Difficulty:

Easy

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Grows on you"

It's been a good 10 years since Mafia: The city of lost heaven hit the stores. With it's amazing story, narrative and voice acting it is easily one of my favourite crime games up their with good ole gta san andreas. Just a year ago we got its sequel. Mafia 2 which generated a fair amount of hype. Well was it worth it ? Yes and No. Call me biased after playing gta 4 but the lack of things you could do outside the main story made my score go down a bit for Mafia 2. Sure you could rob stores ea tout,steal cars and break em down for money but there doesn't seem to be a real purpose for all of it. You are rewarded with a fare amount of money so the whole breaking down of cars is a bit pointless. Eating virtual food never was really that fun and stealing cars can't satisfy you forever. But what Mafia 2 lacks in content more than makes up for in narritive. you play as Vito Scarletta and after having a troubled early life and World War II returns home to Empire Bay. Vitos friend Joe eventually gets him into multiple illegal activities which Vito goes along with eventually getting tied up with multiple criminal families. This will last you a good11-12 hours though you are free to randomly terrorize the civilians of Empire bay with the assortment of weapons you will get. Though they won't be pushed so easily. Rob the old kindly shopkeeper ? He may have a shotgun behind the counter. Harass a young gal selling clothes ? Come back later and she'll be talking to the police and point you out. Of course you can just kill the police but then you have a wanted level similar to GTA but as smooth as you are you can simple convince the honest officers to "turn another cheek" As for gameplay Mafia has solid shooting,simple hand to hand combat and a bit of stealth. Stealth is probably the worse. In one mission you are tasked to steal stamps and as you slink through the dark hallways. The way Vito chokes out guards looks unrealistic and blockish. Mafia 2 has a variety of story missions. Exciting ones like dressed like cleaners on a skyscapers to boring ones (handing out cigar's) and just plan annoying ones where after you steal the stamps you must sell them all at multiple gas stations in alimited amount of time. Mafia 2 is a pretty good looking game. Character models are excellent as is the lighting effects. Voice acting is superb as well. Mafia 2 made me remember about some of the greatest films in history. The godfather,scarface goodfellas. It's all hear somewhere in Mafia 2 and this game lives up to the gangster name.