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Mafia II

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Mafia II
Developer(s)2K Czech
Massive Bear Studios (PS3)[2]
Publisher(s)2K Games
1C
Designer(s)Lead Designer
Daniel Vávra
Pavel Brzák
Writer(s)Daniel Vávra[3]
EngineIllusion
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, OnLive
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure video game, the sequel to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. It is developed by 2K Czech, previously known as Illusion Softworks, and is published by 2K Games.[4] Originally announced in August 2008 at the Leipzig Games Convention, it was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows in August 2010.[5][1]

Gameplay

The game is set from 1943 to 1951 in Empire Bay (the name is a reference to New York's state nickname "The Empire State"),[6] a fictional city based on San Francisco and New York City, with influences from Chicago and Detroit.[7][8] The game features a completely open-ended game map of 10 square miles. No restrictions are included from the start of the game.[3] There are around 50 vehicles in the game, as well as licensed music from the era.[9]

Many firearms from the previous return, such as the Thompson submachine gun, the Colt 1911 and a pump-action shotgun. As seen in screenshots, new WWII-era weapons like the MP 40, the M3 submachine gun, and the Beretta Model 38 also appearance in the game as well as the MG 42.

Interacting with objects in the environment involves two action buttons- a standard action and a "violent" action (for example, when stealing a car, the player may choose to either pick its lock or break the window glass), used in context-sensitive situations. A map is included as in the original Mafia game. The checkpoint system has been completely overhauled.[10] New controls include a cover system that allows the player to hide behind objects (such as generators, walls and large crates) to shoot enemies, rather than just using a crouch while behind an object.

It has been stated by 2K Czech that the game's cutscenes are created by the game engine, in real-time, rather than pre-rendered cutscenes.[11]

Synopsis

Mafia II is a gritty drama which chronicles the rise of World War II veteran Vito Scaletta, the son of Sicilian immigrants. As the game progresses, Vito will join the Falcone Crime Family and become a made man. There are 15 chapters in the game, connected into one storyline.

The story begins with the player character Vito returning home on leave from World War II. Vito had joined the U.S. military as a way of avoiding jail time for a botched robbery. He then discovers that his father died and left his family $2000 in debt. Vito reunites with his old friend, Joe Barbaro, and the two quickly embark upon a life of crime. Their criminal ascension starts with Mikey, a car mechanic who gets in a conflict with Joe. Mikey also needs a certain type of car to chop for parts, and will pay $400 for one that the police are not tailing. Soon enough, Vito, Joe, and Henry Tomasino (already a made man in the Clemente family) find themselves battling with, for, against, and around three crime factions: the Falcone, Vinci and Clemente families. The player is later introduced to Eddie Scarpa (the underboss of the Falcone crime family).[12] Another character is Marty, a young, novice getaway driver who takes Vito and Joe to the Empire Arms hotel in the mission "Room Service" involving the assassination of the Clemente family's don.

The game contains two hours of in-game cutscenes. The original game, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, had a screenplay of 400 pages, compared to the 700 pages of the sequel. Daniel Vávra, the writer and director of the original and the sequel, discussed the new angle of the game stating: "The old game was a tribute to gangster films, a romantic vision. Mafia II is grittier, real, a darker world, and the effects are based in reality." Official PlayStation Magazine states: "A high body count is still promised in this tale set in a fictional city 'inspired by' New York of the 1940s and '50s, but those casualties will come the hard way — through small-scale operations rather than mass firefights."

Reference to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven

In the original game the main protagonist Thomas Angelo is shown to be gunned down at the end of the game in front of his house. It is revealed in Chapter 14: Stairway to Heaven in Mafia 2 that Vito and Joe are the two who "whack" him. This is further proven by the use of the exact same red car in both cases and nearly identical cut scenes.

Marketing and release

System requirements
Minimum Recommended
Windows[13]
Operating system Windows XP SP2/Vista/7Windows XP SP2/Vista/7
CPU Intel Pentium D 3 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Dual Core) or higherIntel Quad Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz
Memory 1.5 GB2.0 GB
Free space 8 GB of free space10 GB of free space
Graphics hardware Nvidia 8600 / ATI Radeon HD 2600Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX / ATI 3870
Sound hardware DirectX 9.0cDirectX 9.0c
Network Internet connection required for online activation

A promotional trailer was released for the game in August 2008. The first scene occurs in a low-key restaurant where Luca Gurino (a caporegime in the Clemente family), is having dinner with Henry Tomasino (a soldier for the Clemente family), Joe Barbaro and Vito Scaletta, the main character. After some small talk, Luca asks Vito if he is against killing "human animals". Then follows a montage of clips from the game's cutscenes and gameplay. The next scene takes place in a warehouse. A man is crawling on the floor, begging for his life. Henry fires his gun at the man and the scene ends. The last scene is a reference to the film Goodfellas; the three gangsters (Joe, Vito and Eddie Scarpa) are in a car, driving to a suitable place to dispose of a body. The song "Oh Marie" by Louis Prima is featured in the trailer.

A second trailer was released on the Spike VGA show on the 14 December 2008.[14] The first part of the trailer occurs in one of Empire Bay's churches and features Vito with his mother. It is followed by a montage of gameplay and cutscenes that feature scenes of Vito being welcomed by Joe and parts of several shoot-outs and pursuits. The song "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard is featured in the trailer. An extended version of the trailer was released on 15 January with an extra 30 seconds of cutscene footage. Vito is shown leaving the church alongside his mother; who he drops off in a taxi. Then, a car carrying Henry, Joe, and Eddie pick up Vito and they drive off, laughing.[15]

The first gameplay footage to be publicly aired was debuted on GameSpot on 17 April 2009 as part of an interview with Mafia II's producer, Denby Grace.[16] The video shows driving and gunplay aspects to gameplay as well as portraying the physics engine. The interview was later removed.

A third trailer was uploaded to the website on 28 May 2009. It shows Vito, Joe and Henry discussing a hit contract and the mission following. This trailer is darker and more gritty than the previous videos. It is meant to portray the darker side of Mafia life. At the end of the trailer, the target of the contract is shown begging for his life with a gun pointed to his head, his fate is left unknown.

From 1 June 2009, four short videos are to be added to the Mafia II website. The first of these is called "The Art Of Persuasion" and features the song "Mercy, Mr Percy" by the female singer Varetta Dillard.

Another video was released featuring footage from the mission "The Buzzsaw". The video reveals the fate of "The Fat Man" who appeared in the earlier trailers.[17]

On 27 March 2010, a new trailer was released showcasing the PhysX-based cloth and physics system used in the game.[18]

On August 3 2010, Sheridyn Fisher, the face of Playboy Swim 2010, became the official ambassador for Mafia II. Sheridyn’s involvement with Mafia II highlights the agreement between 2K Games and Playboy magazine to use more than 50 of their vintage covers and Centerfolds in Mafia II as part of the in-game collectibles integration.[19]

A demo for the game was released on August 10, 2010 on Steam, Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network.[20]

Pre-order bonuses

On 26 May 2010 four content packs were offered as pre-order bonus in the U.S., each one available through different retaillers. The Vegas Pack containing two additional cars and suits for Vito and the War Hero Pack containing two military-style vehicles and suits will be available from GameStop and EBGames. The Renegade Pack containing two sports cars and two jackets will be available from Amazon and the Greaser Pack featuring two hot-rods and two suits will be available to Best Buy customers.[21]

Collectors edition

On 26 May 2010 a collector's edtion was announced for Mafia II.[22]

The collector's edition would include the following items:

  • Collectible steelbook casing: a brushed metallic steelbook hard case with debossed logo containing two pieces of art featuring Vito and Joe, the stars of Mafia II.
  • Made Man Pack: Free access to in-game downloadable pack that lets players get behind the wheel of two different luxury automobiles modeled after cars from the period. In addition, Vito gets two new "made man" suits, including a vintage tux.
  • Hardcover art book: A 100-page photo album-style art book that explains the artistic design process of the game.
  • Mafia II Orchestral Soundtrack: Mafia II score recorded by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • Map of Empire Bay

PlayStation 3 version controversy

The PlayStation 3 version became subject to controversy on 2K's Mafia II forums when 2K's interactive marketing manager Elizabeth Tobey stated that the PlayStation 3 version would be missing certain features that were present in the PC and Xbox 360 versions including three dimensional grass, pools of blood forming under dead bodies and realistic cloth physics.[23] These features were said to be present in earlier builds of the game, but had to be removed to increase the game's frame rate.

Upon release the PS3 version received the same or higher review scores than the Xbox version from Destructoid and Nowgamer (sites that review the game on multiple platforms rather than the normal practice of reviewing a single platform).[24][25] and also the Metacritic rating places both version on the same score of 74/100.[26][27] although the GameRankings review aggregator has the Xbox version 4 points ahead of the PS3 version.[28][29]

Reception

Mafia II has received generally favourable reviews. IGN gave the game 7.0/10, saying "Mafia II is a solid little game that will give you a fun ride – just don’t expect the world." On the other hand IGN AU gave it a 8.0/10 and said that Mafia II is "A deeply flawed game, where the story is the highlight - and far more engaging than most. I certainly enjoyed my 11-12 hours with Mafia II, and those looking for an authentic-feeling mob tale should definitely check it out. This one is more than the sum of its parts." Gamespot gave it 8.5 and stated "Mafia II's exciting action and uncompromising mob story make for an impressive and violent adventure." Game Informer gave it a 9.0/10 and said "In an era when video games are moving away from relying on cinematics for storytelling, Mafia II draws on the rich mobster film history to weave a gripping drama about family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and pragmatism." Cynamite stated that "Even though it couldn't quite hold up to our expectations, Mafia 2 is a great game which is driven by the narrative." and awarded the game a 9/10. The most negative review came from Eurogamer who gave the game a 4/10 and said that "Mafia II gets the last word by destroying the myth that the mafia is interesting at all. It contends that the mob world is a hell of boredom populated by aggressively stupid automatons. These drones wake up each morning, carry out a series of repetitious tasks, and return home." IGN was also quite negative, stating that, "The first Mafia was a groundbreaking game of its time and one of the better stories ever made, while Mafia 2 feels somewhat hollow and could have been played on a PS1." GameTrailers awarded Mafia II a 7.7/10.

Downloadable content

Two downloadable content packs have been announced for the game. The first, titled "The Betrayal of Jimmy" is a PlayStation 3 exclusive DLC episode which will be a free download upon release to users who purchase the game new. This was announced by Sony on 15 June 2010 at E3 2010.[46]

In "The Betrayal of Jimmy", the player controls Jimmy and unlocks new city-based challenges ranging from assassinations to timed vehicle based missions that include shootouts, car chases, and explosions. The Betrayal of Jimmy will also feature arcade-style gameplay, allowing the ability to replay missions, hone skills, and post scores to the Mafia II leaderboards.

The second installment of downloadable content, "Jimmy's Vendetta", will be available shortly after launch. This pack will be available on PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC, offering arcade-style gameplay along with new missions and leaderboard competition. In Jimmy's Vendetta, the player once again controls Jimmy and helps him clean up messes around Empire Bay - the game features the same online and leaderboard features as the previous DLC.

In addition to new missions and leaderboards, Jimmy's Vendetta will also come with new achievements and trophies.Jimmy's Vendetta will be released on August 31, 2010 for all 3 platforms.[47]

References

  1. ^ a b "Announcing Mafia II's Release Date". 2K Games.
  2. ^ "Massive Bear Studios". Massivebear.com. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  3. ^ a b Reparaz, Mikel (April 23, 2008). "Mafia II: The Interview". GamesRadar. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  4. ^ Robinson, Martin (January 8, 2008). "Take -Two Takes Mafia Dev". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  5. ^ "2K Games Announces Mafia 2". 2K Games. August 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  6. ^ "Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Acquires Illusion Softworks". Take 2 Games. January 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  7. ^ Ivan, Tom (October 19, 2008). "First Mafia 2 details roll in". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  8. ^ "GC09: Mafia II interview". Gamereactor Deutschland. August 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  9. ^ "Mafia II GamesCom 2009 Preview". Gaming Union. August 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
  10. ^ "Mafia II Preview". PSXExtreme. 2008-04-26. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  11. ^ Hrebicek, Tomas (January 15, 2009). "Mafia II Holiday Confessions interview". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  12. ^ Playstation: The Official Magazine, May '08 edition
  13. ^ "Mafia 2: System Requirements, Check Requirements for Mafia 2". Strategyinformer.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  14. ^ "Spike Shows Off Mafia 2 Trailer". 1UP. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  15. ^ "Extended trailer". Uk.pc.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  16. ^ Park, Andrew (April 16, 2009). "Mafia II Impressions - Exclusive First Preview". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  17. ^ "Mafia II Walk-Through Video 1". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  18. ^ "Mafia II: first PhysX Trailer". March 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  19. ^ Ferry (2010-08-24). "Mafia 2 Playboy Magazines Locations". VideoGamesBlogger. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  20. ^ "Mafia II Demo". Mafia2game.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  21. ^ "Mafia II Pre-order". Mafia2game.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  22. ^ "Mafia II - Official Community". 2kgames.com. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  23. ^ Robert Purchese (2010-08-17). "2K: Mafia II loses some detail on PS3 PlayStation 3 News - Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  24. ^ "Review: Mafia II". Destructoid. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  25. ^ "Mafia II (PS3) review | NowGamer". Ps3.nowgamer.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  26. ^ a b "Mafia II for Xbox 360". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  27. ^ a b "Mafia II for PlayStation 3". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  28. ^ a b "Mafia II for Xbox 360 - GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  29. ^ a b "Mafia II for PlayStation 3 - GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  30. ^ "Mafia II for PC". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  31. ^ "Mafia II for PC - GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  32. ^ [1][dead link]
  33. ^ "Mafia II Review | Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  34. ^ John Teti. "Mafia II Review - Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  35. ^ Matt Bertz. http://gameinformer.com/games/mafia_ii/b/xbox360/archive/2010/08/20/mafia-ii-review-jump-into-this-thing-of-ours.aspx. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ var authorId = "78864510" by Greg Miller (2010-07-07). "Mafia II Review - PlayStation 3 Review at IGN". Uk.ps3.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Cam Shea. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/111/1115036p1.html" ignored (help)
  38. ^ "Mafia 2 review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  39. ^ Helgeson, Matt (2010-08-20). "Mafia II Review: Jump Into This Thing Of Ours - Mafia II - Xbox 360". GameInformer.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  40. ^ Hayward, Andrew (2010-08-23). "Mafia 2 Review from". GamePro. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  41. ^ Waters, Matthew (2010-08-27). "Mafia 2 Review from". Xbox Exclusive. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  42. ^ "Mafia II Review | Videogames Magazine - gamesTM - Official Website". gamesTM. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  43. ^ "Mafia II Review for PC - GameSpot". Uk.gamespot.com. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  44. ^ "Xbox Review: Mafia 2 - Official Xbox 360 Magazine". Oxm.co.uk. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  45. ^ Posted: Aug 25, 2010. "Mafia II Video Game, Review HD | Video Clip | Game Trailers & Videos". GameTrailers.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ Tom Bramwell (2010-06-15). "Sony ties up DLC/pack-in exclusives PlayStation 3 News - Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  47. ^ "Mafia II - Official Community". 2kgames.com. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
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