What I love about the games we play today is just how immersive they can be.
Take Mafia II, out now on the Xbox 360 – it’s difficult to tell the cut-scenes from the actual scenes sometimes as the transitions are just so smooth.
This is an awesome game that takes sucks you in as soon as you start playing as Vito, a beaten-down Italian American who is hell bent on escaping the life of poverty and providing for his family.
The first chapter sees you back in your home town of Sicily in the war fighting for the Americans – this I wasn’t expecting and it seemed as though I was playing Medal of Honour, but it certainly set the scene.
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Once out of the army, Vito hooks up with his old pal Joe (no surprise there on the name front!), who seems to have become a bit of a wannabe-gangster during the war days…and this is where the game really takes shape.
Mafia II is a fantastic looking game that delves into the dark world of the American gangster, expanding on the original hit game which captivated more than two million gamers around the world.
I love the way the game teaches you the controls by interacting in certain scenes – the fight sequence with the man harassing his sister is excellent, with the fight seeming to be pretty realistic – including the blood which certainly flies after each well-landed punch.
But don’t think that you’re gonna land the Don’s job straight off the baseball bat! You have to earn your stripes starting off with low-level jobs like robbery and stealing cars.
Driving the cars is more than a bit tricky, especially as there seems to be a blanket of snow on the roads – slipping and sliding is inevitable and tough if you’re trying to keep a stolen car in good nick to sell it for dollars.
This is my only criticism of the game really, and it’s not much of one.
The game play is awesome and you can easily lose hours playing as you try to work you way up the Mafia family ladder.
This really is an authentic portrayal of Mid-20th Century America, complete with a soundtrack that complements the golden era – the radios in the car blast away songs of yesteryear that will have your grannie tapping her feet and shouting – ‘Oh yes, I remember this one!’
Down to the cars, clothing and atmosphere, Mafia II is definitely worth checking out – I can see me playing this one for some time to come.
Just be warned that as it is rated as an 18 certificate, there’s some choice language and graphic scenes which definitely aren’t suitable for younger players – this is one definitely for the adults to enjoy.
For more information, check out the official website: http://www.mafia2game.com/
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