced a soundtrack comprising over 100 tracks from artists such as Johnny Cash, Grandmaster Flash, Ministry, Debbie Harry, Rick James, Iggy Pop, Judas Priest, Public Enemy, along with the complete original score by Giorgio Moroder featured in the film. The "Mix Tape" option enabled players to tailor the in-game music selection, appealing to enthusiasts of the movie’s score, authentic 1980s tunes, or modern songs. Cindy Cook, Vivendi’s chief marketing officer, highlighted this customizable audio experience as a crucial element for enhancing player engagement.

The original game soundtrack, titled Scarface: The World Is Yours - Original Game Music Score, composed by Marc Baril and released through Universal Music in October 2006, consists solely of original compositions created for the game and excludes any music from the film.

Wii version

In January 2007, NGamer reported that the game was being adapted for the Wii. On March 1, Vivendi confirmed a summer launch date, noting that the Wii edition would be consistent with other versions but would incorporate Wii Remote controls alongside improved graphics.

A demonstration highlighting the control scheme took place on April 10. IGN commended the pointing functionality for delivering near-exact weapon targeting, enhancing gameplay relative to other platforms. GameSpot offered mixed reactions to certain motion control features, such as the chainsaw mechanic.

Vivendi assured that this version would remain uncut, positioning it as the most graphic title available on the Wii. Additionally, adjustments were made to the in-game economy to boost early mission payouts and reduce prices for select "exotic" items, thereby facilitating smoother player advancement.

Marketing

Vivendi collaborated with the online gambling platform Bodog in a cross-promotional effort, incorporating Bodog’s branding into various casino-themed minigames such as video poker, slot machines, and blackjack. This partnership also featured billboard advertisements promoting Bodog's music label, alongside the inclusion of founder Calvin Ayre as a non-playable character within the game. Additionally, Bodog organized an online competition where participants could win copies of the game and a vacation to its Costa Rican resort.

Reception

The World Is Yours was met with generally favorable critiques; the PlayStation 2 edition holds a Metacritic rating of 75, Xbox 76, PC 73, and Wii 71. IGN awarded an 8.7 out of 10 along with an "Editor's Choice" distinction to the PC, PS2, and Xbox versions, commending its gameplay advancements that set it apart from typical Grand Theft Auto imitators—highlighting elements such as the narrative, ball meter, rage mode, and targeting mechanics. The Xbox version was recognized as "Xbox Game of the Month" in October. IGN also rated the Wii version 8.5, noting enhanced controls and greater complexity appealing to dedicated gamers.

Game Informer gave the PS2 version an 8.5 score, praising its compelling open-world experience despite some repetitive side missions. GameSpy provided a positive assessment for its intense violence and mature language but pointed out outdated graphics and repetitive gameplay toward the latter stages. Eurogamer rated the Xbox and Wii editions 7 out of 10, acknowledging adherence to genre conventions while criticizing semi-linear progression and Wii control issues.

GameSpot offered a more critical perspective, assigning scores of 6 for PC, 6.4 for PS2, 6.6 for Xbox, and 5.8 for Wii, citing uninspired characters, questionable design decisions, technical problems on PC, and problematic controls on the Wii platform.

The game earned Computer Games Magazine's "Best Soundtrack" accolade in 2006 and was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Sales

Scarface achieved notable success on PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms but underperformed on PC. During its initial week at Best Buy, PS2 versions ranked second and eighth in sales charts; Xbox placed thirteenth. Combined PS2 sales surpassed those of that week’s top title, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. By late October, it became North America’s best-selling game with over 366,000 PS2 copies sold generating $18.7 million in revenue and more than 110,000 Xbox units sold for $5.4 million. The PC edition sold approximately 9,000 copies, earning under $450,000. Global sales exceeded one million units by November and surpassed two million by May 2007.

In Germany, authorities banned the game due to its depiction of intense violence.

Cancelled sequels

Vivendi originally intended to develop a Scarface franchise with several sequels announced in July 2005. However, following the transfer of rights to Activision Blizzard in July 2008, no sequel titled Scarface 2 appeared on their list of upcoming releases. Although rights later returned to Universal Pictures, no subsequent projects were disclosed.

In June 2022, pre-alpha footage from the cancelled Scarface 2, which was planned to be set in Las Vegas, surfaced online through a leak posted by YouTuber Mafia Game Videos.

External links

• Official website Q&A (archived from the original)
• Scarface: The World Is Yours at MobyGames