Release: August 2010 

Developer: 2K Czech

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

With the current hype surrounding the release of Mafia III, we thought it would be better to take a walk down memory lane to revisit its predecessor, the beautiful Mafia II.



During its release, Mafia II was already one of the most hyped games of the year. With the masterpiece that Mafia was, gamers were excited for it. And they were not disappointed. 2K's promises to fans were well-kept. 

From the onset, Mafia II had features that made it stand out. The graphics for its time was amazing and has dated well with time. With the music in-game consisting of tracks from the 1940s till the early 50s and licensed cars from the era being used, the game manages to do justice to its timeline period. The gameplay mechanics make it insanely fun. The cover system is one such feature that can be utilised to perfection in situations. The pick-locking mini game is an interesting addition to the game which makes it possible for players to either break open a glass or pick lock it when stealing a car, for example.

But Mafia II's best feature is easily its story. The tale of Vito Scaletta (who was also in Mafia III!) is a beautifully told story of vengeance and redemption. His journey with his best friend Joe Barbaro as they climb up the Italian Mob is scintillating and the climax itself is worthy enough to make gamers crave for a third outing in the series. Don't worry, we will not spoil the story because this is one such story that you need to play by yourself to unravel.

With Mafia III releasing pretty soon, it would be nice if Mafia II gets re-mastered so that previous gamers can enjoy this classic and those who could not play it then, can enjoy it with updated graphics.

Fardeen Zareef is sarcastic in spirit. In his free time, he quotes Chandler Bing, fights with carbohydrates and tries to understand Vape Nation. He is also a passionate Manchester United fan who loves to game. You can e-mail him at [email protected]