Review: Mafia II
- Thread starter Russ Pitts
- Start date
Why in the video did you say that your body was going through the chain fence? Was it a poor attempt at humour? As there is no way in the game that your body can fly out the vehicle in a heavy crash (Like Gta IV).
After recently finishing watching the whole Godfather movies(Sh! I'm young!) i am definatly in the mood for a Mafia game. However, i'l probably have to wait till my Birthday or Christmas, both in December.
Great review! Other reviews have been quite harsh on it for linearity.
Great review! Other reviews have been quite harsh on it for linearity.
I'm also really enjoying the game, but as Russ said, the storyline really doesn't seem to leave much 'breathing room' for exploring the city. Unless, of course, you deliberately ignore what you're supposed to be doing.
In GTA, and most other 'open world' games, you get a mission from someone, do the mission, and then you're back in the open world to explore until you choose to go get your next mission. In Mafia II, you always have a plot-related objective to meet, and missions are frequently bookended by chapter changes/cutscenes.
On another note, the game (PC) is almost perfect if you have a 3D-capable display. Other than a few minor issues with some reflections or other light sources it has worked perfectly, and the immersion level is incredible. It's the first full game I've been playing through since I set up my 3D monitor, and it's a very nice experience.
In GTA, and most other 'open world' games, you get a mission from someone, do the mission, and then you're back in the open world to explore until you choose to go get your next mission. In Mafia II, you always have a plot-related objective to meet, and missions are frequently bookended by chapter changes/cutscenes.
On another note, the game (PC) is almost perfect if you have a 3D-capable display. Other than a few minor issues with some reflections or other light sources it has worked perfectly, and the immersion level is incredible. It's the first full game I've been playing through since I set up my 3D monitor, and it's a very nice experience.
I don't fall as far on the positive side of the reactions to this game, there are issues all over the place. The first game told a brilliantly written and acted story and the second game follows suit, the characterisation doesn't work as well however.
Thomas Angelo joined Salieri out of desperation and fear for his own life, if he hadn't gone to him he would have ended up dead and throughout the game we continue to see aspects of that humane side of him. Vito on the other hand really is a scumbag, he joins up with these people all too readily and barely questions what they demand of him, his relationship with his family is pretty much the only redeeming aspect he shows to us.
I have plenty of issues with the sandbox too, in that essentially there isn't one the first game featured a very detailed sandbox for it's time, with a fair bit to do, 6 years have passed since then however and Mafia II shows very little progression from it. It offers you a couple of forms of side missions sure, except I haven't been find any, whether this means that they are extremely thin on the ground(not a good idea) or that you actually have to be in a specific chapter to find each one(an even worse idea) it does not create a positive impression, other sandbox games have moved on from those early days but Mafia II ends up seeming like a glass cage, we can't see the bars but we can still tell that they're there.
Makes for nice car porn though
Thomas Angelo joined Salieri out of desperation and fear for his own life, if he hadn't gone to him he would have ended up dead and throughout the game we continue to see aspects of that humane side of him. Vito on the other hand really is a scumbag, he joins up with these people all too readily and barely questions what they demand of him, his relationship with his family is pretty much the only redeeming aspect he shows to us.
I have plenty of issues with the sandbox too, in that essentially there isn't one the first game featured a very detailed sandbox for it's time, with a fair bit to do, 6 years have passed since then however and Mafia II shows very little progression from it. It offers you a couple of forms of side missions sure, except I haven't been find any, whether this means that they are extremely thin on the ground(not a good idea) or that you actually have to be in a specific chapter to find each one(an even worse idea) it does not create a positive impression, other sandbox games have moved on from those early days but Mafia II ends up seeming like a glass cage, we can't see the bars but we can still tell that they're there.
Makes for nice car porn though
I really loved Mafia 2, the Story, Dialogue, Acting were all amazing and the Gameplay was fun while not getting in the way of the story.
The world was beautiful, the characterization and development phonemically.
That being said the game doesn't end with a bang, it ends with a splutter and feels like they ran out of time. There are also a ton of fully developed areas that have been locked off from the player, presumably to be sold to us as DLC because $60 for a game with only 12 hours Gameplay isnt enough money to 2K it seems.
There is also a distinct lack of clothing, because surprise surprise, it all got cut up and divided up between the various pre-order bonuses.
Mafia 2 is a great game, 2K's handling of it as a publisher however is deplorable and I am honestly reconsidering setting down $120 for two copies of Civ5 (even though myself and my wife are long time Civ fans) simply because I am afraid of what convoluted nonsense 2K will try to force on Sid and the Civilization series. Cutting out a leader to weasel an extra $10 is already a giant warning bell.
The world was beautiful, the characterization and development phonemically.
That being said the game doesn't end with a bang, it ends with a splutter and feels like they ran out of time. There are also a ton of fully developed areas that have been locked off from the player, presumably to be sold to us as DLC because $60 for a game with only 12 hours Gameplay isnt enough money to 2K it seems.
There is also a distinct lack of clothing, because surprise surprise, it all got cut up and divided up between the various pre-order bonuses.
Mafia 2 is a great game, 2K's handling of it as a publisher however is deplorable and I am honestly reconsidering setting down $120 for two copies of Civ5 (even though myself and my wife are long time Civ fans) simply because I am afraid of what convoluted nonsense 2K will try to force on Sid and the Civilization series. Cutting out a leader to weasel an extra $10 is already a giant warning bell.