UPDATE: In the video, I talk about a game called Gangsters: Life of Crime, in fact the name of the game is "Gangsters: Organized Crime". Forgive me for my mistake, I have no excuse to give other than I can be an idiot at times.
Allright, here is a small video of me playing Omerta, and what I think about it. I have in the past played (still do from time to time) one of the best Mafia games called "Gangsters: Organized Crime" which for me has been what I judge, and compare all others too.
Okay, to start off, the claims that the developer makes concerning the tactical side of this game being like XCOM is false. The only similarities between this games tactical compared to XCOM's tactical is only in two areas which are. #1: You have the ability to tell the characters under your control to go here, or go there which eat up movement points. #2: Action points is used for combat itself, or for healing etc.
That is it, you have no other options that will make you think it is like XCOM.
Now there are three behaviour commands which you can give your characters, but they DO NOT behave like the behaviour commands in XCOM, they just don't so if you hear someone mention these are just like XCOM behaviour commands are lying too you.
The commands are: #1:Aggressive Behaviour, #2: Defensive Behaviour, and #3: Retreat Behaviour.
Okay, you would think that you can move your character to where you want them to move too, and if you have a few MPoints left you could issue a type of behaviour, NO you can't do that, that is NOT the way it works in OMERTA. If you select the for instance the Defensive Behaviour, your character will get up, move, and start attacking instead of sitting tight, and act in a defensive manner (seeing an enemy approach, or pass line of sight, and your character attacks). You won't see these options in this game.
Now is the game worth the $40.00 dollars (depending on where you live)? I don't think so. The proper price of this game should be around the $14.99 range. Give the game some time to lower itself in price before picking up a copy. I am sure steam will lower it's price too about $4.99 eventually. Better yet wait, and grab yourself a copy from GOG.com. It's DRM free, and you won't have to deal with Steams DRM.
Anyway, if you want a good solid Mafia game go and pick up a copy of Gangsters: Organized Crime from here:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/gangsters_organized_crime which is being sold for a very good price of $5.99. Just make sure you grab the Windows 7 fixes.
Will this effect the way I buy from this developer? It will, I'll be a wee bit more careful in the future.
End Note: The game does have some interesting points too it, but they have too change the way the city life behaves (among other things). The city environment is devoid of other crime families. You do not see other crime family members moving around trying to take over other business's, and causing you misery. The city feels sterile, devoid of anything that would make me feel like your a head of a family.
If you see a DLC come out soon, DO NOT BUY it because they are trying to milk you out of your hard earned money. The things which are a problem in this game can be fixed through patches.
Final Score: 5.5 out of 10.
Previous Faith in Company/Developer: 6 out of 10
Faith now in Company/Developer: 2 out of 10