Mafia II

Blog Post: different from the rest

david — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:37:00 GMT

I dont think everybody should compare this to gta 4. Just because its in a big city and has guns does not mean its copying gta. This game has one of the best storylines that i have seen all year. It might borrow from some movies, but it still sucks you in. The graphics look mostly great, and the gunplay is really good too. I would like this game to be more free world. It could have a lot of fun side missions like saints row 2. Mafia doesnt really need it, because the whole game is so good.

Blog Post: Its good. Real good. But not that good.

Goodfellas — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:16:00 GMT

I had such high expectations for Mafia II and for the most part i got what i was expecting, but it didn't deliver as much as I had hoped.

Graphics: City and characters look great and it definitely creates a 40's-50's feel. The graphics however are not perfect because as you make sharp turns you can see the environments loading but its not that big of a deal. The faces look great but the mouths don't match the words very good at all.

Sound: Great soundtrack with hundreds of songs from the era and perfect voice acting.

Storyline: Possibly the best storyline I've seen in any game. It is obviously the strong point of the game and it leaves you wanting to come back for more.

Length: Only about 12 hours long. This wouldn't be a bad thing its just that there is nothing else to do other than the story. This is the biggest downfall on the game is that there are no side missions or anything. Just follow the linear path to the next chapter. Its a good thing the story is so good because other wise nothing would keep you playing.

Pros:
- very good graphics
- phenomenal story
- interesting characters
- 40's-50's era
- great voice acting
- good soundtrack
- good combat
- easy vehicle controls

Cons:
- bad lip sync
- nothing to do
- linear storyline
- no side missions
- no city interaction
- way too many cops
- too much driving around

Mafia II looked like it would be such a good game and it is good but as good as I expected. It feels empty because there isn't much to do, but what it does do it does it very well. Overall I give this game a 8.75/10.

Blog Post: Good weekend rental

ai3di — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:49:00 GMT

mafia 2 was really a good game but had some shortfalls from making it even better. The world looks great and the characters are really good looking too, but the lip sync makes you wonder if they are really talking or not. The cars and driving around was as good as it could get, but there was really nothing to do besides going to your destination. I had even forgotten that I could go buy guns, as they are lying around after a battle. You can get food, but you have a stocked fridge in your safe house. You could buy cloths, but there are really only about 5 outfits, though each has a few different color schemes. The shooting is very fun, but very simple. I really only had to look out once to place my aim near where they were going to pop out and then hide until they did, then quickly pop out and shoot. Head shot almost every time. There are a few collectables, and while worth collecting, it is about the only thing to replay the game for. My biggest disappointment was these cut scenes that showed time passing. They showed you doing missions that I felt like I would want to do. it was like they didn't have time to program these missions in so decided to show the cut scenes that they had created for them in a montage. Overall, it was a good game and worth playing, but as a rental on a weekend that you don't want to leave the house.

Blog Post: Review: Mafia II

Ygrath — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:26:00 GMT

Mafia II comes with one of the best production values that I have seen in a game recently. I have a love for gangster movies (not to be confused with gansta') and so I was thrilled with to find a well-written story in Mafia II that stays true to the way the Mafia actually worked. This story really comes to life through the detailed characters and the talented voice-acting given to them. The cut-scenes are also very well done and, together, these elements really drew me into the world of Mafia II.

Despite the quality of the game, however, I can't help but feel that it is unfinished. This doesn't have to do with the gameplay (controls work well both on foot and while driving) or glitches/bugs (didn't notice any) but, rather, because 2K Czech has made such a large and well-realized world that they haven't managed to fill. The game presents itself as a sandbox game but ends up being very linear and shallow. You are free to drive around the town and explore but beyond buying guns and outfits there isn't anything to do. The game even adds icons to the map for characters that you meet during the story that tell you to come back and do jobs for them. If you actually go back, though, they say that they don't have any work for you at the time. There are no side missions to be found and, after completing the story, you are done- no free-roaming is available. The missions themselves are fun enough and engaging but about half the game will be spent driving back to your house after every mission.

And so, despite the excellent quality and presentation of the game, it fails to meet the expectations that it builds for itself. That's not to say that the game isn't worth playing but it is short and will end with you both feeling like there should be and wanting more when there is none to be found.

Blog Post: Mafia II: Game Review - Made Man

gamesight — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:23:00 GMT

Life is hard but the life of a gangster is even harder. So you want to be Made huh? Well in Mafia II you will get your wish. The seedy underworld life of a Made Man is the main plot for the storyline of this game, but not only is it the main plot it is the only plot as this seemingly "open" world is really quite closed off. The world of Mafia II is amazing, beautiful, breath taking even and filled with people, going about their daily lives as you Vito Scaletta reek havoc on the world around them. The graphics presented in this game are some of the best I have ever seen and the story itself is great; told perfectly, honestly leaving you to want to know more. But this game falls short for many reasons and that in part is due to the strong storyline push that streamlines your gameplay experience.

As you are introduced into this bustling metropolis of Empire Bay that pulls you into a unquie time period you are left wanting. Usually I am all for having one or two fewer side missions in a game however with Mafia II there are none, zero, nada and even for me that was very dissappointing. The world that surrounds you calls to be explored, however any exploration you actually do is only done to progress the story and therefore many actions become fruitless and boring. There were many times in this game where you must go complete a mission in one part of town just to turn right around after you are finished and drive all the way back home just to park the car and go to bed in order to move on. Gun shops, clothing stores and body shops are located around the city but again are really only used to progress you closer to the end of Vito's tale. With a world that seems filled with oppurtunity it would have been nice to have just a little bit more that our main mission to accomplish.

The story of Mafia II and its characters make the game and with the great fist fights and shootouts that occur you get that in your face action that any Made Man wants. The action in this game is always present pretty much in any mission you must complete but in saying that the fights themselves were not very diverse. Basic skill is needed in order to fight your way through the world of Mafia II. Squeezing off a few rounds and then tucking yourself neatly behind an object will always get the job done in this game and that again can become somewhat off putting. The few fist fights Vito gets himself into are fun but again require basic skills to pull off that needed knock out. Now don't get me wrong even though the action can sometimes seem repeatative the action itself is fun and the stellar cutscenes add a major spice to the action every so often.

There are several missions in this game that were great fun and in the mist of it all your buddy Joe is right there with you. Joe is always ready with a witty and sometimes curde but funny remark. As you will see the characters are to me what really make this game feel real. Even with the short commings of this game it is one I enjoyed. The great detail put into the visual and story aspect of the game makes you want to keep playing until its over. Mafia II might not be that perfect gangster game just yet but it is well on its way. As Vito you will experience the life of a Made man and with that comes many trials and tribulations; but you will face them all and as the fate of any man that lives by the gun...things might not end as expected.

Blog Post: Same Great Gameplay, Now with 75% More F Bombs

Mark Zufelt — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 03:57:00 GMT

Anyone who played the first Mafia and enjoyed it has a very good idea of what they're getting themselves into. This is not GTA, Just Cause, Mercenaries, or any other typical sandbox game. This is a well crafted, tightly told story of Italian Mafiosos set in the mid 20th century. The world around you is meant to ooze the time period, and it does a fantastic job of doing so. But the series has never been about sending you on meaningless side quests, like the overly repetitious Godfather games. It's about the immersive story set out for you by the writers, and to be honest, with the quality and decent length of said story, your getting enough bang for your buck.

I'm not going to bother with story, because you can read the GI review for the basic gist, but essentially you play as Vito Scaletta as he makes his way from nobody to somebody in the 'family'. The story is good, full of some great characters (especially your best friend Joe), but don't let anyone with a sensitivity to swearing come within 50 yards of your speakers while your playing. Never in my life have I ever heard the F word droped so many times, and I'm an avid user of it. As of the time I am writing this, it's set to possibly break the most times f*%k has ever been used in a script. How about that for a legacy?

Missions are varied, although some people will become annoyed with the amount of traveling you need to do between, during, and after missions. I personally loved it, because it gave me a chance to take in the gorgeously rendered world. 2K Czech out did themselves by creating a vibrant, authentic, and detailed world, where the city flows like a real city would.

On the gameplay side, the shooting mechanics have been tightened up, making it easy to jump into combat, while a fighting system has also been implemented, but I found it to be a bit repetitive and simplistic. One thing newcomers will notice right away is the jarring difference in the way vehicles handle. This is one of those nuances I've loved since the first game, and glad they kept. Cars drive the way they did back in the 40's and 50's, and I see it as just another great nuance that makes the game that more authentic. One of my only true gripes with the game comes with the absorbitant amount of cut scenes, some coming less than a minute after exiting one. Otherwise, I'm very impressed with the overall package. A must buy that any gangster fan will find enthralling, with a world that just drips with ambiance.

NOTE: I purchased the Special Edition of the game, which comes in a nicely designed steelbook case (always a plus in my opinion) with a plastic dusk jacket. It also comes with a small, 100 page hardcover art book, the orchestral score soundtrack, a DLC which comes with 2 sets of clothes and a car, and a nice fold out map of Empire Bay, the city the game takes place in. For any Mafia fan, this is a no brainer at only $69.99. For anyone new to the franchise, I would say this is a definite avoid, since most of the extras are suited more for long time fans of the original.

Blog Post: Mafia 2 is Golden

Wicked Jeaster — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:07:00 GMT

I was skeptical at first, but, as I played the first few hours of it, i fell in love with it. I was captivated by the mafia stuff you get to do, such as burying a dead guy in the park. It is an experience to say the least, The story is also fun, it has so many twists and turns, I won't give anything away, but, it is a very suspenceful ride.

File: Mafia II Greaser, Vegas, Renegade, and War Hero Add-On Pack Video

Matt Helgeson — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:44:00 GMT

Want some hot new jalopies and duds? Check this out, bub!

Blog Post: Mafia 2 Review: Mediocre Title During the Summer Lull

Captiosus — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:04:00 GMT

Mafia II developed by 2K Czech studio and published by 2K Games, is the sequel to the 2002 release of Mafia and is available for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. While the game has some enjoyable moments, overall the game falls flat and leaves one wondering what could have been done with the material.

Story:

In Mafia 2 we are introduced to Vito Scaletta, an immigrant from Italy whose family came to the United States while he was still a youngster. Vito swears he's never going to end up like his father who worked a backbreaking dock laborer job for miniscule pay. Over the course of the game, we follow Vito's trials and tribulations to make his "American Dream" of easy riches and the easy life come true during the mid-1940s and early 1950s.

The original Mafia title was a heavily story driven title and Mafia 2 is the same. The story is the entire meat and potatoes of this title, which wouldn't be bad except for the fact that the story of Mafia 2 is simply too fantastical, even for a video game, occasionally disjointed, and extremely linear. The game asks the player to make several leaps of faith, dictating that the player accept that certain events have transpired simply because the game says so.

An example of one of these fantastical moments comes in the fact that Vito's rise to power happens, quite literally, over the course of only a few in-game months in the back half of the game. Early on in the game we are introduced to a band of Irish who hate the Italians, with little to no back story is given on this. Sure, historically, the "Micks" and "Guineas" (using the lingo) didn't get along, but there seems to be even more bad blood between this particular band of Irish and Italians before the first time they crossed paths. Why? The game doesn't really say. We're just told to accept it as fact and move on.

The story is presented in chapters and, while they mostly flow from one chapter into another, there were several times during the course of play where the transition felt contrived and not fully fleshed out. Given the rapidity of events in the game and the lack of character building, it's difficult to become immersed by the life of Vito or the game's vision of the American-Italian Mafia. In addition, the story itself is fairly short, clocking in around 8 to 10 hours of length.

When compared to other titles where the story was a main selling point, such as Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption and Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain, 2K's Mafia 2 simply pales.

Presentation and Gameplay

Mafia 2 is presented as in an open world format but is actually confined to a linear progression. While you are free to explore while playing during various chapters, you cannot leave your apartment and go roaming around anytime you choose. Because Mafia 2 uses an open world style the GUI elements are also familiar staples of open world titles, including your typical compass with map navigation, health and wanted meters, speedometer, location marker and money counter.

The gameplay of Mafia 2 can be broken down into one of three categories: Driving, Gun Fighting and Fist Fighting. Each of these have their own problems, however, which ultimately drag the title down.

The driving physics are, quite simply, terrible. Players can opt to upgrade the cars' tuning systems to make them perform better but, even at the highest tuning, cars simply fishtail and slide out of control. The driving physics can be forgiven to an extent as there is no way to perform such things as drive-by shootings like one can in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, but it can cause problems and frustration during story segments in which your Cosa Nostra comrades are fending off attackers from the windows while you try to drive to safety. Thankfully, such story segments are few and far between.

2K Games, along with several media outlets, have made the gun play a focal point of the game, opting to display the gun fights a key marketing strategy. Unfortunately, the gun play of Mafia 2 is as loathesome as the driving physics. It is nearly impossible to be precise with any of the pistols in the game due to the speed with which the crosshairs move while looking down-sights. A mere tap on the right stick can send your crosshairs halfway across the screen. When players graduate from pistols to machine guns or submachine guns, the need for precise aiming goes out the window. Simply aim down the sights, look in the vicinity of enemies and pull the trigger.

Two other key issues which limit the quality of the gunplay are the poorly implemented, slow and clunky, cover system and extremely poor hit detection which can sometimes result in finding yourself being killed while hiding behind a stack of boxes two feet taller than Vito. As an example, in Chapter 14, I found myself killed by a shotgun wielding wise guy who was standing, literally, a story under me in a metal-and-brick stairwell.

Gun fights have no "epic" feel to them; Rather they feel bland, soulless, repetitive and uninteresting. Many recent games have created gun fights that are significantly better than the ones available in Mafia 2.

Ironically, the game does well when you have no weapon and are forced to fend for yourself with your bare fists. The fist fighting combat feels very well done and once you have learned all of the facets of hand to hand combat - which, unfortunately, doesn't occur until half way through the game - you can really feel the interplay of punching, blocking and countering your opponents.

Overall, the gameplay, due to the drawbacks, is far more frustrating than fun. Again, compared to other games of a similar genre, such as Red Dead Redemption, the gameplay really feels as though it could have done with several more months of testing and refinement.

Graphics & Sound

Graphically, the console versions of Mafia 2 feel extremely dated. The Playstation 3 version, the version on which this review is based, seems to suffer the most problems. The PS3 edition has very poor antialiasing, severe screen tearing and texture pop-in and also does not have dynamic decals. In comparing the PS3 game to the Xbox 360 demo, it is evident the Xbox 360 has far better graphical performance. However, even on the 360, the graphics look dated, as if Mafia 2 was a first year title for either platform.

On PC, Mafia 2 really shines. That is if you have a machine capable of running it at a high resolution with high antialiasing and high aniosotropic filtering. Even with a system beefy enough to provide rich in-game graphical performance, the pre-rendered cutscenes still look very poor and dated.

The sounds of Mafia 2 range from decent to great, with the music and voice acting falling squarely on the "decent" side of the spectrum. The voice acting isn't great but it isn't the worst either. The included music is, in a word, repetitive. While 2K Czech made a good effort including ethnic pieces and popular tracks of the era, there are only four radio stations with roughly 5 songs each. You WILL be tired of hearing the same songs repeatedly if you choose to listen to the in game radio stations. The sound effects are superb and have great attention to detail. Each car sounds unique based on the type, and each weapon has its own distinct sound, all the way down to the sound of the shell casings hitting the floor.

While the sound effects and the attempts to bring in period music really do enhance the setting of the game, it is ultimately distracted by the gameplay and the poor graphics. For players who want the best graphical performance and sound fidelity, they should undoubtedly obtain the PC version of Mafia 2.

Replay Value

Mafia 2 has little to no replay value, with the only reason to play it again based solely on how much of a completionist each individual player is. Because the story is static and linear, you will have seen everything the story has to offer the first time you complete the game. The game offers no side quests to do other than delivering cars to a junkyard or to the docks for money, but neither of these are structured side quests.

Money earned in the game is mostly irrelevant. You can buy 4 different sets of clothes, car upgrades, food (for health) and guns/ammo. You probably won't be spending a lot of money at the ammo shops because, during firefights where ammo matters, ammo dropped by enemies is plentiful. You probably won't be buying any food either because there's only a handful of food vendors and your health regenerates to a set level, quickly, over a period of time. Short of trying to get achievements, there's no reason to get other cars and upgrade them beyond the first one you encounter in the course of the game.

The game does include three difficulty levels and three types of collectibles (Playboy Magazines, Wanted Posters and Pinup Art). It is possible, though, to play the game once on the Hard difficulty setting, collect everything available in the game, and unlock every achievement. Potential episodic DLC may make the game worth popping in again but, really, this game is only worth two playthroughs for your money.

Overall, Mafia 2 leaves a lot to be desired. The fun moments were very fun, but were overshadowed by the frequent frustrating gameplay and graphical issues. Mafia 2 is a solid rental, but save your $59.99 for the upcoming fall season of major AAA titles and hardware add-ons.

Aside: I would like to take a moment to include an opinion regarding the Playboy Magazines. While I'm a typical male (read: pervert), I'm not entirely sure what the inclusion of the retro playmate pictures was supposed to do for the game other than serve as gratuitious T&A for the male demographic and, maybe, as a marketing ploy between 2K Games and Playboy Magazine. Playboy Magazine listed Mafia 2 as their Game of the Month in the September 2010 issue specifically because of the inclusion of retro playmates and 2K Games producer Alan Cox tried saying they were included because of the mentality of Vito and his friends. Yet, in the course of the story, I never really felt like Vito cared one way or the other. His friend Joe, though, I could see being a Playboy subscriber, but finding Playboy Magazines hiding around in random places just feels like a forced way to try to buy controversy and extra marketing.

Forum Post: Its a great game

Captiosus — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:52:00 GMT

I'd call it an average game, to be honest.

2K keeps pushing these epic gun battles and, frankly, I find the gun mechanics to be the weakest element of the game play. Aiming is terrible: Trying to aim precisely with a pistol is nearly impossible but once you get a MG or SMG, you can just point, click and kill.

Outside of the really poor gun mechanics, imo, driving is a real pain and the driving physics are some of the worst I've ever played in a game (second only to Mafia 1). Despite this, there's really no incentive to get other cars beyond the first one you steal other than earning cash to crumple them.

I keep hearing people laud the story as being great, but I sat here on medium and was able to go through chapters 1 through 11 in 4 hours and the story is really disjointed and asks the player to take several leaps of faith. Vito's rise to power is, in terms of game playing time, absurdly rapid and then the game ends.

As you pointed out, there's really no reason to play it beyond twice, depending on how much of a completionist you are. It would only take one playthrough on hard to collect everything in the game all at once and get all of the Trophies/Achievements.

Graphically, on both PS3 and X360 the game is lackluster. The cutscenes look very dated, as do the in game graphics. The PS3 seems to have gotten the crappier end of the stick, with far more texture pop in and lack of decent antialiasing and dynamic decals.

I can't really understand where all the hype regarding this game's greatness is coming from. Other than the fact that stores needed a AAA title in August...

Blog Post: Mafia 2 is good.....and i wasn't pressured into saying that.....seriously...

Travis Still — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:55:00 GMT

This isn’t a GTA clone. I thought I might need to clarify that for anyone who passes this up based on that ridiculous statement. Mafia 2 is set in the late 40’s and early 50’s where you play as a Vito Scaletta, born in Sicily and migrated to Empire Bay as a child. The story and attention to detail is the most impressive thing about Mafia 2 and I’m not saying other parts aren’t impressive cause they most certainly are. Everything feels exactly like it should feel. Guns have a feeling of power when you shoot them a certain cars are more maneuverable than others.

The story of Mafia 2 plays out a lot like a Scorsese picture and that’s not a bad thing. It’s very well written and well presented and the only downside is that people who were expecting a more open world will be disappointed. There’s still plenty of open world things to do like a couple side missions and finding and customizing cars can take out a pretty big chunk of time. The problem with the side missions is that the main story is so compelling you want to keep playing the story and the side missions are just sort of there, but they are fun if you choose to do them.

Gunplay is free aim but it’s not hard to adjust if you’ve played other 3^rd person action games. It has a cover system that works well most of the time with a few exceptions but nothing big. Environments are incredibly detailed and destructible. 90% of everything in the room in the room can be shot and will break realistically. Vehicles vary from car to car some faster than other and some more maneuverable than others. There are plenty different types of cars and the car you’re driving will rarely be seen being driven by everyone else like some games, unless of course it’s a common car.

Mafia 2 is a serious contender for game of the year and a must play for anyone who appreciates fine detail and great stories in games. Im not saying you should buy it but if you’re a fan of movies like Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Casino this is the game for you. P.S. if some one catches you staring at the collectables claim that you were seeing if there were articles attached.

Blog Post: Mafia 2

Aarone Stone — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:45:00 GMT

I love this game, It has It's flaws but so does every other game. I think It deserves a 10 but It Isn't perfect, but It Is a very good one.

Blog Post: The Ultimate Mafia Game

Connor Allison — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:37:00 GMT

This game is truly amazing. It perfectly recreates the 40-50's era, which I love. You see the navy recruiting signs on the wall, here the music, etc. Not much to say, but this game is truly excepitonal.

Blog Post: MAFIA II review

Blake Auditore Da Firenze — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:57:00 GMT

9.00? No way! This is a TERRIFIC GAME! I JUST rented it and it is probably one of the best game ive EVER seen! I swear GI! Update your review! Yes, somethings you said were true but its not a 9.00! Once I actoully beat the game ill post a full review!

Blog Post: Mafia II Review: Jump Into This Thing Of Ours

Matt Bertz — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT

America’s fascination with the Mafia is long documented. For decades, films like The Godfather and television series like The Sopranos have basked in the world of the Italian organized crime syndicate. Its current and former members tout it as a closed community that operates on trust, respect, and glory. Never mind that in reality they backstab, double-cross, and rat each other out at a higher frequency than any of the Real Housewives reality shows. No video game franchise adheres more closely to this fractured dream of a romanticized criminal subculture than Mafia. [Excerpt]

Set in the ‘40s and ‘50s, Mafia II is jam packed with familiar plot devices pulled from classic movies like Goodfellas and A Bronx Tale. In the fictional city of Empire Bay, three Italian crime families hold control over most of the criminal underground. While the old fashioned Dons stick to the time-tested rackets of gambling, running numbers, and boosting goods, more adventurous young upstarts start dabbling in get-rich-quick schemes involving narcotics. This creates a friction that could break the alliance and pit the families against one another. This is the backdrop for Vito Scaletta’s rise from street thug to wise guy.

Like a made guy dressed to the nines in a tailored suit, fedora, and a pair of Stacy Adams, Mafia II dresses the part. The new setting, Empire Bay, is a stunning recreation of a ‘40s and ‘50s American metropolis. From the war-time propaganda posters to the era-specific automobiles and radio tunes, Mafia II transports you to a time where American pride was at an all-time high, dames were called broads, and overt racism ran rampant through the segregated communities. The impressive attention to detail is most noticeable in the expertly crafted building interiors, which look like destructible sets pulled straight out of Mad Men.

Unlike Grand Theft Auto’s Liberty City, Empire Bay isn’t an open world playground overflowing with side quests and distractions. The world still feels like a living city, but Mafia II is a much more focused experience. You can buy new clothes, get your plates changed at the auto shop, and boost cars for cash, but that’s about the extent of your interaction with the city. The game is divided into story chapters, which allows the developers at 2K Czech to alter the weather, time, and city conditions in service of the missions. While explorative gamers may miss the freewheeling structure of games like GTA and Red Dead Redemption, those who never finish lengthy games will appreciate Mafia II’s direct storytelling.

The original Mafia stood out for its engaging missions, and the sequel follows suit. You still drive through the city for long stretches (this time without a clutch or constant harassment from traffic cops), but once you reach your destination the action unfolds in smartly scripted missions that feel different every time. These quests feature your standard blend of third-person shooting and driving sequences, with the occasional fistfight thrown in for good measure. The controls don’t depart drastically from genre conventions, though the finicky cover mechanic gave me troubles in tight quarters.

For Vito to become a made man, he must earn his stripes selling stolen cigarettes on the streets, robbing jewelry stores, burying dead bodies, and taking on dangerous infiltration and assassination missions. His best friend Joe is along for the ride most of the time, and their dialogue serves as a narrative lynchpin. Though Mafia II relies heavily on mobster clichés, the ending takes an interesting turn that gives the game its own identity.

If you’re a veteran of open world games, you should note that Mafia II is extremely easy on the normal difficulty. Turn it up a notch if you want more challenging gunfights. No matter what difficulty you choose, don’t expect at lot of interference from the clueless cops. When you break the law, the men in blue aren’t overly concerned with apprehending you – some give lazy chase, but shaking them is as easy as stepping on the gas in a fast car, making a u-turn in a busy intersection, or stopping until the cops get out of their cars and then flooring it. They’re even more ineffective when the guns come out. I “hid” behind a dumpster of a closed-off alley in front of a pile of several dead officers and lost my wanted rating despite several cops patrolling the area.

Mafia II suffers from some other minor annoyances as well. The game relies heavily on cutscenes, and sometimes doesn’t know when to draw the line between interacting with the world and triggering a cutscene. I shouldn’t take control of Vito as he wakes up only to jump immediately into another cutscene when I pick up the ringing phone. The NPC intelligence during missions is also troublesome. In one mission I had to tail a car to find out where it was headed, but the driver got into an accident and the mission failed.

In an era when video games are moving away from relying on cinematics for storytelling, Mafia II draws on the rich mobster film history to weave a gripping drama about family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and pragmatism. If you’re fond of quoting Don Corleone and Tony Soprano, don’t miss this game.

Blog Post: Mafia II Review: Jump Into This Thing Of Ours

Matt Bertz — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post: Mafia II Review: Jump Into This Thing Of Ours

Matt Bertz — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:50:00 GMT

File: Mafia II Review Screenshots

Matt Bertz — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:31:00 GMT

File: Mafia II Review Screenshots

Matt Bertz — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:31:00 GMT

File: Mafia II Review Screenshots

Matt Bertz — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:31:00 GMT