Developed by 2K Games' Czech Republic studio, Mafia II is a sequel to the hit PC/XBOX game (Mafia) released in 2002. It is a stand-alone story, that follows Vito Scaletta as he comes back to Empire Bay (which is basically a digital re-imagining of New York City,) after fighting for his country in the Second World War. Upon his return, Vito is reunited with his old pal Joe, who helps Vito find work with the mafia. What follows is an intriguing, entertaining and very well-written story about Vito's rise within the mafia organization and major events/issues that arise along the way. The game's storyline takes place over two decades - the 1940s and the 1950s.
Throughout the game's 15 hour campaign, you will meet many interesting characters and will be put in a myriad of different situations, ranging from taking someone out, engaging in a shootout, stealing documents from a hospital or helping a colleague dispose of a body. The game is very story-driven and, because of that, its design is incredibly linear. Because of the great emphasis on keeping you in the midst of Vito's story, the game doesn't really feature any side missions or anything to do in terms of free roaming. I honestly didn't mind that because I was so engaged in the storyline and what was going to happen next, that I just wanted to keep playing the main missions anyways. Personally, I think it was a good design choice because there were no distractions and the story grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until its grand finale. I also liked how the developers added a level where you play as Vito during his time fighting in the Second World War.
Mafia II plays like most of the other open-world crime games, as in Grand Theft Auto. It's very traditional and doesn't push the envelope much, but it's quite fun and doesn't have many issues. Using cover during gunfights is integral to staying alive and the cover mechanics work quite well. The shooting mechanics are also quite good and are easy to get used to (and are superior to the average sandbox game's shooting mechanics.) It also features a robust fist-fighting mechanic, which can be engaged by shoving an opponent. It allows for more realistic fighting, including the ability to evade, block, throw two different types of punches (varying in strength) and counter-attack.
There is also a great emphasis on driving. Although these types of games traditionally involve a lot of travel across their large maps, Mafia II involves more travel than usual. It's something that may turn some people off, but it didn't bother me too much. I liked how the driving physics changed based on the type of weather (for example, roads were slippery during the winter season which was prevalent at the beginning of the game.) The cars primarily handle pretty well, but the driving physics can be a bit floaty at times and it can be hard to turn at fast speeds. However, you're driving cars from the 40s and 50s, so it's understandable.
Visually, the game is quite impressive. Empire Bay is very detailed and feels lifelike. The texture work and attention to detail is impressive, as is the fact that the environments are very destructible. The character models, their expressions and animations are also well-done, and it honestly feels like you're watching a movie at times. Overall, the game runs quite well, but it does have a few frame rate issues (which I noticed primarily while driving, but it wasn't very frequent.) There isn't much in the way of character customization, but you can decide to change Vito's clothes if you'd like (clothes can be bought at stores throughout Empire City.)
The game's dialogue and story are very well-written. The characters are believable, interesting and well-rounded. You really get to like Joe and Vito a lot, even though they have issues. It doesn't hurt that the voice acting is top notch, with strong performances from the entire cast. It honestly feels like a good, interactive mob film (one of my favourite genres.)
What really impressed me about this game was the great attention to detail that 2K Czech put into the game. As I mentioned before, the world looks great and has a lot of detail, but it's not just that. Each decade that the game takes place in feels different and has subtle changes (as well as major changes because the models of cars available change as you progress. More become available once you hit the 1950s.)
In addition, the driving is also more realistic than usual as you will die if you get into a front end collision at a high speed. The cops are very prevalent and will start to chase you (in an attempt to pull you over and fine you a certain amount of money, which you can pay or resist,) if they notice you speeding, driving away from a collision or hurting civilians. They, along with enemies, can also shoot you through the back windshield of your car as you drive, or blow the tires with a well-placed shot. If you're wanted and escape, the cops will keep record of your car and your appearance, so you're forced to change vehicles and/or your clothing to get them off of your back. The cops will also do their best to stop you from escaping if you rob a gun store or a clothing store.
2K Games formed a partnership with Hugh Hefner and his Playboy enterprise for this game. With this partnership, 2K Czech scattered various Playboy Magazines throughout Empire City, for players to find. Each time you find a magazine, you will be able to browse an image of a centerfold from the eras in which the game takes place. Be warned that there is nudity.
Mafia II is not an easy game but it's not frustratingly difficult either. I played it on hard and found it to be a good challenge. You have to rely on your cover during a gunfight because one well-placed shot at a close distance can take you out. In general, it doesn't take a lot of hits to kill Vito. Conversely, you must make sure to be strategic with your shots in order to quickly take out your enemies in an efficient manner.
Overall, Mafia II is a very strong game. In fact, it's one of my favourite releases of the past year. Not only is it fun to play, but it's so immersive and interesting that it hooked me from start to finish and I had a lot of fun playing it. It gets a bit of a bad rep for not having much in the way of side missions but I think it works better without them, because the story never lets up. If you're a fan of open-world sandbox games of this ilk, then it's definitely worth checking out.
Rating: 8/10
Mafia II was released on August 24, 2010. It is available for the XBOX 360, PS3 and PC.
