Mafia II has been in development at 2K Czech for almost six years, but that’s not the result of any kind of production hell or focus group foul-play. The blood, sweat and tears have been poured into the game’s engine, dubbed Illusion, which has been created from scratch to allow players to explore a Grand Theft Auto-sized city with no loading-screen interruptions.
Being able to transition from sprawling, complex exteriors to lovingly crafted interiors - where a great deal of significant gameplay takes place - is definitely something that gamers desire; but is the actual action similarly evolved, or is this just more of that same old GTA-style chaos?
“I guess compared to other sandbox games, it does have a very similar feature set,” admits the game’s producer Denby Grace. “But what really makes Mafia II stand out is the execution. It’s definitely one of the most attractive sandbox games out there - the period setting really makes it unique.”
He’s not kidding when he says Mafia II is an attractive game. The world of Empire Bay is bustling with beautiful old vintage cars, civilians stroll about in their best threads and the latest Glenn Miller Big Band tunes drift on the breeze from nearby windows.
The almost non-existent HUD allows you to travel comfortably back to 1945 with a minimum of distraction, which gives Mafia II an immersive quality that the first game lacked.
The game’s filmic feel can also be put down to some superb voice acting - Rick Pasqualone as Vito Scaletta is particularly effective in his role as the player-character who gets caught up in the family’s dirty business after returning home from World War II.
“Everything we’ve put in the game is there to support the narrative,” Grace states proudly. “It’s a strict narrative that we’re trying to push, though there are a couple of points where the player has to make a choice - we do have four different endings to the game. “
Of course, a problem with cinematic games, is that it’s typical that the player has to sit back and watch cut-scenes for the most exciting and dramatic moments in the storyline. Will Mafia II fall prey to this problem of player passivity? Grace nods carefully.
“We’re definitely trying to play off the benefits, like you say, of the cinematic storyline and the benefits of the sandbox gameplay. There is a lot of choice in the sandbox and it is difficult to have the same kind of dramatic gameplay in that environment when the player has so many options.
“Let me put it this way. For us, it’s linear story first and sandbox play as backdrop. So like, while you can go and live your life as a mafia guy in the sandbox, when we come into the important story stuff we have to choreograph that in a very specific way. But look, it’s a fine balance and it’s something we’re very keenly aware of. We don’t want to take the player away from the cool s**t.”
What is your rating? Also what is your overall opinion of the game?
