If you took a look at the score up there, you already know that I was not as hot on Mafia II as FenixDown. That's not saying that Mafia II is bad by any means. In fact, it is better than many other games that came out this year.

An average score for a mediocre game. Mafia 2 is a step backward for this franchise, failing to innovate or learn from the mistakes of the original. A nice setting and potentially interesting story is wasted by a lack of creativity and polish.

Mafia II is indeed a wonderful product of history and creativity on the part of 2K Czech and 2K Games. The game provides a riveting narrative that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Thinking of picking up Mafia II If so, you're no doubt torn by all the reviews you may have seen thus far. Some love it and some hate it. Today, we're going to bring you our humble opinion with hopes that it will be the one that pushes you over the edge to a definitive decision.

Mafia II is a lot like its theme song, at first you feel lucky to be playing, but it soon becomes a kick in the head. It's not that Mafia II is a bad game, but it shows you glimpses of how great it could have been without ever achieving that success.

It's now been eight years since the release of the first Mafia, a game hailed by critics for being a serious crime drama rather than a romp of immature delinquency as seen in the over-the-top antics of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

I played the original Mafia when it was ported to the Xbox. I found the game to interesting, even enticing. But I also found that the game had flaws. I loved the time period, just after the turn of the century. I found the driving to be, well, quaint.

I'm not sure if it's catharsis or merely 'Saying Something'. It seems that for every game I appreciate that involves an out-and-out Good Guy protagonist-a morally-upstanding freedom fighter, heroic can-do plumber, or other well-meaning do-gooder fighting The System-there are at least three more...

Superb writing and dramatic presentation; Unflinching; mature; no-bullshit narrative; To everything; there is a season; Great soundscape and authentic soundtrack; Gripping; destructible-environment baddies; Hidden Playboy centerfolds

Instances of empty-calories gameplay; Occasional hiccups and glitches

Mafia II is an epic adventure with a story that rivals some of the best mobster movies. Players are brought in to Vito Scaletta's rise in the family ranks through an engaging narrative, intense action sequences, and a well-crafted vintage city setting.

The remarkable thing about Mafia II is not that it's bad, but that it masks its awfulness so well. The game opens with striking visuals: the backdrop of Empire Bay (Mafia's stand-in for New York City) is packed with World War II-era details, and the characters are authentic-looking, with a veneer of...