Mafia II review

I think it's time to review Mafia II. Mafia II was released in 2010 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac systems. This game has a spectacular resemblance of noir and Italian Mafia culture in it's theme during the Early Cold War in Yankee America.

The story follows Sicilian born Vito Scaletta born in 1925 who lives in Empire Bay. He becomes a soldier for the Clemente and Falcone families along with best friend forever Joe Barbaro. The story takes place in 1943, 1945, and 1951. Though the story is a lot like Godfather in it's Mafia culture sense, it is linear and is much like a Godfather style movie since you as the player don't have many options. What attracts me to this game is the setting of the 1940's and 50's. Originally it was going to take place from 1946 to 1957 but It was shortened to what it was on final version. The characters speak very well too and are done very amazingly. Keep in mind I don't want to add spoilers here but I will say this story is both thrilling and unsatisfying. For one the story is linear which makes it's lasting appeal less than Grand Theft Auto IV. Plus, the story doesn't give you choices like in Grand Theft Auto IV and Saints Row The Third. When you've finished the story, you don't get to free roam and don't have the same number of activities as in Grand Theft Auto IV and Saints Row The Third. The story does sound like an awesome action movie though and characters are a lot like academy award winning actors. The feel of noir is there.

Gameplay follows a lot like Grand Theft Auto with 1930's-50's automobiles and decor. The physics are more real and feel somewhat heavier but are not as heavy as Grand Theft Auto IV. Weapons resemble ones mostly from World War II. Firing weapons is the same as you do for first person shooters. The cars, environments, and weapons are things I'm attracted too but unfortunately this game feels too short and I really felt like Mafia II could have been the 1940's-50's style Grand Theft Auto such as mission structure being like Grand Theft Auto IV and having many side missions plus having more free roam options such as having numerous houses when you finish the story. What would have been nice is following the lead of both Grand Theft Auto IV and Saints Row 2 in mission structure in the sense of rivaling numerous gangs throughout Empire Bay such as the Clemente, Triads, and Irish Mob families. After reaching the Made-Man status of the Mafia, Vito could conquer these gangs separately and it would be like three different stories that can be completed in any order the player chooses. Vito would be working for both the Falcone and Vinci families after being betrayed by Clemente. Unique features are cars require gas and police will recognize you based on wanted level of outfit worn plus license plates of wanted cars.

Graphics and environment are inspiring, being truly advanced for 2010. The PC/Mac versions deserve the highest ratings for these graphics since they inspire excellence and realism, a huge comparison from Mafia: City of Lost Heaven. Mafia: City of Lost Heaven's graphics were blurry but not terrible, even managing to make a neat 1930's environment. Cars, characters, buildings, and weapons look inspiring and you will even feel like you're in Mid 20th century North America. Just look at the art involved in this game. The best advertisements, music, culture, and art were in the 1940's-60's. This is without a doubt a great inspiration of work. My suggestion would be to add more vehicles since despite a cool collection of 1930's-50's cars I feel more could have been added such as parody of Oldsmobile Rocket 88, Cadillac Eldorado, Ford Model T, Packard Clipper, more Woody station wagons, etc.

There have been more downloadble contents added to this game such as new stories of Jimmy's Vendetta and Joe's Adventures, new clothes, cars, and such. Jimmy's Vendetta and Joe's Adventures feel more like free roaming like in Grand Theft Auto IV with a mission structure based more off of Grand Theft Auto IV. I will review DLC in another blog.

Final rating goes as this: Gameplay=88/100, Graphics=100/100(PC/Mac), 90/100=(PS3/Xbox 360), Theme=95/100, Story=80/100, Lasting Appeal=87/100.
Final Overall Ratings are 90/100 for PC/Mac and 88/100 for PS3/Xbox 360.