I played through Mafia 2 recently and got loads of awesome video clips from it, so I
I played through Mafia 2 recently and got loads of awesome video clips from it, so I

thought I might as well make it into a full-blown review while I was at it.
thought I might as well make it into a full-blown review while I was at it.

Mafia 2 is a weird mix of old and new.
Mafia 2 is a weird mix of old and new.

Despite having a sandbox city to explore, the quests you do are very scripted.
Despite having a sandbox city to explore, the quests you do are very scripted.

It's almost like a game from the 90's but with newer graphics!
It's almost like a game from the 90's but with newer graphics!

And that's not a bad thing.
And that's not a bad thing.

I have fond memories of Driver 1 and 2 and this game seems to have been inspired by the
I have fond memories of Driver 1 and 2 and this game seems to have been inspired by the

series.
series.

Every mission you wake up and answer a phone to get a job of some kind.
Every mission you wake up and answer a phone to get a job of some kind.

You've then got to drive to a destination, watch a cutscene, do more driving, get into
You've then got to drive to a destination, watch a cutscene, do more driving, get into

a fight of some sort, then drive some more until it congratulates you and you go to bed
a fight of some sort, then drive some more until it congratulates you and you go to bed

for the next day.
for the next day.

Driving about makes up most of this game's length.
Driving about makes up most of this game's length.

At points this is painfully obvious and I found it annoying that the destination always
At points this is painfully obvious and I found it annoying that the destination always

seemed to be at the other side of the rather large city.
seemed to be at the other side of the rather large city.

Fortunately, the journey itself isn't too bad.
Fortunately, the journey itself isn't too bad.

You get to drive about in a number of old 40's vehicles.
You get to drive about in a number of old 40's vehicles.

They don't handle too badly but there's not a lot to differentiate between most of them.
They don't handle too badly but there's not a lot to differentiate between most of them.

You get the occasional truck or hotrod which changes the pace a bit but these are often
You get the occasional truck or hotrod which changes the pace a bit but these are often

forced upon you as part of a mission.
forced upon you as part of a mission.

As you travel around the city you have to loosely abide by the law, as getting spotted
As you travel around the city you have to loosely abide by the law, as getting spotted

by police leads to a frustrating Metal Gear Solid style evasion which, although fun at
by police leads to a frustrating Metal Gear Solid style evasion which, although fun at

first, soon becomes a chore that makes missions take longer.
first, soon becomes a chore that makes missions take longer.

Fortunately, they're not hard to escape from but once they've identified your car, or even
Fortunately, they're not hard to escape from but once they've identified your car, or even

worse, you, you then have to take extra measures before you can safely roam the streets again.
worse, you, you then have to take extra measures before you can safely roam the streets again.

The gunfights themselves are satisfying, clunky affairs where you can drop enemies with a
The gunfights themselves are satisfying, clunky affairs where you can drop enemies with a

single well-placed shot.
single well-placed shot.

A heavy reliance on smaller weapons early on makes the bigger machineguns all the more
A heavy reliance on smaller weapons early on makes the bigger machineguns all the more

rewarding once you get your hands on them.
rewarding once you get your hands on them.

Between shots you rely on cover to keep you safe from the hail of bullets they bring your
Between shots you rely on cover to keep you safe from the hail of bullets they bring your

way.
way.

And hail, they will.
And hail, they will.

Although over 4 years old now the game makes excellent use of physx.
Although over 4 years old now the game makes excellent use of physx.

Things will shatter and explode and by the end of a fight the room's an absolute tip.
Things will shatter and explode and by the end of a fight the room's an absolute tip.

The attention to detail really is fantastic and it made the game more enjoyable, despite
The attention to detail really is fantastic and it made the game more enjoyable, despite

being just a graphical effect.
being just a graphical effect.

Your character gets involved in a number of fist-fights as the game progresses.
Your character gets involved in a number of fist-fights as the game progresses.

These are simple, easy and often short-lived encounters which I think is a bit of a shame,
These are simple, easy and often short-lived encounters which I think is a bit of a shame,

since they were some of the most enjoyable bits of the game for me.
since they were some of the most enjoyable bits of the game for me.

You find yourself squaring off against bigger and butcher characters in the earlier parts
You find yourself squaring off against bigger and butcher characters in the earlier parts

of the game, wondering who you'll have to punch in the face next.
of the game, wondering who you'll have to punch in the face next.

And then...
And then...

they stop.
they stop.

It's as if part of the game dies young and they really could have done more with it in
It's as if part of the game dies young and they really could have done more with it in

my opinion.
my opinion.

Still, they were fun while they lasted.
Still, they were fun while they lasted.

I guess I should mention the story.
I guess I should mention the story.

I'm not particularly fond of mafia films or lengthy cut scenes, but this game kept me
I'm not particularly fond of mafia films or lengthy cut scenes, but this game kept me

hooked throughout.
hooked throughout.

I think it's because it doesn't drop you in the deep end.
I think it's because it doesn't drop you in the deep end.

You start as a little fish and even towards the end you're vulnerable, being manipulated
You start as a little fish and even towards the end you're vulnerable, being manipulated

by higher forces.
by higher forces.

It's a good thing that it takes such a long time both get going, since it was the small
It's a good thing that it takes such a long time both get going, since it was the small

one-off jobs that I found the most interesting.
one-off jobs that I found the most interesting.

The game does a great job of showing you a seemingly simple situation, before revealing
The game does a great job of showing you a seemingly simple situation, before revealing

its true seediness later on when you take a tour behind the scenes.
its true seediness later on when you take a tour behind the scenes.

I can understand why people were disappointed with the ending but I personally didn't mind
I can understand why people were disappointed with the ending but I personally didn't mind

it.
it.

It's the journey there that I care more about and fortunately the game gets that bit right.
It's the journey there that I care more about and fortunately the game gets that bit right.

The radio deserves a mention.
The radio deserves a mention.

You get to hear a selection of incredibly catchy old songs as you drive about.
You get to hear a selection of incredibly catchy old songs as you drive about.

I normally only listen to Pet Shop Boys but even I began humming some of the tunes.
I normally only listen to Pet Shop Boys but even I began humming some of the tunes.

It's a nice touch that has been added to try and bring the world to life.
It's a nice touch that has been added to try and bring the world to life.

The game isn't without its flaws.
The game isn't without its flaws.

The checkpoints can be inconsistently placed.
The checkpoints can be inconsistently placed.

I don't mind having to redo bits if I die, but it's not fair when I have to attempt the
I don't mind having to redo bits if I die, but it's not fair when I have to attempt the

ENTIRE mission again.
ENTIRE mission again.

What's more, the game insists on letting you do everything.
What's more, the game insists on letting you do everything.

You have to get up, get changed, leave your house, find a car and then drive to your destination.
You have to get up, get changed, leave your house, find a car and then drive to your destination.

Doing this for the first time in this game is okay, but the third or fourth time it really
Doing this for the first time in this game is okay, but the third or fourth time it really

begins to get to you.
begins to get to you.

You start to drive faster and more carelessly simply to get to the destination and it's
You start to drive faster and more carelessly simply to get to the destination and it's

at times like these when the police really become an irritation.
at times like these when the police really become an irritation.

It's widely known that the city in Mafia 2 is lifeless when compared with other sandbox
It's widely known that the city in Mafia 2 is lifeless when compared with other sandbox

games like... say, Grand Theft Auto.
games like... say, Grand Theft Auto.

But I have to repeat it.
But I have to repeat it.

The developers have clearly worked hard to make it a convincing place.
The developers have clearly worked hard to make it a convincing place.

I love how it changes as the storyline progresses.
I love how it changes as the storyline progresses.

It's just a genuine shame that there isn't more to actually do in the city as this would
It's just a genuine shame that there isn't more to actually do in the city as this would

have greatly increased the time I spent playing the game.
have greatly increased the time I spent playing the game.

It becomes boring and predictable, much like the sandbox mode of Driver 1 and 2.
It becomes boring and predictable, much like the sandbox mode of Driver 1 and 2.

Occasionally you'll see a crime take place, or gangsters will open fire on people in the
Occasionally you'll see a crime take place, or gangsters will open fire on people in the

streets, but it doesn't have any real consequence.
streets, but it doesn't have any real consequence.

Don't play this game for the sandbox, play it for the missions.
Don't play this game for the sandbox, play it for the missions.

Think of the city as a backdrop for the storyline rather than as a key element of the game.
Think of the city as a backdrop for the storyline rather than as a key element of the game.

In conclusion, this game comes as a very pleasant surprise.
In conclusion, this game comes as a very pleasant surprise.

It delivers a simple yet remarkably polished and enthralling tale that I avidly played
It delivers a simple yet remarkably polished and enthralling tale that I avidly played

to the bitter end.
to the bitter end.

The gameplay itself is basic but the environments and ideas are inspired and it's those elements
The gameplay itself is basic but the environments and ideas are inspired and it's those elements

that make the game so memorable.
that make the game so memorable.

In some ways, it reminds me of Half Life 2, where different chapters introduce new variations
In some ways, it reminds me of Half Life 2, where different chapters introduce new variations

on old themes.
on old themes.

The developers show real imagination and it's this that makes the game more fun than the
The developers show real imagination and it's this that makes the game more fun than the

sum of its parts would suggest.
sum of its parts would suggest.

It's an old-fashioned sort of game, but it still has its appeal.
It's an old-fashioned sort of game, but it still has its appeal.

I would happily play through it again at some point in the future and very much look forward
I would happily play through it again at some point in the future and very much look forward

to the next game in the series.
to the next game in the series.