By PETER ELEY
(Herald rating: * * * * )
Last year, censors were in a state about Grand Theft Auto 3, a game which showed that crime does pay — and is lots of fun.
From the same stable comes Mafia, though it's minus some of the less desirable aspects of the arcade-styled GTA3.
Its gritty storyline captures the seedy underworld of the Prohibition era and gangsters like Al Capone. Our character, Tommy Angelo, is no Capone but a down-and-out cabbie who turns to crime.
His world centres on Don Salieri's bar. Starting as errand boy for the Salieri family, he works his way up to hitman but has some moral qualms and the game starts with him spilling the beans to the FBI.
The action follows his rise through the Mafia's ranks, with lots of driving of bigger and better getaway cars, taking out dons from rival families and even falling in love.
Mafia is mature, thoughtful and has excellent graphics — imagine an interactive cross between The Untouchables and The Sopranos.
* Take 2, PC, MA15+
* peter_eley@nzherald.co.nz
Mafia (PC)
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
