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Mafia II (PC)
Roydon Cerejo, Sep 04, 2010 1000 hrs ISTThe game's got superb graphics, gameplay mechanics and a solid story, but it ends too abruptly
Good graphics, cover system works well, scalable engine, engaging story, authentic 1940-50s atmosphere, missions are tense and action-packed
Story mode is short and incomplete, turning on APEX Physics hampers performance badly
Expert Rating :
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The combat system is better than the first game by a mile and the new cover system means you can duck behind anything during a gun battle. The weapons are typical of that time period and the famous Thompson or 'Tommy Gun' is back, and this time there are two versions of it. My other little disappointment is that you can't blind fire while taking cover, but your enemy's can. This means you have to come out of cover in order to take the shot. This is not a major letdown though, as it never really hampers gameplay. 
The enemy A.I is good at best and if they see you taking cover or changing your position they will do it too, which makes the shootouts a lot more fun. Your health bar will regenerate if your shot but not to full, just enough for you to finish the fight. At times I did notice small glitches like if the enemy is taking cover behind a pillar and you shoot enough concrete off the pillar to expose his head, the cross hair still won't register that, since it still thinks the pillar is there even though you may have a clear shot of his head.
The game engine used for Mafia II looks breathtaking, especially in the 1950s era during spring time where the city comes alive. The level of detail and the shadow effects makes it look spectacular whether night or day. The missions take place at different times and under different weather conditions, but your never get to witness a full day/night cycle while playing the game. The handling of the cars will take some getting used to, as they are not so easy to maneuver like in GTA IV. 
There are a variety of cars to choose from and all of them are much better than the ones in the first game, since it's the 50s. You can either break into the car by smashing the window or pick the lock. If you like the car you've chosen then you can save it in the garage, but if you damage it or break any headlights it will stay that way till you choose to repair it. You can change the paint, tune the engine, change the tires and even the number plates - in case the cops are after you - at a mechanics shop that's displayed on the map.
You'll be glad to know that you won't be fined for breaking the red light anymore, which was a major pain in the first game. However, you will be fined for speeding and if you resist arrest then your wanted level goes up and all the cops recognize your appearance and number plate, which is a nice little addition. This means, even though you're able to get rid of the cops once, if you don't change your look and ditch the car, you'll still be a wanted man. Mafia II adds clothing stores, restaurant, gun shops and fuel stations, all of which can be used when the need arises (and it will). You can even rob theses stores. 
The music in the game captures the time period very well and this time instead of just background score we get three radio stations to choose from while driving. A couple of tracks make a comeback on Classic Radio from the first game. Speaking of comebacks, Chapter 14 packs in a very nice surprise, which I'm sure many of the fans of the first game will appreciate. I just wish they'd let you pull the trigger instead of it being a cut scene. Nevertheless, it will give you goose bumps.
We reviewed the PC version of the game on an Intel E7200 running at 2.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, Win 7 and a Nvidia 9800GT. In spite of this very modest configuration, it ran smoothly at 1920x1080 averaging at about 27-30FPS. This is with all settings on High, AA-On, AF-8x and APEX Physics-Off. Sadly, turning on the physics makes the game totally unplayable and you'll need a meatier card to handle this. Apex Physics enhances the cloth movement on clothes and also adds a little more realism to breaking rubble, etc., but you really won't be missing much if you turn it off.
Mafia II had some really big shoes to fill in given that its predecessor was such a massive hit. But despite the hype and the time it took to get here, I still feel it could have been much more. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved it from beginning to end, but I wasn't really attached to any of the characters the way I did in the first game. In fact, there are similar instances and scenarios that remind you of the first game. Also, after you're done with the game, you cannot roam around the city, although there is an unofficial fix for the PC version at least if you google around.
The game just ends abruptly with no telling about what happens to the two main characters. Hopefully 2K Games have Mafia III on the cards or at least some expansion pack to complete the story. Looking at the whole experience I would say that Mafia II does deliver but in no way surpasses its predecessor. It's got gorgeous graphics, good gameplay mechanics and solid story to keep you entertained. I wish 2K games can somehow port the old game on this new engine; I'd sign up for one right now. Mafia II is still one of the best games of 2010 and is a must-have whether you've played the first one or not.
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