Mafia II is a good game, but the story is a bit short, and theres not enough once your done.
The story is great, gameplay, the cars looks fascinating, the Empire City looks fascinating,, it feels like a perfect 1940-50's style, music is impressive, the aiming system is perfect, character looks interesting, collecting playboys, artworks and wanted posters are cool, physics looks cool. Graphics is beautiful.
The Cons:
Too short, not enough replay values when your done, short city, not big enough, ending is a little bit lacking, some people are a bit same and recycled. Not a lot of extra content and features from what Mafia 1 had to offer.
Mafia II is a sequel to a great awesome PC game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. Mafia 1 did a great job with some realism feel, great and large city, some replay values, stunning visuals, stunning dynamic environments, and such more Mafia 1 offers. Now they made a sequel for it. Mafia II did a great job of feeling like a Mafia, but somehow it didn't really did a good job to what Mafia 1 had. It lacks the lengthy story.
Story:
The story takes place in the Empire City, but you'll start out at the war in the 1940's. Playing as Vito Scaletta, who is an gangster at Empire Bay, part of the family later on. It tell about his life from the beginning. His parents decides to start a new life at Empire City, being as a child when he know that the city looks beautiful, but he was disappointed when it was filthy, disgusting and was living in an apartment that so messed up and dirty. his father decides to work to earn money, but his money goes towards to booze. Then his parents decides to send Vito to school, later met Joe Barbaro, friends, protecting Vito and a criminal. Vito and Joe decides to rob the jewelry for money. They were being caught, Vito gave the jewelry to Joe, and Vito was arrested. He decides to join the WWII instead of being in jail, as a the 504th Parachute Infantry, later begins the game play when he was trying to save the prisoner at Italy before being shot by the enemy soldier. After Don Calo, a Sicilian mob gave an offer to the Mussolini to surrender, Vito got injured by the Nazi's,leaves, goes back home for while, meet with Joe and grab some beer before Vito drops off to his home. Not gonna spoil more, you have to play to understand.
Gameplay:
The gameplay is just like sandbox game, though the gameplay follows the story instead of having your free time like GTA. They made some new changes from the Mafia 1. It still a third person shooter. They change the physics to something new. The game uses PhysX engine. Its like a GTA IV that has a brand new physics but it feels like realism. The physics of Mafia II is just something different. I have to say that the gameplay is outstanding but nothing new. You can shoot, duck and cover, ride cars, fight, and such other gameplay things they have.
Sounds:
The music feels like the old school in the 1940's through 50's. Voice acting is good, not a problem. Sound effects are just fine. Car engine sounds was ok, not that kinda exaggerating. Guns sound are ok. Such other sounds they have.
Graphics:
Character detail looks very great. The expression are not that big surprise. Environment of the Empire City is very fascinating, beautiful. Car models are very new, stunning. Some weather effects are awesome. And such more things they have.
Overall:
If you love the first Mafia game, then I suggest you might have to rent it first since the game is short. For those who never played the first game, you can play this, though some parts require to understand the Mafia 1 story, it only happens a little bit, and probably rent it. Other than that, Mafia II is a great game, wish it could have been better and improved.