Mafia II: Definitive Edition (2020): The Review
Overview
Mafia II: Definitive Edition brings the gritty 1940s–50s criminal underworld back into the spotlight with enhanced visuals and a timeless story of loyalty, betrayal, and ambition. While the remaster updates textures, lighting, and character models, it also revives many of the original’s flaws. The core experience remains compelling—especially for fans of cinematic storytelling—but dated gameplay systems and a lack of meaningful open-world interactivity limit its staying power.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
The Positives ✅
Mafia 2 tells a classic rise-and-fall mob story with a cast and script that still hit the mark. Vito Scaletta is immediately likeable, and his dynamic with Joe, equal parts camaraderie and chaos, pulls you into a world that’s morally gray but fascinating. Even if the story follows familiar gangster beats, the voice acting and period-accurate dialogue give it a sense of authenticity that sets it apart from generic mob tales. Moments like window-cleaner disguises or high-stakes robberies add fun, character-driven flourishes that make the narrative feel personal rather than just another crime story.
The city of Empire Bay shines in the Definitive Edition, showing significant visual improvements without losing its original charm. New lighting and more detailed storefronts make the streets feel alive, while pedestrians add a sense of everyday bustle that brings the 1940s–1950s metropolis to life. Even small touches, like reflections in car windows or the way vehicles move through streets, make traversing the city more immersive. It’s subtle, but it elevates every chase, shootout, and casual drive, making the city feel like a living, breathing character in its own right.
Gameplay itself remains solid and entertaining. Shooting feels satisfying and each weapon has its own personality, whether you’re swinging a handgun or unloading a Tommy Gun. Set pieces are thrilling, with car chases, firefights, and destructible scenery providing plenty of cinematic tension. Every mission feels like a mini drama episode, delivering bursts of intensity that keep the story moving. The included expansion packs, especially Joe’s Adventures, add worthwhile content for those looking to dive deeper into Vito’s world, fleshing out the supporting cast without undermining the core narrative.
The Negatives ⚠️
Despite its improvements, Mafia 2 still shows its age in character animation and cutscenes. While faces look more lifelike thanks to updated textures and lighting, movements like hugs, punches, or other interactions can feel stiff or unnatural, breaking immersion in key emotional moments. Dialogue can also feel a little overstuffed with mob slang, and while the performances largely save it, some lines teeter on the edge of sounding forced.
Gameplay quirks are also noticeable. The cover system, though functional, can feel jarring when trying to exit cover, and shooting, while solid, lacks the visceral feedback modern players might expect. Vehicle handling isn’t perfect either; cars have that slightly dated, weighty feel, making some chases trickier than they should be. Additionally, Empire Bay, despite looking more alive, offers limited side content, leaving the streets feeling less interactive than contemporary open-world games.
Some of the expansion content can feel tonally off. The more arcade-style missions in The Betrayal of Jimmy and Jimmy’s Vendetta don’t quite mesh with the grounded, narrative-driven main story. They’re fun in isolation but disrupt the pacing and emotional tone of Vito’s journey if played immediately after the main campaign. Players returning for nostalgia might find little reason to replay the game beyond the story itself, as the core mechanics haven’t aged into modern conventions.
The Experience 🎮
Playing Mafia 2 today is a mix of nostalgia and still-potent storytelling. Even if you know what’s coming, the main campaign has an emotional pull that’s hard to shake, culminating in a gut-punch of an ending that lingers. Driving through Empire Bay, engaging in tense firefights, and navigating cinematic set pieces still feels cinematic, making the decade-old game surprisingly compelling. The city’s streets, with their subtle touches and improvements, reward exploration and add texture to every mission, even if there aren’t many side distractions.
The game’s pacing keeps the story moving without dragging. Missions flow like episodes in a tightly written crime drama, and expansions like Joe’s Adventures enhance the experience by adding perspective on familiar events. The highs of heists and car chases balance the lows of moral compromise and personal loss, creating a rhythm that mirrors Vito’s own journey from soldier to gangster.
Ultimately, Mafia 2’s Definitive Edition is a love letter to its own era. It’s not trying to compete with modern open-world epics, but what it does, it does remarkably well: character-driven storytelling, tightly paced missions, and a cityscape that’s as atmospheric as it is authentic. Even with minor flaws, revisiting Vito’s story is a reminder of why the original captured so many hearts, and why it still holds up as a memorable crime saga today.
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