Mafia II

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 751 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 550 out of 751
  2. Mixed: 145 out of 751
  3. Negative: 56 out of 751
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  1. mrpeanut
    Jul 17, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game play and graphics are awesome but the glitches are frustrating and the ending is very disappointing and the game should have been alot longer… Expand
  2. MaiquelP
    Jul 19, 2011
    6
    Melhor visualizado em: criticalplayer.com.br Jogo de 2010, produzido e distribuído pela 2K, Mafia II é um "SandBox" que proporciona uma verdadeira imersão no submundo do crime organizado. Retrata fielmente cenários, hábitos, objetos, músicas, armas, enfim todos os elementos que compuseram o ambiente daMelhor visualizado em: criticalplayer.com.br Jogo de 2010, produzido e distribuído pela 2K, Mafia II é um "SandBox" que proporciona uma verdadeira imersão no submundo do crime organizado. Retrata fielmente cenários, hábitos, objetos, músicas, armas, enfim todos os elementos que compuseram o ambiente da máfia nas décadas de 40 e 50 nos Estados Unidos.



    O enredo é o ponto forte do jogo, apesar de no início parecer ser simples demais, ao logo da trama a vida de Vito Scaletta sofre uma série de reviravoltas, dando assim um alto toque de dramaticidade e consequentemente atratividade ao longo da história.

    Vito Scaletta, filho de imigrantes italianos, resolve abandonar a pobreza de sua família que é honesta e trabalhadora para abraçar a vida fácil do crime. Juntamente com seu melhor amigo Joe Barbaro, Vito começa a assaltar pequenas lojas na cidade de Empire Bay (fictícia, porém com elementos de outras grandes cidades americanas como Nova York, Chicago, Detroit.) até ser pego pela polícia e ter de escolher entre a cadeia ou a Segunda Guerra Mundial.

    O jogo inicia com uma missão na Itália, onde Vito é ferido e mandado de volta para casa de modo a se recuperar. Com a ajuda de Joe, Vito consegue se livrar das obrigações militares e assim inicia seus trabalhos para a máfia. (parei com o spoiler!)

    A jogabilidade é bem simples e apresenta poucos problemas, o que por si só, já é um ponto positivo.

    Os gráficos são o ponto fraco, colisões de polígonos, texturas horríveis, um jogo lançado em 2010, não pode se apresentar desta maneira (beleza é quase fundamental!).

    Pode-se ouvir as músicas reais da época nas estações de rádio dos veículos, o que é bem legal. (só se você avaliar isso como um acerto dos desenvolvedores com relação à época, porque pessoalmente, coloquei o volume das músicas no 0, muito irritantes. Mas é claro que não se deve colocar Heavy Metal em um jogo que se passa na década de 40!)

    Uma interessante característica do jogo, é a de poder colecionar revistas Playboy da época, que podem ser encontradas em diferentes pontos da cidade, o que eleva bastante o fator replay. O tempo de jogo ficou bom, você não chega a enjoar e chegar ao ponto de pegar outro jogo para se entreter. A história ajuda bastante nesse ponto.    … Expand
  3. joker1991
    Jul 22, 2011
    9
    Amazing game,i waited for this game for a long time since Mafia 1,the strong point of Mafia 2 is its story,its drags you in,dont expect many side missions.The game has great graphics,nice atmosphere in the city,great music.The driving is pretty nice,shooting is simple and the cover up system is easy to learn..The City is not very interactive as Liberty City in GTA IV,of course you can buyAmazing game,i waited for this game for a long time since Mafia 1,the strong point of Mafia 2 is its story,its drags you in,dont expect many side missions.The game has great graphics,nice atmosphere in the city,great music.The driving is pretty nice,shooting is simple and the cover up system is easy to learn..The City is not very interactive as Liberty City in GTA IV,of course you can buy clothes,food,guns,tune cars etc..the city is like museum with a little interaction..but its not very negative for me,neither mafia 1 when it came up had the GTA 3 style or side missions,its strong point was the plot,the story,the cinematics,and some game mechanisms.So to sum up,if you loved Mafia you will love Mafia 2,but if you play Mafia 2 to compare it with games like GTA,RDR you will be a little disappointed..but surely the game is 8/10 for me and more,i just had seen 5 or 6 from users..and i dont understand it..… Expand
  4. Benforbobcats
    Aug 9, 2011
    9
    This game is great in every way. Underrated to say the least and it's a shame it didn't get a nomination for game of the year. Great graphics, great game play, and even a decent story. Thought it was a great game and am looking forward to Mafia III.
  5. dajhorn
    Jun 6, 2015
    5
    Mafia II is like a Grand Theft Auto episode on rails. It has a world and a basic linear campaign, but not enough material for sandbox fun or side missions. This results in low replay value.

    Some parts of the game are polished, and things like the licensed Playboy media are novel, but it isn't enough to make Mafia II a worthwhile purchase.
  6. The_Maverick
    Sep 23, 2011
    6
    Wow! This game sucks. Just got killed by a cop and had to go back like 10 minutes and do it all over again. Game appears to be a sandbox style game but offers not real interaction with the world around you. Shooting controls are awful and sluggish, and the car handle like crap, expect for just a few of them. This game is a bastardization of GTA. Its like they hired all the programmersWow! This game sucks. Just got killed by a cop and had to go back like 10 minutes and do it all over again. Game appears to be a sandbox style game but offers not real interaction with the world around you. Shooting controls are awful and sluggish, and the car handle like crap, expect for just a few of them. This game is a bastardization of GTA. Its like they hired all the programmers under-qualified to work at Rockstar. The story is actually decent, but the sluggish controls and few and far between save points really ruin the enjoyment of the game.… Expand
  7. SkizDriz
    Oct 27, 2011
    5
    I couldn't finish it, it was too much like a linear GTA4 that had a crap story. Sorry but I am slightly biased against beating a dead horse with a story that has been done to death. Nothing new here, but some of the cut-scenes and happenings are hilarious. Aside from that, move along. I commend the developers, but this game needs a major overhaul if the mafia story is to continue.
  8. mrpepperkitty
    Nov 2, 2011
    9
    A fun shoot'em up romp with a classy feel and a great story! And I don't usually care but OMFG THE GRAPHICS, THE GRAPHICS!!!!! I never knew how fun it would be to drive a hot rod through a department store while running from the cops until I played this! It's a 7/10 FPS, a 10/10 driving game (better level of car detail, customizing, and damage than I have ever seen, and I don't evenA fun shoot'em up romp with a classy feel and a great story! And I don't usually care but OMFG THE GRAPHICS, THE GRAPHICS!!!!! I never knew how fun it would be to drive a hot rod through a department store while running from the cops until I played this! It's a 7/10 FPS, a 10/10 driving game (better level of car detail, customizing, and damage than I have ever seen, and I don't even usually like racing games!), and a 8/10 movie combined into an amazing gaming experience. Buy it, and if you just want to play a mindless shooter, buy the Jimmy's Vendetta DLC too.… Expand
  9. jeffharrison
    Dec 15, 2012
    8
    While I played this on ps3 (No ps3 thing on metacritic) I enjoyed this game, story was great, graphics are better then the game its always put side to side to...Grand Theft Auto. And the characters we're fun to learn about. No spoilers but the ending is very Mass Effect 3 like.
  10. 7percent
    Dec 25, 2012
    6
    So where to begin? First of all this is not a bad game in any sense. It just lacks that final push to make it a great game. So I guess the best word for it is good. Just good. Nothing more. The story is interesting and fun, with an awesome cameo to the original game. The city is unbelievably well done, the level of detail in the world is amazing. The cars are all well done and fun to use,So where to begin? First of all this is not a bad game in any sense. It just lacks that final push to make it a great game. So I guess the best word for it is good. Just good. Nothing more. The story is interesting and fun, with an awesome cameo to the original game. The city is unbelievably well done, the level of detail in the world is amazing. The cars are all well done and fun to use, albeit with fairly bad handling at high speeds (but that makes sense when considering these cars from the 50's). The music is amazing and fun. The shooting is fun and the main characters in-game model is well done. In a firefight, when bullets fly near you, you will duck, or cover your head from the exploding debris around you. When sneaking or in cover, you don't just stand in one place, your character will look around and check his corners. It adds a level of believabilty the shooting mechanics. You can be one-shot, and although it is frustrating, it also adds believability and your health doesn't regenerate past about 60%. Now the bad. The open world is not so open. You don't get a chance to explore it freely since you are always rushed to the next objective. On top of that there is nothing to do in the world, but complete the objectives and see the sights. No mission replay option makes getting collectibles a chore. Since there is no way to replay a mission, any collectible you miss, is gone until you decide to replay the game from the start. A lot of game mechanics are introduced and then dropped right away. For example the phone booths, where you can call different characters. Sounds like a cool Metal Gear type feature, except you can only use it twice during scripted events. At any other time it says that you can't call anyone. A waste of a great feature. Characters are introduced but never mentioned of again, despite the game saying that they are important. My main problem with this game though is the horrible autosave. It only saves before/after certain cutscenes. That's okay, only anything you do in between no longer matters. Go to buy a new gun, stock up on ammo, and buy a new suit, but crash and die right outside of the objective. Nope there goes 30 minutes of your time since now you have to do that all again. In a gun fight and get to the very end but take an accidental bullet to the face from the last enemy, well time to do the entire sequence again. And since the world is so big, dying before a savepoint forces you to backtrack nearly 10 minutes worth of just trecking along. It gets especially annoying in the later stages where there are a lot of enemies and you die more often. The savepoints are not even after every cutscene. Occasionally I would go 2 or 3 cutscenes without a save. Overall a good game, that could have been great. It has the elements needed to make an amazing game, but never really takes the final step.… Expand
  11. IcedFactorz
    Feb 19, 2012
    10
    Before I say anything let me just say that Mafia 2 is not like GTA. I personally am not a fan of single player, campaign only games but this game I picked up for 50 bucks at its release and then played the first level and decided it was bad and returned it. NOW STOP! PLAY THE FIRST LEVEL and you will see how amazing the game is. I dont even know how to describe the game, it was honestlyBefore I say anything let me just say that Mafia 2 is not like GTA. I personally am not a fan of single player, campaign only games but this game I picked up for 50 bucks at its release and then played the first level and decided it was bad and returned it. NOW STOP! PLAY THE FIRST LEVEL and you will see how amazing the game is. I dont even know how to describe the game, it was honestly the funnest game I've ever played and now its only like 15$ so it is definitely worth getting. I would recommend it to pretty much everyone. solid 10/10 for sure… Expand
  12. Procritic1
    Feb 20, 2012
    9
    Before i got into the mass effect series, mafia 2 was my favorite game. The amazing cinematic quality of the cut scenes to the gripping well put together story. I found my self flying through levels fully enjoying myself. Their were countless parts where i was laughing out loud, nervous, pissed as hell, and sad. I played and beat the game numerous times. Its no RPG different things don'tBefore i got into the mass effect series, mafia 2 was my favorite game. The amazing cinematic quality of the cut scenes to the gripping well put together story. I found my self flying through levels fully enjoying myself. Their were countless parts where i was laughing out loud, nervous, pissed as hell, and sad. I played and beat the game numerous times. Its no RPG different things don't happen every time that's just how good it was. I was attached to the characters and very involved with the story. It's well worth the money and i pray their is another one coming out. I give Mafia 2 a 9/10… Expand
  13. black_pirate
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    This game is highly underrated. You got beautiful graphic ( physics ), amazing sound ( atmosphere ), one of the best 3rd person shooters I played, typical mafia story and very realistic car driving. I really enjoyed this game in every aspect and simply cannot understand that someone thinks it is a big disappointment. The only problem I see is game length.. Main story should be longer andThis game is highly underrated. You got beautiful graphic ( physics ), amazing sound ( atmosphere ), one of the best 3rd person shooters I played, typical mafia story and very realistic car driving. I really enjoyed this game in every aspect and simply cannot understand that someone thinks it is a big disappointment. The only problem I see is game length.. Main story should be longer and there is a lack of side missions, but that upgraded with DLC mission. So, all in one, Mafia 2 is very quality game with unique soul inside.… Expand
  14. SergentLeClair
    Mar 11, 2012
    8
    Mafia 2 in my opinion is such a great game with a great story, great characters (voice acting), and great mechanics. You play as Vito a boy who arrived in Empire Bay when you were very little. You learn early on that your dad didn't support the family very well, as he used most of his earnings from the shipping docks on booze. Vito has a friend named Joe. I won't get into Joe as a personMafia 2 in my opinion is such a great game with a great story, great characters (voice acting), and great mechanics. You play as Vito a boy who arrived in Empire Bay when you were very little. You learn early on that your dad didn't support the family very well, as he used most of his earnings from the shipping docks on booze. Vito has a friend named Joe. I won't get into Joe as a person to much other then he is Vito's best friend. This is a great first time play through however there is not much replay value after that. The VERDICT: Mafia 2 has a great story if I could forget a story and be able to play through it again while having no memory that I have played it before it would be Mafia 2. A great story with twists and turns through the entire game. You just never know what will happen next. - Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.… Expand
  15. Corey77
    Jun 15, 2012
    8
    Mafia 2 is one of those games that you will remember long after you finish the story. The characters and general themes are great and reminiscent of such films like "goodfellas'. You follow the story of Vito Scalletta and his escapades with his friend Joe which goes from bad to worse as the two get in way over their head. This game will have you visiting El greco the painter/Doctor,Mafia 2 is one of those games that you will remember long after you finish the story. The characters and general themes are great and reminiscent of such films like "goodfellas'. You follow the story of Vito Scalletta and his escapades with his friend Joe which goes from bad to worse as the two get in way over their head. This game will have you visiting El greco the painter/Doctor, dealing with the Chinese Mafia and dumping bodies on the outskirts of town, the story is really enjoyable and has great character development due to the fantastic cutscenes and voice acting with an ending that provides a real emotional impact. The cover based shooting is easy to handle and makes killing rooms of mobsters fairly easy. The 1940's and 50's cars are fun to drive and speeding will often get the cops chasing you, in Mafia 2 you can rob shops, buy suits and upgrade your flashy cars but the open world experience really ends there and with no side missions it can make the game feel linear which it is and you will finish the main story in around 12 hours and most of that is doing simple tasks like going home to sleep. But despite it's lack of longevity and it's lackluster open world Mafia 2 has story and characters that few games can match.… Expand
  16. Compi24
    Jul 4, 2013
    7
    Its characters and environment may feel sincerely disconnected from the player at times, but the rest of "Mafia II" will tend to impress for the most part.
  17. Bo33y
    Sep 3, 2015
    2
    This game had an entertaining story only.

    The game play is a massive let down, driving is often like manoeuvring a tank. There is little differences between each of the various cars they all look and handle like a shed on wheels, otherwise a box. Excluding one, or two of the sporty exceptions. Shooting the guns and it is case of duck and fire, the AI rarely flank, and no matter the    This game had an entertaining story only.

    The game play is a massive let down, driving is often like manoeuvring a tank. There is little differences between each of the various cars they all look and handle like a shed on wheels, otherwise a box. Excluding one, or two of the sporty exceptions. Shooting the guns and it is case of duck and fire, the AI rarely flank, and no matter the difficulty, dead is dead as fast, without using cover or stealth. The clothing is all the same I don't feel I customised my character at all. The same with tany cars, their colour schemes and handling is almost as awful. The streets are full of cars, no matter what the time of day is and moving into head on traffic lanes the AI pulls into the opposing lane instead of steering to avoid collision. Accommodation owned isn't customised. Money is mostly absolutely pointless. Guns shops who needs them? There is no customisation on the various weapons used. Weapons are found with the ammo in abundance on each chapter. Fighting stinks, the moves are so limited, a motion of were they dead yet, yawn..

    The save system is done through story progression. What? The Dev's had an entertaining collectible in the form of some real dated porn, containing yucky tan lines and quite ugly awful 50's chicks. Apart from the one or two exceptions. These are collected in the chapter missions, most are easy finds, adding something else to the game. Although what was the point in collecting them? It wasn't like I was able to meet them, or date them in game. Just some rather ugly photo's. However what the hell were they thinking, making those wanted posters? 159 stupid pointless **** posters that all look the same, found in the most obscure locations, adding hours on to this really short game. I reckon they literally made them up, by taking pictures of themself and photo shopping a beard or haircut on. I mean who f'ing thought that they would be a fun idea to add into this game? I don't give a **** about jimmy the fish some f'ing smoe, and any of the rest of them. There was absolutely no point in exploring half of the map except to collect any wanted crap, but why than why the f would you bother?

    The chapters themselves take all of about 10 hours of game time from start to finish. Okay I agree within a some what entertaining story. Although the accents used mostly sounded wrong, they didn't really sound like goodfellas or wise guys.. The DLC's got a bit funner having better idea's on how to play a game, but the gameplay was still that same design, and the DLC were just too damn late. Today the DLC's cannot even be acquired anymore, because this game hasn't renewed the licensing..

    If your gonna make a mafia game A**holes. Make the Russian mob, Cartels,. Yakuza, Triads or IRA. Make a story about horse racing, gambling, casinos, weapon trafficking, human trafficking, everything smuggled from ivory to whatever electronics, and drugs. Fighting championships, assassinations, rampages, vehicle racing, girls and strippers. Make it something 18, starting in the streets or a prison and working up to owning the city and whatever other islands. Don't make another god awful GTA 5 story about absolute stinking bull****, it had some better ideas but those characters really stunk apart from gangster Trev but he was insane.. I don't want any **** collectibles that don't provide any reason to collect them. I want customisation on everything fom clothes, tattoos, body, haircut, accommodations, weapons, vehicles and girlfriends.

    Go on now and make a proper game instead of selling another ripped off cloned generic bull****. I bet they literally took some sucking GTA variable, pixeling in all of the rest, this game really stinks.    … Expand
  18. JackYaLate
    Jan 20, 2013
    9
    Graphics: 8/10 Gameplay: 8/10 Story: 9/10 Voice Acting: 9/10 Enjoyment: 9/10 = 8.6 (Excellent)
    Game Of the Year 2010. Enough said. Under rated. The story was the most thrilling experience I dare to say of all my gaming history! Humor, Badass bits and sad parts! Maybe it would of got PERFECT but it could of been longer.
    Thanks for reading and I'll JackYaLater.
  19. samurai177
    Feb 22, 2013
    10
    I finally got what I wished for! A game in the time of the 40's and 50's, with a mobster-driven story, with a grat driving mechanic, authentic 40-50's feel, with some of the iconic mobster guns and cars of the time. This game is awesome. Everything from the fantastic graphics, to the driving mechanics, to the combat, is amazing and I cannot stress enough that you, reader, should stopI finally got what I wished for! A game in the time of the 40's and 50's, with a mobster-driven story, with a grat driving mechanic, authentic 40-50's feel, with some of the iconic mobster guns and cars of the time. This game is awesome. Everything from the fantastic graphics, to the driving mechanics, to the combat, is amazing and I cannot stress enough that you, reader, should stop munching on your chips, get off the couch, and get this game! The feel here is very authentic, and it it one of the strongest points of the game. The radio broadcasts making updates and commenting about new things going on during that time period really selled me when I first played this. Vito Scalleta, the main character, is one of the most well written characters I have ever seen, and his friends are so interesting to interact with as you rob stores, perform hit-man style missions, and have some of those missions, go horribly wrong. Joe, his best friend, has an excellent DLC pack where you play as him during a segment of the story, and it is awesome. The story in this game is very detailed, telling you Vito's story from being drafted into the U.S. army in World War 2, to his joining the mafia. And the plot twistsin this game are PHENOMINAL. the final twist in the story was so out of nowhere, it just hits you right in the face and makes you go, "How!? No!? You, you monster! I will kill you!" with no warning. The use of a certain word that I shall not say is used quite a few times in the course of this game. But that shouldn't detract from this game. This game is AWESOME! Don't ever get that wrong. And I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the 40's and 50's, as well as people who like open world games in general.… Expand
  20. NBAluke579
    Oct 10, 2013
    8
    One of the most underrated games I have ever played. Mafia 2 is a hidden gem, and one of the finest games I've played on the Xbox 360. Where do I even begin? The story here is extremely gripping, and is interesting every step of the way.The characters are sympathetic and fleshed out extremely well.There are subtle nods to films like Goodfellas and The Godfather here, and the game createsOne of the most underrated games I have ever played. Mafia 2 is a hidden gem, and one of the finest games I've played on the Xbox 360. Where do I even begin? The story here is extremely gripping, and is interesting every step of the way.The characters are sympathetic and fleshed out extremely well.There are subtle nods to films like Goodfellas and The Godfather here, and the game creates an immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack is fantastic. The gameplay is solid, and the graphics are beautiful.The main problems with the game are that there really isn't anything to do once your done with the 12-13 hour campaign. There's no multiplayer or anything of the sort, so the story is all you get. Still it's a fantastic game and worth playing just for the story. My rating:8.7/10… Expand
  21. M9ki
    Jul 1, 2013
    7
    This was a pretty good game I have to admit, but in some area's it was a drag.Spolier alert There is a mafia 3 on the making.My disc froze so I did not really get to enjoy it.
  22. kev_i_n
    Sep 18, 2013
    6
    Summary
    +Good story with impactful moments, particularly in the 40s/50s setting.
    +Interesting combat that is surprisingly difficult +Great characters with each of their own unique personalities -The story in moments is confusing, yet in others is very predictable (particularly the end) -There should be more emphasis on free roaming, as free roaming is limited. -The driving can feel    Summary
    +Good story with impactful moments, particularly in the 40s/50s setting.
    +Interesting combat that is surprisingly difficult
    +Great characters with each of their own unique personalities
    -The story in moments is confusing, yet in others is very predictable (particularly the end)
    -There should be more emphasis on free roaming, as free roaming is limited.
    -The driving can feel clunky, and the use of police restricting gameplay can be annoying.

    Full Review
    The first thing to say about Mafia 2 is that the story is very unique in that it really demonstrates the dark nature of the gangster life style. This is particularly true with regards to how throughout the game your character will constantly be brought back from achieving any major success, and gets screwed over a lot. This in combination with great characters, in particularly Joe (who is surprisingly funny, while at the same time useful in combat) makes for a great story. Furthermore your character, Vito, is very interesting in the sense that his loyalty isn’t always where you think it is. This helps to make your character feel more hard done by, because he wants to gain power, yet his mixed loyalties prevent him from doing so. However unlike other games in this genre, most of the sub characters, like Henry, are also well executed. This is particularly enhanced with good voice acting.

    Unfortunately with regards to the story there are some issues. The first is that the story particularly when the other gangs within the city get involved can feel confusing at time, and difficult to follow. That said the explanations within the cut scenes help clarification. The second issue is how predictable the story is at moments, as you always know that the dark nature of the story prevents things from being as smooth as it should. This is particularly true of the ending which ends on a really shallow note that can be seen from a mile away. However possible the main issue is how the story feels too short, as you never actually get to play as Vito when he gains major success. This means that if you want to play as a Mafia boss and feel like a powerful badass, Godfather 2 is probably the game for you despite its falls.

    Nevertheless the story’s falls can be sort of forgiven as a result of the combat. The combat is broken down into melee and gun combat. The melee is ok but a bit easy once you unlock the ability to counter-attack. That said the melee is certainly better than it is in GTA4, but not as good as Sleeping Dogs. However the main combat is of course gun combat. This is a lot of fun as unlike other gang theme games, like Saints Row 2, even on normal difficultly gun combat is surprisingly challenging. This is because of a combination of surprisingly clever enemy A.I, e.g. they will try and outflank, other enemies will suicide charge while you are shot at by other enemies; and the fact that it can take less than four shots to kill you, and some weapons like the shotgun can kill you in one shot (the only drawback is that this can lead to a lot of trial and error). That said I feel that the combat could be improved with more weapon variety, and make each weapon feel different, as you will fine (particularly with the machine guns) that a lot of the weapons feel very similar. There also should have been more variety of throw able weapons, and they should have appeared more frequently for you to use.

    Also another thing to mention, which I personally like is the fact that like in “Scarface: The World is Yours”, gaining police attention is largely discouraged because if you get caught doing a crime in a car or certain clothing, you will become wanted meaning every time the police are nearby you will get a wanted level. While such restriction can be limiting, it is surprisingly well executed and gives the game some uniqueness.

    There are only two major complaints I have with the game. The first is that there is very little to do in free-roaming, as you can rod stores, sell cars, buy clothes/guns, improve cars, and that’s basically it. It is obvious that the game is focused on story, because each of the chapters is basically a long mission, giving you limited free-roaming opportunities. I feel that the developers should have place more functionality in free-roam as it would help give the game more replay-ability.

    The second complaint is the driving in the game. For me it feels clunky and a bit frustrating at times. Now this could be forgiven if the majority of gameplay isn’t driving. Unfortunately you will quickly realise a lot of gameplay is just driving around, e.g. you will often have to drive Joe home, them drive yourself home which is on the other side of a surprisingly large map. I can understand that because the cars are based in the 40s and 50s the designers weren’t going to make them as crisp as cars in games set in modern day, but you can’t help but wish that the cars were more fun to drive.    … Expand
  23. Aker
    Jul 15, 2013
    8
    Great gameplay, great story, great music, great environment, great vehicles, the only thing it lacked was things to do in the free roam world. There's hardly any interaction with non-story related characters, meaning there are no side missions. But with that being said I still easily put 20 hours of play time into the game, it's well worth the money.
  24. DBurnsee
    Oct 7, 2013
    7
    Mafia II is a good game Not a great game. A solid game. The points that Mafia II excelled in is definitely the story. It feels great to go visit Empire Bay and be a member of a notorious crime family. The characters are incredible. The main character Vito is very strong in the lead role. Not to mention his best friend Joe, who grows on you instantly and you begin to care about him. TheMafia II is a good game Not a great game. A solid game. The points that Mafia II excelled in is definitely the story. It feels great to go visit Empire Bay and be a member of a notorious crime family. The characters are incredible. The main character Vito is very strong in the lead role. Not to mention his best friend Joe, who grows on you instantly and you begin to care about him. The areas that this game lacks in is the game play. The gun fights feel really clunky and it's hard to get your shots on target I was playing on the hardest difficulty) But that doesn't break the game Overall Mafia II is a good experience for someone looking for a game with a fantastic story. The game clocks in around 12 hours. So at the price that it is now. I recommend a buy.… Expand
  25. funboyfun23
    Oct 14, 2013
    8
    I enjoyed this game, everything about this game is fun and unique. Not much games base their setting in the 40's and 50's making this game unique, also it being a mafia type game makes it really fun. It's easy to dump 3-5 hours into this game without even knowing it, just because of it's awesome game-play and story.

    You will have fun with this game and it sticks to the main plot so you    I enjoyed this game, everything about this game is fun and unique. Not much games base their setting in the 40's and 50's making this game unique, also it being a mafia type game makes it really fun. It's easy to dump 3-5 hours into this game without even knowing it, just because of it's awesome game-play and story.

    You will have fun with this game and it sticks to the main plot so you don't need to worry about having to do annoying side missions which you would see a lot in the Saints Row games. The plot of this game is where this game is strongest at and with every curve ball makes this game really interesting, you will want to be playing this game over others easily.

    What it lacks is customization, NOT saying there isn't any, but it would be nice to see more customization for cars and clothes for you're character would have gave the game more of a shine. Also the check point's in this game is really annoying. Defiantly if you get into a big gang fights you tend to die a lot sometimes, and the game will reset you to where you were 5-10 minutes earlier before you died making it really annoying to play at some points.

    None the less this game is really fun, the game-play is solid, plot is good, shoot outs are a ton of fun and in the end I have to say I recommend this game to anyone and is defiantly worth paying for!    … Expand
  26. PastorHagbart
    Jan 17, 2014
    9
    This game is so beautiful. the enviroment have this great appearing. i love the soundtrack, very dramatic. the cinematic scenes is fantastic and they pulled that off in a way i've never seen before. the story is good as well. i also like the voice actors, especially Joe's. reminds me of anthony soprano in sopranos. even though some of the voice acting is a little bit overwhelming, i still like it.
  27. FreeReviewer
    Jan 4, 2014
    9
    2K's Mafia 2 is and exemplary example of fantastic characters, gripping story, and masterful storytelling. The game centers on the story of Vito Scaletta and his tale of rising through the Empire Bay crime scene in the 1940s and 1950s. Along the way, and with his best friend Joe Barbaro, he and Vito travel through a difficult and long journey that ends only after an intense final act.2K's Mafia 2 is and exemplary example of fantastic characters, gripping story, and masterful storytelling. The game centers on the story of Vito Scaletta and his tale of rising through the Empire Bay crime scene in the 1940s and 1950s. Along the way, and with his best friend Joe Barbaro, he and Vito travel through a difficult and long journey that ends only after an intense final act.

    The characters in this game are absolutely and utterly fantastic, and even minor characters with small roles and mostly unknown stories leave a pleasant and memorable mark on the game. Vito and Joe share a great chemistry, and the player will become attached to both in no time. The mafia bosses and leaders are also all unique with various personalities. Leo Galante is an extremely wonderful secondary character and serves as a guide to Vito and mentor.

    The story is short, but well written and should never have any slow moments or uninteresting situations. It's very cleverly written and twists in the plot are sometimes not seen coming, but always sensible.

    Game-play is average, but the driving and amount of detail in the game is simply outstanding. While the combat is basic and the level of customization, those aspects make up for it completely.

    In all, Mafia 2 is game to be enjoyed by the gamer who values story and character, as well as action, but not wide customization.    … Expand
  28. Moffen
    Jan 13, 2014
    9
    If you're looking for a game with a great story, good character development and a good look into the life of organized crime, this is the game for you. First the story is very good. It revolves around Vito Scarletta and his best-friend Joe. The two protagonist try to make it big and join the mob family. The game starts a little slow and can be a little boring at the start, but trust me, itIf you're looking for a game with a great story, good character development and a good look into the life of organized crime, this is the game for you. First the story is very good. It revolves around Vito Scarletta and his best-friend Joe. The two protagonist try to make it big and join the mob family. The game starts a little slow and can be a little boring at the start, but trust me, it gets much better. When the story drives forward it gets more interesting as you have to figure out who to trust, and who to no trust. No spoilers, the game has a lot of great plot-twists. Another thing the game does great is show the consequences of the mob-life. The game does a great job at showing the corruption and greed a life of organized can, and probably will, bring. But even if the story is very good and will keep you glued to the screen, there is some problems. The biggest one is that the game feels uncompleted. I get that it's a story-based game, but I can't help to feel like the world is empty and lifeless. Besides the missions there isn't that much to do. You can drive cars, buy new suits and rob stores, but that's about it. They could have done a lot more and let's hope that they take notes for the third installment of the franchise (If it comes out.)

    A great game you should 100% pick up if you are looking for a great story. But don't have your hopes up for sticking around after the game is complete.    … Expand
  29. JSXero
    Apr 7, 2014
    9
    Mafia II is a near perfect sandbox game that whilst following genre trends, keeps it in it's own distinctive style that separates it from the rest, but being an awesome experience at the same time.

    While the driving is slow, clunky and boring, the combat is terrific, really feeling like a full on 3PS experience instead of feeling loosely tacked on like other sandbox games. In Mafia II    Mafia II is a near perfect sandbox game that whilst following genre trends, keeps it in it's own distinctive style that separates it from the rest, but being an awesome experience at the same time.

    While the driving is slow, clunky and boring, the combat is terrific, really feeling like a full on 3PS experience instead of feeling loosely tacked on like other sandbox games. In Mafia II you have to think, you have to hide, the shoot outs are brutal, and not to be taken lightly. Everything feels gritty and realistic. Shotgun blasts will destroy you or your enemies, they wont be simply shaken off by a quick jog behind a dumpster.

    Mafia II doesn't joke around with it's subject manner, from it's storyline to it's brutal shootouts and contract kills, you don't feel like your playing the average glorification of a crime sim. This is deep stuff and it benefits from it. There are no wacky characters or weapons, this is the real thing, and while it could be slow and plodding for some, it is engaging to the end. An excellent take on a genre that follows suit one to many times.    … Expand
  30. Rahsmoove
    Jul 24, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mafia 2 is very great. The story strong, but depressing at the same time. The way the game ended was good, but not awesome either. After Killing Falcone, Vito gets in a car, with Leo. Turns out Joe was going to be killed because he wasn't a part of the deal, and after the game ends and if you want to go exploring you have to start the game over. I hated that. However The Storyline is great. Vito finding out that Derek was the one who killed his father, going to jail, getting your house set on fire felt real. The setting of a 1950's fictional city (Empire Bay) was sort of good but confusing. It felt like a replica of NYC, but missing a bunch of parts. It didn't really capture NYC, like GTA IV's Liberty City did. But a very great game, I would recommend this game if you're into open world games.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
11
#11 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 79 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 79
  3. Negative: 5 out of 79
  1. Video Game Talk
    Jan 12, 2011
    60
    A great story that manages to make old ground seem fresh, coupled with out-of-this world sound design, is sadly attached to a middle-of-the-road, limited third-person gaming experience.
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  2. GameSpot
    85
    Mafia II's exciting action and uncompromising mob story make for an impressive and violent adventure.
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  3. Giant Bomb
    60
    I'm a sucker for a good mob story, but Mafia II's is merely decent.
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