Ever wanted to be Tony Soprano? Want to act out your innermost fantasy of being a Mafioso, but GTA 3 was just not "real" enough for you? Then Mafia's your game. Just remember that you may have to put up with some rats, cops, and most importantly, flaws.
Let's start with the story, because there's a great one to be found in Mafia for the budding gangster. You play the part of Tommy, a cab driver during the depression. You're poor, but working. When a group of mob members make you take them on a ride in your cab in order to escape the rival gang shooting at them, your life changes forever. To reveal anymore would be a disgrace, as Mafia has one of the most intriguing setups in recent history.
Gameplay, while it takes a while to get into, and those who go into Mafia expecting "GTA 3: Godfather edition" will be fed up within 10 minutes, is a refreshing change of pace, though the focus on realism can almost be called a flaw. A great deal of the game sees you behind the wheel of a car. While this was a godsend in GTA, it can borderline on the tedious in Mafia, especially if you happen to pick the wrong car. See, the cars in Mafia act like real cars from that golden era of the mob, and thus, before you pick up luxury cars that actually handle somewhat decently, you'll be forced to drive many missions in clunkers with a top speed of 50 or less. Yes, you heard right. And they can't go from 0-50 that easily, either. Even when you do get a high-powered vehicle, you can't drive wrecklessly, as cops will stop you for going over 40. Yes, 40. They also don't take kindly to your running red lights. I realize the intentions of the developers by including these limitations, (they make the world seem more authentic,) but when you're driving over 12 virtual miles, the speed limitations can really put a damper on your gameplay experience.
Once out of the car and in the action, you will find that again, Mafia puts a high value on realism, almost to a fault. Don't expect Max Payne shooting physics without the bullet time, because every weapon in Mafia acts like the firearm of the times. While this can often be rewarding, because Mafia makes you adapt your skills, it can also be frustrating, especially when you're stuck with a handgun that takes 7 seconds to reload against a group of bloodthirsty killers wielding Tommy Guns.
Graphically, Mafia is beautiful in the truest sense of the word. Character models look like honest-to-goodness living people during in-game cutscenes, the cars are exquisitely detailed, right down to their awe-inspiring reflections, and I don't think I've seen better smoke effects on a PC. If GTA looked this good, it would have sold an extra 3 million copies already. Unfortunately, not many people would have been able to run it at optimum performance, either. Simply put, unless you have a killer machine, you're going to need to turn Mafia's settings to low to avoid horrendous levels of unplayable slowdown, and even there, it looks average, and slowdown can and will occur. I've never been a graphics whore, but even I noticed Mafia's muddy textures and bland character models (not faces, those still look like they're alive, thankfully retaining the emotion of the game.) Unless, that is, you have a high-end PC, then everything looks the absolute s***! I'd even go so far as to say that for those with the capabilities, Mafia is the prettiest game you can get for your computer until the next wave of FPS system hogs are released.
Sound is also a hit, and thankfully, this integral part of the game stays intact regardless of system abilities. The sounds of the city are in keeping with the era of big bands and bigger guns, the music is authentic, if a bit repetitive, and the voice acting is, much like everything in Mafia, cinematic quality. I'd even say that this game's voice acting is better than Grand Theft Auto 3's. You really feel like you're watching Goodfellas or The Godfather, rather than just watching a video game cinematic.
And that, perhaps, is the best place to put the thing that will divide the buyers from those who avoid this game like the plague: Mafia is a story-driven game in the purest sense of the word. What I mean by that is, much like Eternal Darkness, a large part of your motivation to push through the levels is often to see what happens next in the storyline, what the next twist will be, or who will be whacked next. If the game had you playing the part of a detective, busty adventurer, or anything else but a Mafioso, it wouldn't be as much fun, and chances are the game would have been disposable.
As it is though, Mafia combines a great story with capable gameplay, and is a must-have for those who like mob movies, games, and television series. For those who don't, it may be an offer that you CAN refuse.
-George
Company Line
Mafia is a 3D action game seen through the eyes of third person, set in a huge, functional town with 60 vehicles to choose from, and more than 20 mission filled with crazy action. Assume the role of a gangster in an American town of the thirties, and get a chance to live through gangster's rise and fall. In a spell-bounding story of human hunger for power, you will be able to live through everything that was taking place in underworld during this stormy period: mad car chases, bootlegging, assassinations, and bank robberies.
Features:
Over 20 action-packed mission with sub quests - luxury and riches are yours for the taking, if you do as Don Salieri has requested. From mob hits, car chases, shootouts and more, complete the unsavory tasks the Family need done and you will be handsomely rewarded.
Explore over 12 square miles of this 1930's American city, with simulated traffic, landmarks and surrounding landscapes.
Convincing environments pull you into the 1930's with their attention to detail and style. From seedy bars and hotel rooms to train stations and airports - every location is rendered in fantastic detail by the 3D LS3D engine, such as the Lost Heaven International Airport and Chinatown.
Use weapons like the Tommy Gun, Colt 1911, S&W model 27 MAGNUM, or pump action shotgun.
Drive over 60 different vehicles (including the Model T, Roadsters and delivery trucks) with the most realistic car physics ever made in a game.
Multi-player support via LAN or over the internet. Seven multiplayer modes to choose from - including Deathmatch, Capture the flag, and more!
Motion Captured animations, lips synching and facial animation · New effects, such as mirrors, environmental mapping and bump mapping.
Story:
The hero, Tommy, is a cabdriver who is happy to have a job in times of crisis. His joy, however, does not last long. Bya freak chance, he managed to save some members of a Mafia Family from being killed by hit men, belonging to another Mafia gang. Three Mafiosi, who were being chased, had jumped into his cab and ordered him to shake off their pursuers ... and Tommy, thanks to him being an excellent driver, managed to do just that.
Whilst the saved gangsters, seeing what a capable driver he was, offered him a job for their boss, Don Salieri, the killers working for Don Morelli only thirst for taking revenge on anybody who crosses their path. This leads to Tommy loosing his cab in dramatic circumstances, and thus also loosing his livelihood. Only by seeking refuge with Don Salieri's people saves his life. Visualising himself in a dismal situation of standing in a queue for some soup, he accepts the job offered to him by the Family.
In the beginning, Tom likes his new job and being a gangster. It gives him an opportunity to take revenge on Morelli's men, he is never short of money, and all of this he gets for giving someone a bit of a warning, or a small hiding. Among the town folk, he is regarded with great respect. He meets a girl, whom he eventually marries and they have a child.
Gradually, as times goes by, he starts to see the other side - the shady one - of his work: murders,assassinations, dangerous shootouts, and mad car chases during which the smallest mistakes means death. The real horror of his job gets through to him only when he is given an order to kill people who he knows personally, and who he likes. He is asked to kill the accountant working for the Family who co-operated with the police only to save his loved ones, and to kill his own wife's friends.... Tom is a respected man in the Family, and nobody therefore suspects him of not carrying out his assignments to the letter, even though sometimes he does do just that. However, nothing lasts forever.
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