Mafia II Preview

The original Mafia was something of a sleeper hit when it was released in 2002, providing an authentic and atmospheric period backdrop. Mafia II looks set to develop that format further with smoother driving, improved gunplay and a more detailed environment.

GameOn were shown a mission from the game which looks well on the way to completion. The plot of the game follows Vito, an Italian immigrant to the US forced to leave Europe in 1945. Driven out by the war he finds himself living in poverty in Empire City and is forced to turn to crime to find a way of becoming a made man. The story isn't new but is handled with a cinematic flair reminiscent of classic crime films.

Immediately obvious is the attention to detail which has gone into the creation of Empire City, a fictional location which has been influenced by a selection of real life American cities. The game spans a 10 year time period between 1945 and 1955 and the city is set to alter slightly as time progresses. In the gameplay we saw, it was early on in 1945 and set in a gloomy and snowy winter with the streets covered in a layer of ice. Vito was tasked with driving through the rough Sand Island area to an illegal distillery which had refused to pay protection money. Needless to say, Vito's employers weren't too happy and he's sent to sort out the trouble maker.

Leaving the Diner where he receives the mission he climbs into a nearby car and speeds off down the icy roads, which make driving difficult at high speeds. The developers commented that changes in season will have different effects and the changing environment will influence the gameplay. The setting is very authentic with everyone costumed in period dress and propaganda posters littering the roads.

After navigating the treacherous streets, Vito waits inside a nearby building with two Mafia wingmen. Here a cut-scene is shown demonstrating some good voice acting and furthering the back story of these new characters. Soon they are interrupted by the arrival of the owner and a shoot out breaks out. In true Mafia style, Vito shoots back and the game's third person gunplay is shown. The camera angle is tight behind him and a regenerating health system is used to recuperate in between gun fights.

As Vito moves inside the distillery a cover system is shown which works nicely as he smoothly moves between walls and pillars, occasionally leaning out to take down some hired goons. The cover seems natural and blends in with the environment rather than being as obvious as some other third person titles. As Vito progresses he collects some new weaponry including a shotgun and a Tommy gun which makes short work of the enemies.

The gameplay feels traditional but the setting helps it to look different and the animations are superbly motion captured. Vito's two companions help him out without getting in the way and both of them move fluidly and convincingly around the environment, ducking under low walls and even drinking from bottles. Soon, things turn sour and the police join the battle, eventually leading to a chase away from the burning distillery with a wounded companion.

This showcases some of the game's fire effects and the real time destruction of the environment. The buildings walls have been damaged to reflect the gunfire from the earlier encounters and as the police shoot, bullet holes appear and masonry crumbles. As the trio flee in a car, the falling snow stays on the vehicle, a small but impressive touch.

As our demo concludes, Mafia II looks like a classic story driven title. The title will feature the sandbox gameplay of its predecessor but with far more refinement. The aggressive nature of the police has been toned down and you won't be relentlessly chased forever for running a red light. The developers emphasised that at the beginning of the game you'll have to be far more law abiding and discreet. As the game progresses however, you gain a reputation and have police on the pay roll meaning they won't bat an eye lid when you flout traffic restrictions. However, an arm hanging out of the trunk of your car might be a different story...

With around 20 hours of story to play through as well as side missions, Mafia II will feature around 2 to 3 hours of cut-scenes which aim to involve the player with the immersive environment. The title is due for a release in early 2010 and will be ideal for players seeking for a classic organised crime fix. With versions available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC this is making shaping up to be an offer that's going to be difficult to refuse.