Mafia II | Xbox 360 | Third-Person Action

[PAX East] Mafia 2 Preview

By Jereme Puik April 7th, 2010

2k Games gave me a brief tour through their booth at PAX East last month in Boston and let me take a look at the upcoming sequel, Mafia II. It’s the newest title in the third-person action series set in the early 1940s and 50s. I didn’t get to spend as much time as I would’ve liked too, but something is better then nothing right? If you take a look at the map, Mafia II is huge and there are plenty things to do. Although, the big space might suit well for sandbox games, you should certainly keep in mind the time period this is set in. The vehicles aren’t fast and you won’t get the chance to commandeer a plane or helicopter.

The controls were pretty solid and handled well for driving and shooting. You don’t have any lock-on targeting system so you’ll have to actually aim your shots. The AI was good at deciphering what was going around them. Meaning that when you got into a firefight they would react to how you were shooting at them. If you shot away at their cover they would move to get themselves to safety. If you shot at them from one angle they wouldn’t poke their head out for a good length of time until it was cleared and would elect to come at you from a different angle. There is a cover system in place but I didn’t get a chance to completely see how it worked in my brief firefight.

 

Visually, the game looks great and is coming along nicely. All the characters and settings for the time period are nicely rendered. You get a feel for the game as soon as you hear the soundtrack. The one thing that also stands out brightly is the voice acting. It’s as if you’re watching a movie on how believable it is. Mafia II doesn’t release until August 24^th, so there is plenty of time for the developers at 2K Games to tighten and polish everything up. Here are a couple of updated game features to help you keep in touch with the game.

Storyline:

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to secure his piece of the American Dream. Looking to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood, Vito is soon swayed by the lure of power and wealth that a life of Organized Crime can bring.

A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of Organized Crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mob as they try to make their names on the streets of a cold and unforgiving city.

 

Features:

● Gangster-Movie Experience: Through strong, authentic characterization and compelling narrative, the mature storyline will make you understand the pull and impossible escape of life in the Mob
• Action-Packed Gameplay: Take part in heart-stopping car-to-car gunfights, white-knuckled hand-to-hand combat and intense gunplay, all of which come together to form an intense and exciting experience
• All-New Engine Powers the Next Generation of Mob Videogames: 2K Czech’s next-generation engine, allows gamers to travel from beautifully rendered outdoor environments to intricately designed interiors seamlessly without the need for loading times
• Authentic Script From the Writer of Mafia I: The writing team from Mafia I returns to deliver another powerhouse script that portrays a stunning tale of survival, camaraderie and the pitfalls of pursuing the American Dream
• Music as Environment: Players will be immersed in the Golden Era of America as Mafia II features tracks from some of the era’s most influential artists.