Great sequel to the original smash hit Mafia and also improving on all components that made the original game so good.
Anyways to continue to the game now: Its everything that the original Mafia was, but better and bigger.
The story is the highlight point in this sequel, same as it was with the original game. The story is almost drama movie quality in that its down to earth, realistically mafia style and portrays the people in those years in those kind of situations perfectly. The story is emotionally attaching and even though it can sometimes be rough around the edges its still amazing.
One thing vastly improved is the combat system, Mafia is a third person shooter, but you were just running and shooting, leaving little to skill and tactical maneuvering. Mafia 2 changes all that, the melee combat system is build from the ground up and its more like a sports boxing game or something like Tekken, its that good. You don't just spam the mouse button and punch shots, its more sophisticated than that and way more interesting.
The ranged combat has improved also, you now have a great cover system in place and a way more realistic representations of gun fights. How the cover works is also great as the movement in getting to cover is so realistic and gratifying.
This game has its blood and gore yes, but its a game not meant for 12 year old kids or some weirdos. who just go crapping in their pants when they see virtual blood. Its a realistic and dark game, thats all and its not overly bloody or as the reviewer likes to think to fix up on your bloodthirstiness. Also whats with the GTA references, its not open world enough, doesen't have virtual hookers and hot cofee mod, get a life please, Mafia 2 is not about open world and roaming around blasting pedestrians and having sex with game hookers, its a more linear game where the story comes first.
The music is the same type as in Mafia, its the classical 40's music and its damn great, keeps the atmosphere believable and it just works.
The car handling is quite realistic, though cars do tend to oversteer and understeer a lot, sort of like driving on wet or icy road. Overall though its good and compared to GTA series where the driving is arcade, this is a simulation like Grand Turismo series.
There is a lot of mission variety and each mission is interesting and different. There is also a good variety of weapons, all from that period of time.