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Not the Sopranos, but not bad, either

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you prefer your organized-crime drama with a Godfather flavor, check out Mafia for PS2 and Xbox.

Despite being a nearly exact remake of a 2002 PC title, Mafia is a game you can't refuse.

Mafia begins in 1930 in a fictitious city that loosely resembles New York. The game traces the crime career of Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver turned hoodlum.

After a chance encounter in which he helps two associates of mob boss Don Salieri, Tommy returns to life as a hack. Fate intervenes, however, and he is forced to seek Salieri's protection. He learns his new trade quickly, and progresses from vandalizing cars to murder in record time.

Players need to do a lot of driving in Mafia, which is slightly reminiscent of the Grand Theft Auto games. Skill behind the wheel is crucial. Some missions require evasive moves, while in others it's important not to draw the attention of the police. A map included with the manual helps players find their way.

Mafia won't win any awards for graphics, and load times between levels are annoyingly long. Still, this is a compelling game for fans of shoot-'em-ups.

Analogy--nutrasweet:heroine; mafia;GTA

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you're like me, you may be considering taking a chance on this game while twiddling your game thumbs in anticipation of GTA San Andreas (and DTing from too many replays of III & Vice City). Take my advice...don't bother with the placebo here. I am not an impatient teenager, but from the getgo the load times on this thing make Max Payne 1 look like fast forward. If you're going to rip off a great thing like the GTA line, why mess with what works? True Crime, no great game in comparison to Vice City, is a masterpiece of open play and nonlinear storyline compared to Mafia. To be honest, I only played half of this game...because I got bored with a lack of variety, one-strategy mission completion, and uncooperative controls. If you're really fascinated with the whole Capone/thirties gangster thing, maybe you'll find something novel here, but as a lover of the Sopranos, it's just not worth the $50 price tag, or even the $6 rental fee.

Fun Game but it has its Flaws

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Alright, I waited for Mafia to come out on PS2 for months. I even had a count down. I didnt want to buy the computer version because once i buy a computer game i play it for about a week then it just collects dust on a shelf, with the exception of Call of Duty, but thats besides the point. I bought Mafia the saturday after it came out and popped it into my PS2 and expected to be blown away. I got my wish with the opening movie before the main screen and the opening to the game. Then i played the first mission. You need to drive two gangsters back to there headquarters. The driving is a little clunky feeling, but its okay because its supposed to feel that way, it is set in the 30's. I had fun with the first couple of driving missions. But when i got to the first actual shooting portion of the game i wanted to throw my controller out the window. Take the priest level for example. You just escaped a building you blew up and your all shot up from the guards in the building because there bullets NEVER miss. Even if i was hiding behind a wall it seems that a bullet can now pass through walls. Then it takes about 3-6 shots from one of ur guns to the heads of the guards to kill them. Unfair i think it is. But anyway, in the priest level, you have to run along roof tops with police shooting at you and about 3 shots will kill you. Unfair, yet again. But i still had fun with the game. Yes there are the incredibly cheap levels like the one i described but it does have its redeeming qualities. The Driving levels are a ball, and the way the police ticket you if you go over the speed limit or if you run a red light is a nice realistic touch. Then theres the story. Its straight from a gangster film, if not better. Being a huge fan of the Godfather the story alone was worth it. I really like this game, the shooting gets easier as it goes on because you get used to the physics. But go out and get this game. If your unsure its at least a strong rental.

Very Frustrating

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I thought this game was gonna be cool like gta, But it turned out it was a mistake even to rent it. The games aiming is way too stupid, the auto aim option doesn't work so when your trying to kill your enemies its too hard. If you try to aim yourself it takes so much time your pretty much dead by the time you find your target. This game is just too hard to be any fun, the game just got me all pissed off. I dont recommend this game to anyone, but if your dead set on it, at least rent it first.

repetitive and boring

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

i played this mafia game last year on p.c, and im lucky i didnt buy it man coz this game is terrible....its boring as hell. alot of missions require you to drive to the other side of the map, so yeah by the time u get there your already half asleep..then the dude tells you to drive back to where you came from damnit! your doing all this at a speed of i forgot 40mph or something which is the max coz of the police. i didnt even want to finish this game coz of all the driving man.....so, only buy this game if ur really bored as hell or u got alotta dough, but really i reccomend you dont coz it will put u to sleep. guaranteed. later!

Should've Been A Contender

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I liked this game. Yes, graphics were outdated, but I think that actually added to the quality of the game since it takes place in the 1930s. The realism of driving was a turn off at first due to slower moving vehicles, but you eventually get faster cars as you move up through the ranks of the mob. The load times are the worst I can remember in a game, especially when crossing a bridge. It also would've been nice if they didn't block all the roads that lead to the hospital so you could heal yourself. The worst thing you could do is have the game autosave and go into the next mission with less than adequate health.

Still, with these few gripes, I would give it 4 stars. I rarely give a game 5 stars without a "save anywhere" feature. Apparently, developers of video games don't seem to think that it's important enough to include this anymore. I actually liked the character development and cared about keeping him alive. The controls are easy and the AI level is perfect. I've played it twice and would highly recommend it.

I'd also recommend never buying "No One Lives Forever". They should put that flawed game on Fear Factor and make contestants try to play it for 15 minutes. I guarantee you no one could do it.

Unless you are VERY patient, don't get it

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: February 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a decent game (the only reason I gave it 2 stars). The story is great and it is a well developed game that goes along the lines of THE GETAWAY and GRAND THEFT AUTO III/VICE CITY. But the loading times are REDICULOUS!!!! They put missions on different parts of the city, knowing that you have a loading times across cities. Not only that, but the loading times are unbelivably long. It is a great game, but if you are not a very patient person, this game isn't for you. Take away the load times and this game is an easy 4 or 5 star game.

This is a cool F!"$&=) game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I mean you see the game the getaway, gta or any other games would not compare to this game,I mean gta is the best modern preview of mafia, but all you dudes out there this is gta`s grandad!It is reaaaaally cool recommended fully. see ya dudes

REALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYY COOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 9
Date: February 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Buy this game right now! It has goood features if you and if you dont like it just trade it in game store.

The game may rock on PC but it blows on PS2

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I don't think I've ever been as disappointed with a game I bought as I have been with this one.

I've played the game for a few hours now and already I'm ready to just pack it up and write it off as a loss of $50.

While the presentation of the story and the graphics (for the most part) are well done, there are just too many problems with the game design when it comes to combat that it greatly affects the ability to play the game.

Just a few of the glaring problems with this game:

1. The physical representation of Tommy (you) fades in and out of view constantly. One minute there you are, the next minute you've become the invisible man. The problem occurs without rhyme or reason but seems to be predominant whenever you are manuevering around corners and doorways.

It's disorienting to say the least and all too often it causes you to loose track of your position when trying to outmanuever enemies and results in taking damage or suffering a cheap death.

2. Damage is inconsistant at best - I'm sorry, but if I empty a full round of 6 bullets into a guy's head I expect him to fall over dead. I don't expect him to maintain full motor function, move to the side and then proceed to blow me away with just 3 shots when my health is at 100%.

3. Enemies are able to walk through solid substances as though they were ghosts. While sheltering behind a door I had one enemy just literally pass through the door with gun blazing. Pass through as in the door was closed and the enemy walked right through the "solid" wood. Pretty cool trick but I thought this game took place in 1930 and I don't think particle matter displacement existed in those days.

4. Enemies never miss. I don't want enemies that can't hit me standing still but if I'm dodging around or crouching behind a box, I expect a bullet or two fired from a revolver to miss hitting me from time to time. There's a difference between good enemy AI and just plain sadistic AI and this game doesn't make the differentiation.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. It's rare that I basically just say "screw it" on a game as I can generally find some enjoyment regardless. But the flaws in the PS2 version put you at such a disadvantage in combat situations that it's better to walk away and save your money on something else.

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