E3 ‘09: Mafia II impressions
June 8, 2009 by Robin Parrish
Filed under Gaming
Seven years after the the original game, Mafia II aims to bring back everything about the original that fans loved, while taking advantage of modern technologies. The new game isn’t part of the original’s story, but it’s set in the same universe.
The story of Mafia II is set in fictional city Empire Bay, which is to New York what the original game’s setting was to Chicago. Empire Bay is over ten square miles in size, with twenty distinct neighborhoods. It’s an enormous, open, sandbox world overflowing with secrets and “anything goes” gameplay. Mafia II is set in February of 1945, and takes full advantage of that setting with incredible vehicles, decor, sounds, and more drenched in authentic 40s atmosphere and details. The main character is Vito, an Italian immigrant to America who winds up working for the mafia as a hitman.
If you’re thinking Grand Theft Auto meets the mafia… Well, you’re not far off. But Mafia II puts its focus squarely on telling a great story, with strong, naturalistic dialogue. You don’t have to wait much longer to find out if it was worth holding on for seven long years for another round in Mafia’s universe.
Images: Copyright 2009 ©2k Games.
