This aspect of gameplay was equally straightforward as it was easy. The only time I felt that enemies were particularly challenging was during a sneak mission to uncover the ulterior motives of an alleged loyal family member who had two of my companions held hostage in “Balls & Beans.” In order to eavesdrop on my feigned companion, I had to assure that Vito would not be seen. This was undoubtedly one of the more fun aspects of the game, given its unpredictability.
Gunfights, on the other hand, are just as you’d expect them to be. At the most, enemies will appear on catwalks above, or will be carrying a particularly powerful weapon to keep you distracted while other goons attempt to flank you. Enemies will take cover based on their AI, but their movements are fairly predictable. I got into the habit of placing my sights just above the crates a suited enemy might be hiding behind, simply waiting for him to pop his head back up (a very familiar feeling in games that implement a shooter perspective).
Fortunately, some objects that enemies will attempt to take cover behind are destructible. I shredded through glass to expose two seemingly hidden enemies, and flanked around the last one who had knocked a table aside as cover. Some form of combat strategy will be involved, but it was certainly not the game’s focus.
The shining qualities of Mafia II come down to the spectacular research that the developers at 2K did to create a realistic environment. Partaking in Vito’s climb through the Falcone family felt like a believable tale. The voice actors embody the exact accent and attitude you would expect to compliment a script of this nature, and their renditions/personalities range from a chubby womanizer to the tall and lanky evil-spirited mobsters.
I left playing the game very much wanting to continue the storyline and see what other conspiracies would be uncovered, as well as investigate the characters you meet along the way. There are hints of palpable tension in some dialogues and interactions, where emotions run rampant and yet also somehow subtle.
Certain games are designed with exceptional and unique gameplay in mind. Mafia II does not hold this credit. Rather, Mafia II’s appeal is in the in-depth storyline and well researched background, from the characters to the accessories to the history. This is one game I will definitely want to explore further for the sake of its story-driven design.
We'd like to thank the developers and representatives at 2K Games and Access PR for providing airfare and lodging for the event.
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