A very good game, but not the hoped-for top Pops

In my eyes Mafia does not have to make the comparison with GTA. Mafia 2 is not a sandbox game, but extremely linear in a freely navigable city. But Mafua disappointed even under this premise 2, if you hold the predecessor by and asks: Where is the progress?

But first the undeniable highlights of the game: soundtrack and story can actually nothing to be desired. Incidentally, I also find the game time of 12-15 hours (if not by latching) appropriately. (1 Mafia had about 20 chapters, Mafia 2, only 15 of which but a few are oblong.)

But now times to the weak points:
Probably influenced by GTA is now has the opportunity to buy clothes. Toll. But they are so cheap that you have the closet fills up quickly, but in the course of action his belongings you lose anyway (except the bonus content that you never lose, huh?), So what the heck. Pointless feature.
Where there is still a large garage including a mechanic gave in Part 1, where one has stopped all the cars visible, that does not give the action here this time, instead a garage with a parking space where you can park 10 cars. On top of that, it is in the game even care if you park a car in the garage or at buddy Joe, you have access from anywhere to all cars. Is not realistic, but easy to get over. Not to get over is the fact that one of his favorite cars rather be in increasing gameplay in the garage, because at the beginning of a mission never know whether you, also comes back to the car with which you drive off. That happened to me once that I take my new souped-up from hard-earned money Limo and then lose again during the next mission, because I'm technically gewzungen action to switch into another car. Annoying.
Painfully earn money: This is only true until you know that it is easy to make as much money at the scrap dealer, all clothes and car upgrades to buy for its fleet. Thus the attacks on petrol stations, fashion shops and food stalls are completely superfluous, because they are not nearly as profitable and on top of that can always end times in skirmishes with the police. But that holds only and provides no real fun.
That the little things, now the great annoyance: The city. Lost Heaven is eight years old, but I have no less beautiful memories. Where is the progress? Empire Bay City to be twice as large? I have not felt. After playing through Mafia 1 (and GTA IV) one has the feeling of having seen all corners of the city, every corner has its raison d'être in Mission course, nothing was missed. Not so with Mafia 2. The city is not nice at all structured options were given. The elevated railway is indeed structurally there, but because nothing moves. There are subway entrances, but in front of closed doors. And overland trips are not possible. In Mafia 1 was still the scene of a pretty mission with chase. Empire Bay City is not nice, not busy, not full with cars than Lost Heaven. Instead, this 7 million-inhabitant city feels like a county seat. No opulent port, no opulent station (just a large building, not even in a mission available), no airport.

Gameplay: 12 of 15 chapters long, it is the pure grouse-shooting. Opponents hit well, the protagonist is realistic fast to the ground (so far so good), but once you get that you always have to stay in cover and the opponents always eventually get hold of the head, it is predictable and boring. That's not so bad because the car-Aiming not as a self-perpetuating, as with GTA. Too bad that the difficulty in the last three chapters (from the shoot-in port building) incredibly attracting. There is then no more fun, while keeping with the Playstation controller the protagonists in motion and also to target the onrushing opponents. Coronation of unfairness then the comrades in the finals, which run with machine guns on a while you can look no more cover themselves because they simply is not there. (However, the last two-thirds of the finale reminiscent of setting forth to the final of the first part and make you feel good.) All in all, the harbor buildings and the exterior of the planetarium (where the final plays), the two places where exactly one was missing savepoint. These qualities are again distributed only sparingly, but to a tension keeps up, on the other hand also heals the Mafia protagonist now in a brief stay independent.
If one remembers, so also offered 1 Mafia not many big shootouts, which is similar in Mafia 2, only this time remains from the 'wow' factor. (Except maybe in the final) Now, eight years ago, it was certainly easier to take care of open mouths. (For example, I played the shooting in the garage again and again ...)

Note to parents: Mafia 2 teeming with naked breasts, head shots and brutal violence. No game for kids. Just as it says on the package. Whether it was nevertheless necessary to fill the game with Playmates, I doubt it. The brilliant first part came from without.

Graphics: Mafia 2 is my first PS3 game, in which I have flirted with the PC version. I manage fear. Considering that GTA IV over two years old, so is Mafia 2 because no progress. So do the graphics Burner like Uncharted. Maybe the PS3 already comes but in the year. Or here just development time was sleepy.

Incidentally, even the Mafia series has now arrived on the commercial train. DLC has been announced, the end screaming for continuation (whether now is DLC or Part 3 degrees less clear), this affects this part somehow unfinished. Too bad. Interestingly, there is a junkyard-Typoen and port types in which the impression is given, you can execute secondary tasks for money there. Ended up being not so, but certainly get more for expensive money as DLC. And, although Mafia 2 has been postponed several times.

Bugs: Mafia 2 is with me despite Patch 1:01 (on launch!) Stuck times in the course of playing through 4 (There was only one restart the PS3), also there was an annoying bug in the 14th chapter (not arrived in Bar Mona Lisa , googling tells me as I was not the only one), which forced me to play the whole (14 at said location bracket heavy) chapter from the beginning. This must to the long development time to catch his.

Ultimately I admit nevertheless 4 stars, story and atmosphere pull the game easy high. But it would not be "mafia" but any other action game, it would have become only 3.
Conclusion: Mafia 2 looks like an incredibly ambitious but somehow also incredibly wrong Gone IT project that was but at least there yet rescued that it was a very entertaining and nice to looking (but not for open mouths sorgendes) Gangster game was. Was apparently made big plans then but a rather simple knitted game. Clearly, the expectations raised can not be met.