Review: Mafia II
- Thread starter Russ Pitts
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And that's why it's had so many harsh reviews.Virgil said:
The open-world is a backdrop that's there to add the driving gameplay and reinforce elements of the story. The developers have never said that they just want a sandbox for people. Plus, if you give people the sort of freedom they get in GTA then the pacing gets shot-to-pieces.
People never complain about something like Half-Life 2 being linear, because obviously it's supposed to be. Mafia 2 is supposed to be linear, yet because of the open city everyone ignores what the developers are trying to do and come up with their own assumptions.
Anyway, as for the game itself: I loved it (now on my third play through) although I feel that they got a tad trigger-happy with cutting stuff out, which damages the story a little. There are times when spending more time with certain characters would give certain events more of an impact. The story seems to have had a major shuffle around in the last year or so, which is particularly odd considering it's been in development for 6 years.
The ending is far too abrupt too; especially since the first game's ending is so well-rounded and bathed in delicious moral contemplation.
All-in-all though, the gameplay is great (there's shooting/cover issues on the PC version), as are the writing and acting.
For the record, I don't know what other reviews are saying. I didn't read any other reviews, nor did I read any previews or anything the developers said. I didn't even play the demo. My observations are purely based on the game I'm playing.
I don't find the fact that the story is linear to be a problem - even other open world games are just thinly-disguised linear stories. I just think that it's a pacing issue.
I'm definitely enjoying the game though, and it's worth playing. If anyone is on the fence, ignore whatever harsh reviews there are and give it a try. Hell, rent the console version - worst case, you'll be out $5 and you can send nasty emails to Russ!
I'm not so sure about that. There are world widgets like the car crusher and other side jobs, as well as the different achievements, that definitely give the impression of having some open-world goals. There's just very little 'breathing room' in the storyline that gives you the space to go out and play in it. I'm sure you could just ignore the ringing phone or your destination to do it, but it's irksome.Woodsey said:
I don't find the fact that the story is linear to be a problem - even other open world games are just thinly-disguised linear stories. I just think that it's a pacing issue.
I'm definitely enjoying the game though, and it's worth playing. If anyone is on the fence, ignore whatever harsh reviews there are and give it a try. Hell, rent the console version - worst case, you'll be out $5 and you can send nasty emails to Russ!
He says that the story of the game will leave you haunted for days. Not really. I beat the game in one sitting (the main story) and there were a few point in the game where it was heart breaking, but the end of the game just shot it all to hell for me. I was so disappointed by the end of the game I don't want to complete the free DLC I got with the game. I may even take it back to Gamestop to get some money back for it. It was a good play through, but the ending just killed it for me. It may set up a sequel, but the game should be able to stand on it's on without having to set up a sequel.
Considering I havent played the game this was my first thought too. I'm sick to death of Sandbox games. I stopped playing GAT after Vice city, and I hated prototype. I like the idea of a linear driven story, with exploration elements, similar to the Arkham Asylum model. Always another objective but you need to explore your world to complete itWoodsey said:
worried by the claims of too many cutscenes but will reserve judgement until I have played it myself
Played it, liked it, was shot in the face and left disappointed. The story is great and all, and so is the feeling, but when you're not on missions, you simply have no real way of having fun.
In the oft-hated GTA IV, all you had to do for some fun was jump out of your car at random times, and you were guaranteed to giggle at least for a while. Not here. 7/10 for really cathching the feeling of the thing but forgetting replayability or simple, stupid fun.
In the oft-hated GTA IV, all you had to do for some fun was jump out of your car at random times, and you were guaranteed to giggle at least for a while. Not here. 7/10 for really cathching the feeling of the thing but forgetting replayability or simple, stupid fun.
i have to agree with this review in nearly every sense, however i feel that mafia 2 is so incomplete [SPOILER ALERT!!!!]
for example why have 2K spent so much of their time making the city so beautiful so that when you complete the game to prevent you from mooching around and just enjoying the freedom of the game. plus i also feel the game is far to short i remember playing the first one, i played it solidly for about 2 weeks and i think i only made it about half way through, basically it was huge, yet when i got this just 2 days ago i plowed through it and had it finished in a day, i'm not saying the game is bad just lacking in some things that would make it perfect, in my opinion their should be some DLC just make the game a few hours longer and maybe to finish the game off to a standard where you can continue to play after completion.
for example why have 2K spent so much of their time making the city so beautiful so that when you complete the game to prevent you from mooching around and just enjoying the freedom of the game. plus i also feel the game is far to short i remember playing the first one, i played it solidly for about 2 weeks and i think i only made it about half way through, basically it was huge, yet when i got this just 2 days ago i plowed through it and had it finished in a day, i'm not saying the game is bad just lacking in some things that would make it perfect, in my opinion their should be some DLC just make the game a few hours longer and maybe to finish the game off to a standard where you can continue to play after completion.
Sometimes I wonder if reviewers played the same game I did... First, you can routinely blow by police doing 10'ish miles over the limit without them batting an eye. In fact, there was one mission (saving Leo Galante) where if you didn't ignore the speed limit - to a point - you have virtually no chance of getting there in time. I think you have to be going 15-20+ miles over the limit before the police will issue a warrant.
Also, I played the game on it's normal difficulty - and I certainly didn't think any of the fights were too difficult... I had no problems with the in-game camera... and the cover system worked beautifully. Sure, I died some, and I'll grant you, if you think you're going to run-and-gun through Mafia II, you are in for a rude awakening. It's not gonna happen. Using the cover system is mandatory for those precious seconds you need after taking a few hits to regenerate the majority of the health you lost. In the open, you can go down to a just a few shots from a handgun - and shotguns will take you down in a single shot at times; so using cover and waiting to take that aimed shot at someone is a must. Charging blindly into a room thinking you're the mafia version of Rambo is a death wish.
Could they have a done a better job with Mafia II? Absolutely. It's kinda on the short side for $50 imo; but the worst thing in my viewpoint was that they went to all this trouble to create and populate the city, and then gave you no real time to enjoy it. Just the inclusion of a few people with side missions, and the ability to explore the city without blowing off a mission requirement would have been nice. In fact, the junk yard owner goes as far as to tell you to come see him for some work; but he never has anything for you. Frankly, I think they're setting us up for DLC on that count. I liked the original Mafia, but frankly, eight years later, I expected a better product for Mafia II.
Also, I played the game on it's normal difficulty - and I certainly didn't think any of the fights were too difficult... I had no problems with the in-game camera... and the cover system worked beautifully. Sure, I died some, and I'll grant you, if you think you're going to run-and-gun through Mafia II, you are in for a rude awakening. It's not gonna happen. Using the cover system is mandatory for those precious seconds you need after taking a few hits to regenerate the majority of the health you lost. In the open, you can go down to a just a few shots from a handgun - and shotguns will take you down in a single shot at times; so using cover and waiting to take that aimed shot at someone is a must. Charging blindly into a room thinking you're the mafia version of Rambo is a death wish.
Could they have a done a better job with Mafia II? Absolutely. It's kinda on the short side for $50 imo; but the worst thing in my viewpoint was that they went to all this trouble to create and populate the city, and then gave you no real time to enjoy it. Just the inclusion of a few people with side missions, and the ability to explore the city without blowing off a mission requirement would have been nice. In fact, the junk yard owner goes as far as to tell you to come see him for some work; but he never has anything for you. Frankly, I think they're setting us up for DLC on that count. I liked the original Mafia, but frankly, eight years later, I expected a better product for Mafia II.
Finally a reviewer who gets it. I played the game before looking at reviews and loved every minute of it. It was just like Mafia, but better in every way, just like a true sequel should be. And you know what that is?
A linear game set in a non-linear world for immersion.
Did you hear that? Repeat it. Now repeat it again. Do you get it now? No, the game doesn't need a billion pointless side missions. This is not GTA IV. I wouldn't even really call it a "sandbox game", because you're not playing in a sandbox. If anything, I'd praise the game for not using invisible walls in the game world, and for letting you explore it.
I'm on the last mission right now... Stuck. Every time I move forward a step, three guys will come out of corners with shotguns while five more will cover them with Thompsons. =_=
A linear game set in a non-linear world for immersion.
Did you hear that? Repeat it. Now repeat it again. Do you get it now? No, the game doesn't need a billion pointless side missions. This is not GTA IV. I wouldn't even really call it a "sandbox game", because you're not playing in a sandbox. If anything, I'd praise the game for not using invisible walls in the game world, and for letting you explore it.
I'm on the last mission right now... Stuck. Every time I move forward a step, three guys will come out of corners with shotguns while five more will cover them with Thompsons. =_=
All I know is that when I played the demo the shooting mechanics were terrible. Maybe they tweaked that in the full game, but I'm not willing to risk that.
Also, I'm a little tired of these "wiseguy" stories.
Also, I'm a little tired of these "wiseguy" stories.
I'm finding Mafia II to be a great game. It's not GTA, it's not Red Dead Redemption, but it's damned good nonetheless. I wouldn't call it a sandbox game, it's a pretty linear experience with a couple of minor side trips available. I wish they had done the game in more of the spirit of the GTA series, but that's a minor gripe, I'm judging the game in the same way I would a more standard FPS.
I would quibble a couple of minor points in the review, specifically the part about the police, speeding and lockpicking. I haven't noticed the problems you bring up, Mr. Pitts. I've banged into cars in front of an officer, and had him immediately begin to give chase. I also don't notice any real increase in the number of times I get caught picking a lock, as compared to breaking a window. A slight increase, yes, as it takes longer to pick than smash, but nothing as bad as you seem to describe. I do find the speeding vs. red lights thing a bit odd, though. I wish they'd take out both, that was one of the things that annoyed me the most about the first Mafia.
I would quibble a couple of minor points in the review, specifically the part about the police, speeding and lockpicking. I haven't noticed the problems you bring up, Mr. Pitts. I've banged into cars in front of an officer, and had him immediately begin to give chase. I also don't notice any real increase in the number of times I get caught picking a lock, as compared to breaking a window. A slight increase, yes, as it takes longer to pick than smash, but nothing as bad as you seem to describe. I do find the speeding vs. red lights thing a bit odd, though. I wish they'd take out both, that was one of the things that annoyed me the most about the first Mafia.
To be fair on criticism, the game isn't having claims of racism thrown at it for portraying the italian americans in the Mafia as criminals, it's because they regularly use derogatory terms for the black and asian people in the game. However, that's how things were back then, and I for one can respect that and don't want to see these things magically edited out as tho they didn't happen.
From what I've seen of it, it's VERY heavy on the story, so if you don't like cutscenes and heavy dialogue, then it's not for you, however that doesn't make it a bad game, just the wrong genre for some people.
It absolutely is not a GTA clone. As far as I can see you can't even attack passers by, as no-one who was a genuinely criminal in a gang, would just draw police attention to themselves for giggles.
From what I've seen of it, it's VERY heavy on the story, so if you don't like cutscenes and heavy dialogue, then it's not for you, however that doesn't make it a bad game, just the wrong genre for some people.
It absolutely is not a GTA clone. As far as I can see you can't even attack passers by, as no-one who was a genuinely criminal in a gang, would just draw police attention to themselves for giggles.
Umm... actually it is. From The Escapist web site.:SenseOfTumour said:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102889-Mafia-II-Accused-of-Racism-Take-Two-Responds
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103123-Mafia-II-Protestors-Claim-Victory-Over-Mafia-II-Party
I take it back, the game is only having STUPID accusations of racism thrown at it for that.itf cho said:
Yet the ones I'm talking about, where the characters use racist terms in the game, I feel are entirely allowable as part of a piece of period fiction, and wouldn't be blinked at in, say, an HBO drama about the mob.
So my Godfather Collection and matching suit won't do the job. Aww...Russ Pitts said:
More on topic; I can't really bring myself to buy this game since there's nothing really besides the story, but the fact that the story is so good makes me want to buy it.
Nothing I love more than a good mob story, and I need something to clear out that bad taste Goodfellas left in my mouth. BLECK
