Mafia II

Uncle Humjaba said:
So they want you to buy $700 worth of graphics equipment to play a $60 game?

No wonder the console market is out growing the PC market.
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They want you to have a GTX 480 and a GTX 280 for the full on PhysX experience - yes.

Based on my Arkham Asylum and Mirror's Edge PhysX experiences, I'd say that if there's going to be lots of shattering glass and stuff, then the two cards really will be necessary. Mafia 2, apparently, will have lots of PhysX destructible... uh, stuff.

What I like though are the PhysX trenchcoats. The cloth effect is super cool. I believe that this will be a watershed moment for trenchcoats in computer games. After this, trenchcoats will never be the same. I'm not kidding either. Fallout New Vegas in 3'rd person mode is going to look archaic in comparison.
 
Only heard about this game through this thread. I love the mafia genre. Is it as good as Grand Theft Auto series and hopefully not as buggy a developer?
 
Many believe that Mafia 1 was much better than any GTA game. I didn't play the first Mafia, but I have high hopes for this second one. Just check out that video. The game is looking amazing right now. With cutting edge technology this game should become the new king.
 
WabeWalker said:
Many believe that Mafia 1 was much better than any GTA game. I didn't play the first Mafia, but I have high hopes for this second one. Just check out that video. The game is looking amazing right now. With cutting edge technology this game should become the new king.
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It was far superior to me because of the story and focus. The whole world felt more real, cops stopped you for speeding, etc to give you a ticket and things.

The focus was on the story, it wasn't as "open" (in terms of scope/side things) and thus kept you interested in the story. So, unlike GTA, it kept me hooked with its main storyline, whereas in GTA I often end up getting sidetracked and loose interest in the story and then eventually the game, this isn't the case with Mafia, kept me hooked til the end.
 
Stiler said:
It was far superior to me because of the story and focus. The whole world felt more real, cops stopped you for speeding, etc to give you a ticket and things.

The focus was on the story, it wasn't as "open" (in terms of scope/side things) and thus kept you interested in the story. So, unlike GTA, it kept me hooked with its main storyline, whereas in GTA I often end up getting sidetracked and loose interest in the story and then eventually the game, this isn't the case with Mafia, kept me hooked til the end.
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My only complaint was the driving in Mafia. Terrible.
 
Cars from that era weren't fast and didn't handle well. It never bothered me, though going up hill was tedious. Also it was nice to relax to Django Reinhardt while on your way to do gangster stuff. XD
 
Q-BZ said:
My only complaint was the driving in Mafia. Terrible.
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I thought it was nice because that's how many cars were back then. Instead of going arcadey they went for realism/authenticity for the time period.

Yes going up a large hill was a pain, but the physics were great, hitting a curb could make a world of difference if you weren't careful when you were going fast, etc.

Thankfully in Mafia II they have a realistic driving experience as well, however this time they have it as an option, with a more lax/casual one if you want that.
 
I remember when i managed to win the sports car race on expert difficulty, now THAT was hard, but also very realistic and rewarding, apart from that the general car handling was just fine, especially on the 16V variety, so many good memories, i almost cried when i saw the ending.
 
Q-BZ said:
My only complaint was the driving in Mafia. Terrible.
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Haha, blame the cars of that era. Mafia went with realistic driving and it was Awesome! I liked how some cars had difficulty climbing up hill (suck as the Ford Model T).

It was the realism that made the game one of the best (unlike godfather).
 
Quake said:
Haha, blame the cars of that era. Mafia went with realistic driving and it was Awesome! I liked how some cars had difficulty climbing up hill (suck as the Ford Model T).

It was the realism that made the game one of the best (unlike godfather).
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Yeah, seriously. They were driving around on bicycle tires, basically.
 
Quake said:
Call me crazy but this thread made me reinstall Mafia again...
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I would but the last time I tried that it had some weird mouse bug. I couldn't look around. Kinda disappointing. I was too lazy to look into it.
 
Quake said:
Haha, blame the cars of that era. Mafia went with realistic driving and it was Awesome! I liked how some cars had difficulty climbing up hill (suck as the Ford Model T).

It was the realism that made the game one of the best (unlike godfather).
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The problem with the realism level in that game, it made driving tedious and boring. There has to be a balance somewhere. Not to mention the stuff with the cops all the time. The shooting was also ass, but then again shooting was ass in GTAII as well and has been ass in most open world-ish games. They also should have designed the world (and the cars) in such a way that going up hills wasn't such a chore. Again, realism is nice until it gets in the way of gameplay. I love Mafia, but the actual gameplay aspect frustrates the hell out of me at times.
 
DennisK4 said:
New gameplay video in 720p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3nh6F8L3ik
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Oh... my... god.

The entire thing looks like a pre-rendered cutscene. That engine is incredibly advanced. The lighting in particular looks fantastic. Even the grass looks advanced - the way the blades seem to be individual. I'm also seeing some really nice PhysX stuff in there. I think that PhysX might become like advanced shadowing in games, in that you only really notice it when it's no longer there. It's subtle, but it makes all the difference.

This video, more than any other, has me incredibly excited for this title, and I can't believe that it will be released in just 5 weeks. What's happening to the summer?

My one concern though:

Look at GTA 4, look at Saint's Row 2. We had no idea that those two titles were going to be so demanding. No developer is going to say: and by the way, the game doesn't run very well on the PC. I'm cautiously optimistic that, for an open world game, Mafia 2 will run as well as Just Cause 2 does (which has to be THE most optimized open world game ever, considering how huge the world is, how seamless it is, how much stuff is happening around you, and how damned good looking it is... I mean, the developer of Just Cause 2 deserves to be lavished with praise... we, as gamers, bitch and complain when things go wrong... but when a developer gets it right we say nothing).

I just have my fingers crossed on this one. Jesus, this could end up being game of the year material?
 
Wabe just think: Those are console screenshots you're watching. Now imagine what you're seeing cranked up on your rig. :D

I'll be stunned if this thing isn't on my short list of GOTY when 2010 is done.
 
Does anybody know if there's an in-car view, preferably with the hands of the driver visible?
 
WabeWalker said:
Does anybody know if there's an in-car view, preferably with the hands of the driver visible?
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Good question. Didn´t Mafia have that? I remember it being superb with force feedback wheels. You don´t really expect that from a title that really isn´t focused around the driving.

I am trying to forget about this title. Honestly the way I enjoyed the first one it will surely be some kind of disappointment. It´s a sequel after all it´s not as fun when you have an idea what you are getting.
 
oqvist said:
Good question. Didn´t Mafia have that? I remember it being superb with force feedback wheels. You don´t really expect that from a title that really isn´t focused around the driving.

I am trying to forget about this title. Honestly the way I enjoyed the first one it will surely be some kind of disappointment. It´s a sequel after all it´s not as fun when you have an idea what you are getting.
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I don't think it will be a dissapointment. It has taken them 8 years or so to release this. I don't think its one of those sequels that your going to want to just throw out.
 
That newest video is stunning. Mafia 2 looks like it's going to be the most technologically advanced open world game yet. Whether or not the game itself will be any good obviously remains to be seen. But man oh man, am I ever excited for this title. This baby's got Labor Day weekend written all over it.
 
http://store.steampowered.com/app/50130/

Mafia® II Shipping with SteamworksPress Release - ValveAll PC versions leverage leading services for gamers around the world.
Pre-purchasers receive original Mafia® now.

Valve and 2K Games today announced an agreement to power all PC versions of the highly anticipated Mafia® II with a host of Steamworks features. All Mafia II players will enjoy the benefits of the Steamworks features included in all PC versions, such as auto-updating, Steam Achievements, Statistics, downloadable content, and more.

Customers who pre-order the standard or Digital Deluxe Edition of Mafia II through select digital retailers, including Steam, will be given a free digital copy of the award-winning original Mafia® game that they can access and play now.

"Using Steamworks to power Mafia II has been a great benefit for 2K Games and our development team," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "It's meant that we can spend more time creating content and a great experience for our customers because we know that Steam and Steamworks are enabling these important features within the game."

"Mafia II is joining Sid Meier's Civilization® V as the next title to use Steamworks from 2K Games," said Gabe Newell, President of Valve. "Our focus for Steam is on building services that create value for our customers and for creators, and Mafia II, with its all-new game engine and inclusion of Steamworks, is a great example of that."

Mafia II is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and will be available in North America on August 24, 2010 and internationally beginning August 27, 2010. For more information visit www.steamgames.com.

* According to 2009-2010 GameRankings.com and The NPD Group
 
I pre purchased from gamestop becasue I want all the stuff in the SE. If I order the SE from steam. Will they send me a box with all the SE stuff? I have never pre ordered from STEAM.
 
overlord20 said:
I pre purchased from gamestop becasue I want all the stuff in the SE. If I order the SE from steam. Will they send me a box with all the SE stuff? I have never pre ordered from STEAM.
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Steam is digital download service - they dont send boxed games.
 
Then why buy the SE edition for $10 if you only get a couple small in game items. Purchase the game through any where else you get a whole lot more.
 
overlord20 said:
Then why buy the SE edition for $10 if you only get a couple small in game items. Purchase the game through any where else you get a whole lot more.
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Because its NOT a "special edition" its a digital deluxe edition. If you actually READ what comes with the DDE maybe you'll get it.
 
Rebel44 said:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/50130/

Mafia® II Shipping with SteamworksPress Release - ValveAll PC versions leverage leading services for gamers around the world.
Pre-purchasers receive original Mafia® now.

Valve and 2K Games today announced an agreement to power all PC versions of the highly anticipated Mafia® II with a host of Steamworks features. All Mafia II players will enjoy the benefits of the Steamworks features included in all PC versions, such as auto-updating, Steam Achievements, Statistics, downloadable content, and more.

Customers who pre-order the standard or Digital Deluxe Edition of Mafia II through select digital retailers, including Steam, will be given a free digital copy of the award-winning original Mafia® game that they can access and play now.
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Very tempting as I do not own the original Mafia...but I'm a bit hesitant to pay $59.99 for Mafia II based purely on early rumors and vids. I mean the game looks awesome, don't get me wrong. But if Just Cause 2 was any indication, we might be able to pick the Mafia pack for $25-$30 on sale a few weeks after its release. I guess if you decide that Mafia II is a Day 1 purchase for you, this is a pretty good deal. I'm going to chew on this as I'd love to be playing through Mafia to prep me for the sequel but it's hard to plunk down that much cash without a demo and having such a huge backlog already.
 
I think its great! I already own Mafia one since its release. But I am still down for CE version from Gamestop. I like physical things.

CE Includes:
In addition to a copy of the highly anticipated Mafia II game, the Mafia II Collector’s Edition will contain the following content:

* Collectible SteelBook Casing: Brushed metallic SteelBook hard case with debossed logo containing two pieces of art featuring Vito and Joe, the stars of Mafia II.
* Made Man Pack: Free access to in-game downloadable pack that lets players get behind the wheel of two different luxury automobiles modeled after classic cars from the period. In addition, Vito will look the part with two new “made man” suits, including a vintage tux.
* Hardcover Art Book: Get to know the families of Empire Bay with a 100-page photo album-style art book that takes fans through the artistic design process of the game.
* Mafia II Orchestral Soundtrack: Immerse yourself in Empire Bay’s symphonic masterpiece with the Mafia II score recorded by the Prague FILMHarmonic Orchestra on CD.
* Map of Empire Bay: Get familiar with the neighborhoods and own the streets with a high quality, tear-resistant map depicting the 10 square miles of Empire Bay and all the hangout spots.
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But it did raise $10 from when I originally pre-ordered. They are similar and STEAM is a better deal probably, especially if you don't already own Mafia.
 
What does it mean that the map is tear resistant? Is it made out of plastic? Five years ago, it would have been unthinkable for me to have bought a game from Steam - I would have felt cheated for not getting a manual, a box, and a disc.

Today, it's the exact opposite. Today, I need a really good reason NOT to buy from Steam. The Fallout New Vegas Collector's edition is one such reason.

The Mafia 2 map looks cool, but it's not enough for me to delay my purchase of this game. If I buy from Steam then I'll be playing almost right away. If I buy the boxed copy... who knows when I'll get to play... a week later, if I'm lucky. Boxed copies are becoming rare where I live.

Seriously, this move to digital media is happening very rapidly. That said, I got my order in on the Mafia 2 gameguide. I sill like holding something physical in my hands. It just makes feel more connected to the game somehow. And I love books. Too many gamers equate gameguides with walkthroughs - but these books are much more than that; they're artifacts of the games themselves.
 
I like boxed copies and special/collectors/limited editions as much as just about every gamer does. I have kids. Kids DESTROY physical media. Steam/D2D/Impulse are great, no more searching around for discs to find out the kids thought it would be more fun to scratch them all to hell or break them. I even had a media cabinet with a lock. They destroyed that too. To reiterate: I <3 Steam.
 
Are all versions tied to Steam? Retail, D2D or other?

Also, are there any other Physx solutions that aren't going to draw as much power as a full fledged video card?
 
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