How many mobster games start off with a frenzied World War II gunfight? Not many - if any - and it is this attention to historical accuracy and the origins of the US mob scene that makes Mafia II one of the most engaging crime stories to land on a major console. It's all there: the cars, fashion, and popular music of wartime New York; the seedy politics of the mob-run unions, and the pin-up-quality ladies who turn heads in nearly every cutscene. The world of Mafia II is dark, dangerous, and brimming with life.
The same can't be said for the gameplay. Playing like the neglected child of Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, Mafia II suffers from imprecise character controls, too many lengthy driving sequences and magic bullets which pass through your enemies while your Sicilian blood stains the streets. The chapters, while numerous, are too heavily-weighted towards cutscenes rather than fluid gameplay.
Rating: 3/5
Verdict: Mafia II might be a good way to soak up some violence on a dull weekend, but GTA's place on the throne of urban mischief remains unchallenged.
Rated: R18
Format: Xbox 360; PS3
Game Review: Mafia 2
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