This game does look great, but it suffers from a multitude of bugs. I've crashed to the blue screen once, had my screen freeze about a dozen times, and even crashed to the desktop once with a "ddhelp.exe caused a page fault."
Gameplay itself is so linear that this title is merely a puzzle, and hardly a game. In the fourth level, after rescuing "Sam" I had to chase a guy in a speeding car and nail him. Well, how would *you* do this? I tried shooting at him from my own car but this had no effect. I tried ramming him from behind but that only injured *me*. I tried cutting him off but his car just bulldozed me out of the way. So what am I supposed to do -- follow him until he gets out? Perhaps... but his car is faster than mine and has a computer driver who doesn't make mistakes, so that avenue is hopeless. This is fun? Not to me.
After the screen froze for the sixth time today I packed the game up for ebay. Despite many similar complaints, Mafia's makers apparently are refusing to supply a patch, which is a disgrace.
Even if the game ran perfectly, I'd have to say it's badly overrated, since there really isn't anything to do but follow instructions to the letter and drive around admiring the scenery.