When the original "Mafia" came out 2002, it set new standards for storytelling in games. It told the complex, tragic story of Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver turned mafia capo who rose to power in the 1930s. Convincing voice acting, a Hollywood-level script and memorable missions set "Mafia" apart from the crowd and made it one of the best PC games ever made. It makes sense that 2K Games would take its time with the sequel, and after eight years (and a few mediocre console ports), "Mafia 2" is finally here. And while it does match some of the high standards set by the first game, it never manages to achieve greatness.
The Basics
"Mafia 2" starts with a blank slate, in a new city (the New York-inspired Empire Bay) and a new time period (the 1940s and '50s). Players take on the role of Vito Scaletta, a Sicilian immigrant who has been running afoul of the law since birth. After a brief stint in the military, Scaletta returns to his old habits in Empire Bay, slowly working his way up the ranks of organized crime.
The gameplay is a mix of two styles. There's driving, which you'll be doing a lot of as you traverse the city, and there's 3rd-person shooting which cover mechanics. The game basically alternates between these two styles throughout its 12 hour campaign.
The Highs
The Living Streets Of Empire Bay
The obvious star of "Mafia 2" is the city itself. Driving around the streets you get the distinct impression that this is a city bustling with life. Whether you're cruising through the winter slush in 1946 or enjoying the spring breeze of 1951, Empire Bay looks 100% believable. The amount of detail placed on the shop fronts and period clothing really go a long way to sell the city as a place someone could actually live. Only "Grand Theft Auto 4" has offered up a more convincing-looking city.
The Importance of a Good Voice Acting
I'm pleased to report that the high quality voice acting standards from the first game return in "Mafia 2." The cast does an excellent job selling the dialog, which is also spot on and could very easy be taken from deleted scenes of "Goodfellas."
Certain Moments
There are moments from the first "Mafia" that remain clear in my mind, even eight years after the game's release: The funeral shootout, the airport ambush, the rooftop chase, to name a few. "Mafia 2" doesn't have as many of these memorable moments, but there are definitely a handful of scenes that stick out in my mind as things I've never seen in this sort of game before. It'd be a spoiler to discuss them, but the developers should be applauded for having a few curve balls thrown into the mix.
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