A gorgeous game with one of the most real and brutal stories mafia 2 is a surefire recommendation if there was one.
The graphics are beautiful. Even though there are some female character models which look the same( you will spot a redhead frequently) the overall feel of the city is fresh and authentic. The cars are drifty and great to drive although Vito takes damage on crashing and there is a lot more police presence than in any GTA game. Mafia 2 does encourage clean driving with cars parked on the kerb and narrow roads (remember its the 50's). Cars like Shubert frigate, Thunderbolt, Potomac Indian are so beautifully rendered that you wouldn't want a scratch on them anyway.
The story is the highlight of the game. It's totally in your face, violent and real.Vito, Joe, Eddie, Leo and all the lead characters are voiced perfectly with just the right amount of accent. Their facial expressions betray the coldness and brutality within. Mafia 2 isn't about good and evil but about a man's personal choices and what he must do make it big in a ruthless city with dangerous circumstances. If you like the perennial goody-two-shoes characters Vito Scaletta and his buddies will shock you right out of your pants. The first few missions are routine but the story quickly develops into a hair-rising drama! The stunning ending and Vito's journey through the mob world at its peak, is better than the godfather anyday!!
The shootouts are typical cover based, although you can slide around corners, do stealth attacks, fist fights(which are good but some kicking would have been nice). They are nicely choreographed and the weapons like the tommy gun and the shotgun are a delight to use.
Other than that there isn't much to come back to. The playboy magazines are great and you would want to look out for them during the missions. But the hard hitting drama that is Mafia 2 should not be missed. Its a game which holds you by the power of its storytelling something not many can these days!