Mafia II: Definitive Edition

It has been good to go back to Mafia II after a decade. The visual upgrades that have been implemented to the cityscape are great, and it has been hugely entertaining to be reminded of the story again, one that tells a great tale with enough twists and turns to keep any Mafia crime fan happy.

Mafia II Definitive Edition is a good remaster of the original game, with an important facelift that feels perfect, but with some technical flaws.

Mafia II: Definitive Edition is not especially a good remaster... Avoid if the game is fresh in your memories.

Mafia II: Final Edition is an example of a lazy remaster and something that could have been much better. Mind you, Vito's story is as exciting as ever, being one of those great forgotten titles of the Xbox 360 generation.

Mafia II isn't the definitive edition we would want for such a great game as its filled with bugs and suffers in performance, although the story is still a good enough to reason to try it if you didn't play the original.

Console players wanted to get a graphically updated game with PC version features added. Instead, they received a product full of bugs and technical flaws, and PC version turned out inferior to the original in may ways. It's possible that some of the remaster's problems will be resolved in the future with patches, but it's too early to recommend Mafia 2: Definitive Edition, so it's better to wait for the sale.

In 2020, Mafia 2 is a game greater than the sum of its parts. It shows its age in several areas, and though flawed, it still has its merits.

Its mechanics don’t impress like they used to, but they get the job done. And besides, the story is the focus here, and it still grips you like a vice. It’s just a shame that it’s plagued by technical issues on console, particularly on PS4. If you’re someone who can work though them, Mafia II: Definitive Edition is worth picking up due to its budget price – it even includes all DLC previously released for the game. Those who prefer more polished experiences, however, are better off waiting to see if it gets patched.

Mafia II: Definitive Edition may have definitive in its name, but the numerous glitches that plague it really hold back what is still a good game at its core from truly earning that title.