Mafia II Review

August 27, 2010 By Ryan Fleming

Aaaaaaaand done, thanks for coming

With open world games, you expect a long and lengthy game. RDR can take anywhere from 20 to 100 hours. The same is true for all the GTAs. Mafia II will take you 12 or so hours. Maybe 15 if you really, really want to spend time pointlessly exploring. Typically, 12 hours is a solid length for a game, and one that you don’t mind shelling out your cash for, but open world games are different. If you take out all the driving from point A to point B, driving that is there just to convey you from place to place and not part of the action, this game would probably be about 7 hours with 2 ½ being cinematics. That might be unfair, since the actual driving is fun, but with no multiplayer, few to no side missions, and not a mini-game in sight, anyone that has played a similar game will wonder where the rest of the game went.

There are scheduled expansions in the form of two DLCs. In general, I am a big fan of DLCs. I know a lot of people feel like the DLCs might be a cash grab from the developers, but if the original game gave me enough content to satisfy me, I have no problem paying a little more to continue playing a game I really enjoyed. With Mafia II, it feels like there was enough room to include the DLCs as part of the original game, and I am disappointed that they did not.

The first DLC is available now as a free PS3 exclusive, and is titled “The Betrayal of Jimmy.” While it is nice that PS3 owners get the exclusive content, 2K was forced to take out certain technical features from the PS3 version, including things like blood pooling under bodies, and better physics for clothing in order to increase the frame rate. In reality, these differences are negligible and you probably won’t ever notice them, so the PS3 probably has the edge between the platforms for the content alone.

A second DLC called “Jimmy’s Vendetta” will also be a PS3 exclusive, although no date has been set for a release.

Conclusion

Mafia II is a fun game, but there are others with similar gameplay that are much better. Fans of the mafia theme shouldn’t be scared off by that, and if you give the game a try, you will probably enjoy the 10-15 hours you put into it. But limited replay value, a lack of surprises, and a linear story in a non-linear world prevent this game from being the classic that it could be.

Mafia II is in no way a bad game. It just isn’t a great game, and the missed opportunities haunt what could have been a classic open world game. Still, fun is fun, and Mafia II is fun. Just try to dismiss all preconceived notions, and enjoy your time in Empire Bay.

Score: 7 out of 10

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Showing 9 comments

Tell Me How It Is at 9:43am 15th September 2010 The storyline in this game is very, VERY, enthralling. It could have very well been a movie, I go into a lot more detail on the game @ tellmehowitis.com, check it out. I give you plenty more pictures, a gameplay video, and even cheap places to get it.
Best game ever at 11:08pm 12th September 2010 ...oooh the weather outside is frightful..but the fire is so delightful, and since we've no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Best game ever at 11:06pm 12th September 2010 not to mention the jail and the fighting effects...outstanding stuff! This game revived my love for video games.
Best game ever at 11:04pm 12th September 2010 They thought of everything with this game! If there is ever going to be a time where a game deserves a 10 out of 10 this is it! I can play this over and over. Love that shotgun! and the different feel of acceleration for all cars, the music! the explosive interesting storyline that no other game could compete with. Phenomenal job 2k! This was a big smack! out of the park and through some apartment building window shattering the window with the loudest sound haha, no chance at catchin that ball.
the no it all at 8:35pm 7th September 2010 this game had great detail. But for stuff to do BORING. It is most certinly at rent and not buy game. Not mad i bought it just feel a little deprived of a almost top 5 of all time
Matteo at 8:20am 7th September 2010 Comment on the DLC's Actually they were going to be included with the game and are in fact on the game disk. They were disabled before release as additional revenue generator There is a full freeride, secondary (arcade) adventure called Jimmy's Vendetta, One called Rags to Riches and even the Sony DLC is on the PC disk. Some very useful people have restored the original loading script and these things are now available, at least on PC
dom at 1:12pm 28th August 2010 i love this game im going to say 9/10 for mafia 2, how ever at the end it is very disapointing basicly leaves u anoyed but dont let this get to u and stop u from buying it,, it is a awsome game a game of the film goodfellas which people will love if u like those movies, one thing i hate is that when u complete the game it doesnt let u free roam around empire bay which is bad because gamers will want that, and if im wrong hit me back on my email djdomcorn@hotmail,com, because it maybe my thing and i havent done something or change something to free roam
ste at 9:12am 28th August 2010 OK i will be short when i turned it on wow! the detail is amazing everyone is alive and doing there thing! i am so happy you can free roam in missions and explore the lovely alive city. and have fun. OK the pro/cons The Pros Incredibly well articulated world Engrossing storyline and characters Shocking attention to detail in game's presentation Amazing collectors edition so lovely designed worth the £59.99 [including next day delivery.] The Cons so far I have no problems with the game. that's good. it just what i wanted and i am sure 2k will launch an amazing dlc. i recommend highly for people to buy this game it rules! 4/5
N8 TRON at 4:55am 28th August 2010 A spot on review, i was crushed there was no "free roam" after the story was compleat however as you stated theres no real need for this as theres not much to do after the game is compleat. It doesent feel like I was cheated out of my 60$ but i feel like i could have gotten more for it. I would recomend this as a rent but not a buy. I cant give the game two thumbs up but i can give the review 2 thumbs up :)