A Grand Theft Auto clone? Maybe, maybe not...but even if it is, what's wrong with THAT?
Regardless of where the ideas originally came from, fans of GTA will find a lot to like about Mafia, and people who have never played a Rockstar release will find a unique and entertaining experience, sans a lot of the foul language prevalent in GTA. Steering the young protagonist in his rise from common thug to a Mafia captain is great fun, and the surprise ending is satisfyingly bitter-sweet. Although not as open-ended as the GTA games, many of the missions are more challenging, which is a welcome trade-off. The vintage cars, music and locations provide a refreshingly unique environment, and I found myself thoroughly engaged from the very beginning.
The Bottom Line: Mafia probably won't appeal to die-hard fans of run-and-gun first person shooters, but gamers looking for something a little different will find this little gem to be an extremely enjoyable diversion.