Games: Mafia II

Many gamers have predicted that Mafia II will be the next big open world crime game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto IV. However, this is a sequel that focuses on refinement and immersion, rather than several months' worth of gameplay. The tale of Vito Scaletta, a poor migrant war veteran settling down in Empire City, is engrossing from start to finish and, had the game been too big, developer 2K Czech would have failed to hold the player's attention so expertly for the duration.

Instead you can expect ten to 12 hours of gameplay as you rise up the ranks of the Mafia elite, getting your hands dirty through the 1940s and into the 1950s. As a period piece, this is the most organic representation of war-fatigued America in a game to date. Vito's rise to prominence starts off small, tasking players with stealing fuel ration stamps and scaring dockworkers for protection money.

Missions commonly get out of hand once the police or rival gangs arrive on the scene. Firearms combat uses a cover shooter system and works perfectly, bolstered by organic scenery. As enemies let rip with Tommy guns, stone pillars crumble, wood splinters to pieces and glass shatters. Aesthetically gripping, the production values are exemplary here.

While Mafia II may not have the sheer scale of its open world peers, the tight mission design and lovingly crafted Empire City make this a must-have.

This article first appeared in The Scotsman, Saturday September 11, 2010