The anticipation was once again the greatest joy.

Because it is so now. The long and eagerly awaited sequel to one of Meilenstien game history.
Such successor have always been difficult, because very good even better is a difficult and often impossible task.
But since C2K now even have decided to try it, they must also live with the opinions that this attempt triggers.
So what is Mafia II? A worthy successor? A cheap copy? A failed resuscitation? The better Mafia?
None of that.
There is a quite good game, if you can not bring with Mafia I connected because the fascination, the vibrancy, the atmosphere, the density reached Speielwelt Mafia II at almost any time.
The graphics are certainly beautiful to look at, only that in this day and age no absolute unique selling more. Many games look good.
A game lives with fortschreitendendem course ever less of the Graifk but increasingly of the story and how much they are the player the ability to empathize and settle in this story.
That's not particularly successful in this case. The figures are simplistic characters which make (me) at no time an identification possible. The protagonist Vito is a sallow, uncharismatischer "Yes" -Sager takes over the lead in the game at any time, but rather introduces Sidekick existence until the end. His sidekick is the prototype of the typical "Mafia Spacken" which has become forever by Joe Pesci to meat. A bit of stupid, unpredictable Hedonist, a braggart first cabin. Eigenltich a Unsympath, but the game forces you literally just these "Hirni" to accept as a supporting character, because the protagonist is simply too pale.
Why is all this ever so important? Well, Mafia II wants to convince, according to the developer through a story and less by especially pyromanes Geballer. But the story is certainly a weak point.
And the rest. Well, well. During the game you win more and more the feeling that one attends a mediocre Mafia B-movie and in between times press a few buttons need so it goes on. "Go to A and press twice" E "and then moving back to" B "" re around 15 minutes .....
Such moments come in the game quite. If you skip the cut-scenes you realize how few and far between their own actions actually are.
Mafia II gives the player not have the opportunity in a world of '40s and' immerse 50 and to experience there in the role of Vito, but it takes the player as an ox by the nose and drags him through a story, whether it is now like or not.
Tricky situations, special missions, small Side-Missions, commuter train ride, taxi to earn money, all the non-existent. Driving, driving, driving, little shoot, now and at times little boxes and driving ... That's it. For this you get a half-baked story added a great look that still leaves one at the end to make matters worse rather perplexed.

If the "film" at the end it's the game also. No ability to move freely in the world and just taking the so lovingly crafted world inspected. Only the respective chapter can be loaded again. But with the experience gained and the gadgets that you have acquired by the end of the game can no longer move in Empire City is located. Outrageous.

There are some areas in Empire City that were not considered at all by the history, the probability is high that you want to provide new impetus in the future with DLCs. Only if that succeeds, I doubt at the moment. Wait, I'm not sure it.

So what remains?
Disappointment over a wayward followers, a few hours of gameplay, which is, however, marred repeatedly by the fact that here Mafia II plays and not some nameless Daddel game.

I would have liked to have written a euphoric critique that are teeming with superlatives, but that is simply not the successor ago.
Mediocrity is a Mafia successor simply not worthy of respect, and earned three stars for me personally feel like one or not ... what is more than a pity.