Mafia 2
The violins are back...
Violins twang, the aroma of mamma's pasta in the air, ancient hierarchies, loyalties; friends and enemies, disasters and glory. The Mafia may be bad, but my goodness me does the organised-crime of yesteryear make for a compelling premise.
In 2001, the first Mafia game from Take-Two attempted to capture some of this dangerous romance and despite a few patchy areas the game for the most part succeeded. Now the series is making a return with Mafia 2, and we're here with associate producer Alex Cox for a look around this 'next-generation' take on the classic formula.
This time around, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game are being created simultaneously, and alongside this ambitious new stance we'll be getting a brand new, vast, sandbox world to play in: Empire City. Stepping into the shoes of Italian immigrant Vito, we'll be following a dramatic ten year period in our protagonist's life - commencing from 1945.
Inspired by real US cities of the post-WWII era, Empire City will offer ten densely packed square-kilometres in which Vito will need to climb the Mafia ladder. The city of course boasts various neighbourhoods, and our tour of Mafia II begins with the city in the grip of wintery storms; the late 40s offering cold comfort for Vito, while the game world looks wonderful as cars skid on black ice and snow whirls in the icy wind.
Before we go any further it is worth noting that the world of Mafia 2 appears to be lavish. The game's developers have clearly spent an awful lot of time on this project, ensuring that the detail of the architecture, dress, cars and more are all authentic, and richly recreated. The importance of setting, Cox explains, is key to immersing players in the game's narrative, and as such everything is highly evocative, right down to the (changeable) music on the in-car radio, through to the propaganda scattered around the streets.
This snowy mission is set three to fours into the game, the producer tells us, with Vito slowly beginning to make progress through the ranks of the family. We've been tasked with killing the 'Fat Man', but as we discover this won't be as simple as firing a few shots from a secluded upstairs window. After a street shoot-out goes awry, we find ourselves chasing the Fat Man and his cronies through the streets and into an abandoned warehouse, where a highly cinematic shoot-out begins.
The fire-fights look intense, and a new cover system helps keep things looking real, while the atmosphere is kept on a knife-edge with some impressive orchestral backing. As we fight through the warehouse, scenery breaks and the scene descends into chaos, as explosions rip through the structure. This looks like classic third-person shooter fun, but the setting and Take-Two's focus on narrative; your purpose, should hopefully elevate the overall experience above mere gunplay.
Having caught the Fat Man an in-game cut-scene plays out, where we witness yet more cinematic drama, combined with some solid voice acting. The action appears intense, but while Mafia 2 will include open-world driving there won't be any of the races that didn't go down so well in the first Mafia. Likewise, the player will now have some more choice over how Vito climbs the 'career' ladder.
Before our demonstration draws to a close, we're treated to a late segment of the game, set in the 50s - and now the wintery weather's gone we're enjoying a balmy summers day in Empire City. The contrast is striking - developers 2K Czech having clearly built some impressive effects on top of the already hefty game engine.
Cox explains to us that characterisation is very important to Mafia 2, and Vito will find himself building an emotional bond with pal Joe during the game. Incidental settings and diverse missions should combine with an involvingly Godfather-esque plot to create a compelling game and story when Take-Two release this long-awaited sequel in early 2010.
Comments
that game is grate iv never playep a game like this
I loved the first one, this one looks to be just as awesome.
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