Great strong story, got me playing again.
If you love the whole mob, drive-by, tommy gunning deal, then this game is just for you. The only thing that I think it's lacking is the feel of an open-world game. There isn't much you can do but the quests given to you at hand. But, the strong story backs that up pretty well.
I'm actually playing it again, just to get back into this world. The guns, cars, and even the fist fighting are pretty well done. The game in my opinion looks amazing. When you return to the city, it's winter and it just makes me wish i lived in that time.
Again the story is amazing, and the game is really hard to explain besides that it draws you in as you progress. Wish I could write up a better review for Mafia II, because I'm not doing it any justice.
I hope Mafia III is just around the corner. Give it a try, it might draw you in as much as it did me.