Mafia II -Demo released

[Seeadler]

Mafia II Demo can be downloaded on Steam

[ajrimmer42]

omg awesomez!!! I was watching a trailer for this only yesterday, been following it for a while, looks great.

[Lionclaw]

Good performance on my computer, that's good. :D

I've looked forward to this game for some time. Going to wait for reviews just in case. :)

[Gato76]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7YNFFqgB0 the first mafia was an incredible game,i could be wrong but i think this game was made by the same team who did Hidden and dangerous 2,another awesome game.Mafia 2 will be released the 24 of this month i can't wait :yeah:

[Arclight]

Runs great, but the graphics don't really score above console quality. Textures could have been a bit clearer for example.

Love the music, city looks nice. Lot of life on the streets. Bought a cup of coffee for $0.07; those were the days. :yeah:

[Spike88]

There are a lot of people complaining that the 360 version and the especially the Ps3 version are suffering from frame rate issues.

As I do not have a Gold Membership, and the demo is not yet out on the American PSN store, I can not confirm if these hold true.

I will download the PC demo a little later today to see how well my computer can handle it.

[Arclight]

Should run it like a champ. :hmmm:

Got over 50 fps on average with 8800GTS512, ingame settings maxed and 1280x960, APEX Physx off.

Dropped to over 30 fps on average with the APEX Physx on medium. Less than optimal but perfectly playable. Setting APEX to high lowered the average to 29.6; minimal impact.

For Mafia II, 2K Games has partnered with computer hardware manufacturer Nvidia to be the first PC game to integrate APEX, a new graphical framework that incorporates the company's PhysX physics modeling engine to create realistic-looking object movement and interactions in-game. (To clarify, both the PC and console versions of the game will be supported by PhysX, but only the PC version will have APEX.) Specifically, the PC version of Mafia II will take advantage of two different aspects of APEX technology. The first, the "clothing module," will realistically model flowing clothes on what are designated as "primary characters." In the case of Mafia II, this means Vito (the protagonist) and any other characters that happen to be up close to him will benefit from this module. The APEX clothing module realistically makes trench coats flap in the wind and sway while characters walk or run.

The second APEX module, the "destruction module," models realistic damage and deformation on exploding objects, as well as the concussive force of a powerful explosion with an "invisible force field" that realistically sends any sufficiently light objects (or characters) flying. We watched a demonstration of this in action with an exploding car, which smashed nearby crates to bits and sent their splinters--and a nearby mobster--hurtling through the air.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/mafia2/news.html?sid=6263165&mode=previews

They (2K) recommend having a dedicated Physx card when using APEX, or at least a GTX275 or better for single card set-up.

Should note I have 4GB RAM and 3.4GHz Core2 quad backing the card.

[Spike88]

Well, I played the Ps3 version and hardly had any problems with it. Will most likely get the Steam version and see how they compare. Have to say I love the little touches.

Here's just a few of those little touches:


Shooting the door handle of a locked car unlocks the door
Driving down a dirt road actually covers your car in dirt.(Who woulda thunk it)
If you kill a shop owner, leave the area and come back the doors will be covered in yellow tape. If you go inside the merchandise will be missing and the lights will be out.
If you get into a fist fight and the cops show up, they'll talk to both of you and tell you to quit.
You can turn off the lights, turn on the shower, flush the toilet, change the radio station, and get food and drinks out of the fridge in your house.
The police may mistantkly arrest other people for crimes you commit.

[eddie]

Played through a little bit of this demo, and like what I've seen so far! But, have been burned enough by jumping too fast and buying software, so will wait to see how the reviews go,once it is out.

[Egan]

Is the PC demo only available via Steam?

[ajrimmer42]

I believe so.

I'm loving it though, can't wait for the full game :rock:

[Egan]

I believe so.
:

Oh well.

[Spike88]

The main game will also require you to run steam, just a heads up. Although it's a lot better than Games for Windows Live.

[Zachstar]

It will be a buy for me! Even tho I wont have the Nvidia bullcrap the game is still very fun without it.

[Arclight]

The main game will also require you to run steam, just a heads up. Although it's a lot better than Games for Windows Live.
Muuuuuuuuuuch better. :dead:

Pretty much killed my interest in GTA4.

[Dowly]

Ooo... the game got nekkid girl piccies! :rock:

[Egan]

The main game will also require you to run steam, just a heads up. Although it's a lot better than Games for Windows Live.

Thanks for the heads up, Spike. I think I'm probably the last person on earth to not have Steam. No real problem with it - I simply can't be arsed with stuff like this anymore.

the game looks lovely.

[Spike88]

Thanks for the heads up, Spike. I think I'm probably the last person on earth to not have Steam. No real problem with it - I simply can't be arsed with stuff like this anymore.

the game looks lovely.


Steam isn't that bad. It's pretty simple to set up and use. And you can even run it in offline mode.

[Dowly]

One cool thing I noticed was that when I robbed the gas station nearest to the starting point and returned there shortly after the owner got all titties up yelling to get the hell out and that he had called the cops. So, I left and some time after went in again and there was two cops standing inside the booth as if to wait and see if I show up again.

Cool. :yep:

[stabiz]

Anyone know if there is a way to get rid of the wanted status?

[Arclight]

Read somewhere you can use phone to call cops and bribe them. :hmmm:

[Egan]

Steam isn't that bad. It's pretty simple to set up and use. And you can even run it in offline mode.

I know, but it's more that I have to set it up and use it at all that I object to. I was happy enough when the only prerequisite was paying for the game - now we're increasingly expected to install, register with and use third party software before we can even run it.

hey, I know i'm going all king Canute with this one, but as my interest in non "niche" games has dropped off, so has my tolerance for things like Steam.

[ReFaN]

im so looking forward to this, been exploring for about 3 hours, its gorgeous!

[Spike88]

I know, but it's more that I have to set it up and use it at all that I object to. I was happy enough when the only prerequisite was paying for the game - now we're increasingly expected to install, register with and use third party software before we can even run it.

hey, I know i'm going all king Canute with this one, but as my interest in non "niche" games has dropped off, so has my tolerance for things like Steam.


I understand where you are coming from. Although once you register steam works the first time, you just have to log in for any new software.
The only reason I got into steam was just because it was required for Half Life 2(back when Steam was only for 1st party valve games.)

But as the days go by it's going to be harder and harder to get games without getting Steamworks or some other 3rd party program. The one thing I do love about steam, is that if I buy a game on disk and it requires steamworks, if I break or lose that disk after registering it to my steam account I can always redownload the game. And it's not like other DRM that limit how many times you can install a game.

Anyone know if there is a way to get rid of the wanted status?

Depends on which wanted status you have.

If you just have 1 star you can either pay the ticket or just make the officers lose line of sight.

If you have 2 stars you can either surrender and bribe the officer, or lose line of sight.

If it's 3 or 4 stars you have to lose line of sight or the officers will kill you.

If there is a license plate it means they are looking for your car tag. This can be removed by changing your license plate at the car shop, getting a new car altogether, bribing the next officer you see(which is impossible if you have 3 or more stars as they'll try to gun you down) or finding the nearest phone(payphone, the one in your house, any you find in stores) and bribing the officers over the phone.

If it's a wanted poster, you have to either change your clothes by buying new ones at a store, or changing them at your house, paying off the next officer you see(impossible if you have 3 or more stars), or bribing the police through the phone.

[stabiz]

Thanks!

[Lionclaw]

Walked up to a police car and tried to steal it.

Police Radio: "Possible grand theft auto!"

Really?! :D:O:


Police doesn't seem to react to abandoned stolen vehicles, they just drive on.

They do however react to crashes. I was wanted and I had managed to shake them off, took a vehicle and accidentaly crashed into a vehice. And that got their attention and I was being chased again. :DL

[Dowly]

I hope they get rid of the psy-cops. I killed half a dozen civvies from a concealed position and never was caught. I did the same to a cop from the same spot and BANG, wanted. :nope:

[Chad]

I was a huge fan of the first one, in fact I still have the poster hanging up that was in the first Mafia's box, on my wall. I already have this 100% paid and pre-ordered and will be at GameStop at 11:50pm waiting for midnight release.

Played the demo on the PS3 and I don't have any problems that others are reporting. I'm good to go! :D

[nikimcbee]

I loved the original. I bought a driving wheel for the original game.:woot:

[Spike88]

I was a huge fan of the first one, in fact I still have the poster hanging up that was in the first Mafia's box, on my wall. I already have this 100% paid and pre-ordered and will be at GameStop at 11:50pm waiting for midnight release.

Played the demo on the PS3 and I don't have any problems that others are reporting. I'm good to go! :D

The main issue is that the 360 and PC versions have pools of blood when you kill someone, 3D grass texture, and motion blur. It's kind of crappy when they left these out of the ps3 version. Although I have the Collectors edition preordered none the less. :haha:

[Chad]

That's what is missing, blood!

Oh well, not a big thing for me. When I was younger, I use to get sick to my stomach after playing some first person shooters after awhile with all the killing and blood. While it doesn't effect me as much now, I don't miss that feeling one bit :smug:

[TteFAboB]

I hope they get rid of the psy-cops.

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/6886/070416psyduck.jpg?

[Spike88]

That's what is missing, blood!

Oh well, not a big thing for me. When I was younger, I use to get sick to my stomach after playing some first person shooters after awhile with all the killing and blood. While it doesn't effect me as much now, I don't miss that feeling one bit :smug:


Blood never bothered me when I was younger. Even in the extreme of Half Life 1 and Quake where people turn to gibbs. It still does not bother me today, unless it is real.

[Arclight]

Seems there's more missing than blood; Mafia II Review: Smelling The Roses In A Life Lived Too Fast (http://kotaku.com/5619291/mafia-ii-review-smelling-the-roses-in-a-life-lived-too-fast)

[Lionclaw]

Oh well, might get it when it hits the bargain bin... :nope:

[Spike88]

Well, time to go cancel my fully paid off preorder. And wait until this comes in cheaper.

[Chad]

I'm still planning to pick my copy up straight up @ 9:00am tomorrow morning.

I'll let you guys know what I think :O:

[Spike88]

I got Alan Wake instead, and then put the rest of my money towards GT5 CE.

I'll pick this up when Steam has it for sale at some point.

[Chad]

For your 360 or PS3?

I'd love to play Wake on the PS3.

[Spike88]

For your 360 or PS3?

I'd love to play Wake on the PS3.


360. I have to get some use out of it. :haha:

When you get it, tell us if it was worth the current price tag. In my opinion 2k Czech dropped the ball. I still have faith in Bioshock Infinity, and Xcom though.

[Dowly]

Mafia 2 drags way behind what Mafia 1 was. Shame. :nope:

[Arclight]

Here's to hoping they just cut half the content so they can release it as DLC. :yeah:

:shifty:

[Spike88]

Here's to hoping they just cut half the content so they can release it as DLC. :yeah:

:shifty:


Melee weapons are in the demo if you use a lua script. They don't have proper animations or scripts but their there.

[Arclight]

Heh, complaining about the full game mate. :O:


I know they have at least 1 DLC lined up, but I hope that that is not the reason the game is so bloody short. :-?

[Dowly]

I wouldn't mind the shortness if the story was good, which it really isn't. It's very predictable and goes pretty much like Mafia 1.

M2 is the kind of sequel that is made to milk the success of the first game, not the kind that tries to top it.

EDIT:

Here's few things that tick me off in it.

Story is pretty vague and predictable as I mentioned already. Also, you don't get the sense of achievement as you did in Mafia 1.

Cops are idiots, you can smash lampposts and stuff right under they eyes and drift and all that, they don't mind. Also, here's an example from one mission: Two cars were chasing me with guys shooting my car with tommy guns and what not, I drove past police car, he didn't react. I slowed a bit and one of the chasing cars hit me, this got the cop's attention, but just because he wanted to arrest me for damaging another vehicle.

The next one shows how lazy they devs were. There's this redhead chick you see throughout the game in various cutscenes, do me a favor and see how many 'clones' of her you see while driving around the city. I managed to see atleast dozen of her in 100m while driving around.

The collectables (playboys in this case) are hidden IN the missions, not in the city like any sane dev would do.

Gameplay is good, I give them that and it looks pretty.

But, like I said, just an attempt to milk the success of Mafia 1.

EDIT2:





******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOIL ER******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOILER******








They even got the balls to have you and your mobster friend be the ones who kill Tommy Angelo in the end of Mafia 1. :nope:




******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOIL ER******SPOILER******SPOILER******SPOILER******

[Chad]

****BIG SPOILERS****




Actually Dowly, that spoiler MADE the game for me.

Resources must have been limited because yes I agree, I saw the same male model 4x in one block.

In traditional sense as Mafia movies and themes go, the whole "going to war" thing was confusing. Back and forth, and forth to go back of who was fighting who and why, while also trying to remember who you were fighting for (what gang) and why.

I knew right away after getting out of prison that Joe and Vito were the ones going to kill Tommy Angelo. What was really good was they used the same voice actor, or at least sound clip from Mafia when he asks, "Yes?". That was big thumbs up for me! :up:

While I agree that Mafia 2 wasn't as up to par as Mafia 1 was, M2 reminded me why Mafia 1 was my favorite game for 7-8 years up until this year infact, when Red Dead Redemption (new favorite) came out and I played through that.

I don't believe Mafia's run is up though. Either through DLC (Which I hope there will be more of, I enjoyed Tommy's Revenge or whatever DLC came out on Day 1 with Mafia 2) or Mafia 3.

Overall, it is worth a playthrough and possible ownership, but not for $60. Glad I got it as a late birthday present, but it will stay in my collection right next to both copies of Mafia 1 I have.

[Dowly]

Fair enough, to each to his own. :salute:

The scene that was my favorite was the one where Joe and that other fella started to sing that Dean Martin's song drunk as heck. Liked the atmosphere on that one, driving on an dimly lit street, looking at the stars and listening the two have a good time was pretty nice. ;)

[Spike88]

Heh, complaining about the full game mate. :O:


I know they have at least 1 DLC lined up, but I hope that that is not the reason the game is so bloody short. :-?

I'm pretty sure if they're in the demo, you can use the same LUA script to get them. Unless they patched them out.

[mr chris]

Just purchased the PC Version.

[Arclight]

Got it but haven't played it yet. :lol:

[mr chris]

Just installing it now. Forgot it was out so went to town and got it with the money i was going to use to take the wife out for a meal. Now im in the dog house.:oops:

[Arclight]

:haha:

As long as there's a power outlet in there, you're good to go. :O:

[Arclight]

Wot I Think: Mafia II (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/28/wot-i-think-mafia-ii/)

Not too positive again. :-?

[Chad]

Comparing M2 to say GTA4 is an unfair comparison. Mafia 2 is a lot more story driven, and keeps the pace up, where as driving clear across 2, or 3 islands in some GTA are just plain fillers to fill-up "playing" time.

[Dowly]

Comparing M2 to say GTA4 is an unfair comparison. Mafia 2 is a lot more story driven, and keeps the pace up, where as driving clear across 2, or 3 islands in some GTA are just plain fillers to fill-up "playing" time.

And story is what is the problem with Mafia 2. Mafia 1 had an excellent story with Tommy remembering his days in the "family", Mafia 2's story is just go there get ambushed and get out, there' no depth to it at all. I'm in chapter 14 (I believe there's 15 chapters) and the story is still very vague. If Joe dies in C15, I don't care, because I don't know anything about him! The whole city, including Vito's mom and sister can die a horrible death and I don't care, because there is no reason I should.

Story is what made M1 awesome game and it's the story that makes M2 an mediocre game.

Gameplay 9-10, story, 4-5.

[ReFaN]

Loved the Cigarette selling part.

Im back to The sims 2 for the moment =P

[Arclight]

The hell kinda ending is that?! :o

I was like "Oh hell no, I's gonna saves ma buddy" and the game's like "nuhuh, you're done". :-?


Nice game, bit light on content; such a nice city but nothing to do. And it feels like the story is just suddenly cut off, rather than finished.

[stabiz]

Yep, the game is a big meh. I see what they were trying to do, though.

[Arclight]

I really hope they flesh it out with DLC. What I'm not happy about is that it will cost more money. They really need to pull a Dragon Age/Mass Effect/Conviction and offer more content for original owners.

At this point, I'd say wait for a price-drop (30 seems fair for PC) or get the "gold" version later with all extra content bundled.

[Dowly]

Whaa? You finished it already? Goddammit... I'm still in Chapter 14. :O:

[Arclight]

Really? I would have thought those playmates would be plenty of motivation for you. :hmmm:

[Dowly]

Well, I'm getting a bit carried away in it as I'm $500 or so short of the 27k I need, so I just go around robbing places, then I get into trouble and get shot and ragequit. :nope:

[Arclight]

Just crush cars. Over $400 at a time and there's a free one parked next to it every time you get there. Just a 1 minute walk to find others.

[Dowly]

I don't want to crush cars. I want to rob things. :yep:

[Arclight]

I assume you murder everything inside? You know that's not strictly nescesary, right? :lol:

Point the gun, grab the cash, leg it. Worked a treat for the few robberies I did. :yep:

[Dowly]

I assume you murder everything inside? You know that's not strictly nescesary, right? :lol:

It is. There's so many bastards in the stores that usually pull a gun at you, so I just shoot them all. You know, to make sure and stuff. :O:

Besides, all I rob is clothing stores (pay nicely), kill everyone, kill cops if they show up and the steal me new clothes. Of course, sometimes I don't take the clothes as I want to run the cops, but that's usually when I die.

Ow btw, did you find a single wanted poster throughout the game? :DL

[Arclight]

No, no I didn't. :lol:

Only found 5 or 6 playmates too. Actually itching to play through on hard again, but think I'll wait for my 460 to arrive (Wednesday :woot:) and crank the PhysX to high as well.

[Dowly]

Think the hard one has pin-up calenders too, no idea how they look like tho. :hmmm:

[Arclight]

Ha, you're right. Didn't even know there's more collectables on hard. I'm not exactly an achievement hunter, but it does add to motivation to go through it again. :)

[Spike88]

Just borrowed the 360 version from my brother.

[mikeydredd]

Finished after about 20 hrs or so - and that was only because I did a lot of lurking around and un-necessarilly long driving.

A very poor ending - obviously leaving the way open for DLC or a sequal.

Personally I liked the driving but like others found the cops behaviour inexplicable. I tended to gun them down just for the hell of it and put up with the consequences.

To sum up - just as Read Dead Redemption gave you more, much more than you expected, Mafia II gives you less, a lot less.

A missed opportunity and a real shame. Wait till the price comes down.

Certainly not worth the forty odd quid for the console version.

I did find one wanted poster, up a crane in the dock area as I remember.

Replaying on hard just to see the centrefolds. How sad!

Regards

Mike

[Arclight]

Actually, I came to terms with the ending. Fits the theme of the story perfectly, just didn't get it at first. It's just so unlike other games, it's not what you expect, so it just feels wrong.

[Spike88]

I'm currently on the last mission of the game. And I have to say I'm highly disappointed. For one the game is unfair as hell. And I'm not talking in good way.

The part with Derek and the Molotov's was a pain in the ass. I almost rage quitted.

I've had several enemies kill me through perfectly good cover.

Enemies have hit me after I had ducked back into cover.

Hell I had one guy who was stumbling after I had shot him and wasn't even facing me who shot me and killed me. :nope:

At one point the game glitched and the AI was unable to open doors so they'd just sit there and walk into the door.

When you pick up Henry and Joe in the park, the AI got stuck and kept walking into a wall.

The part where you have to flee the Chinese fish factory took me atleast 8 tries, because the pursing cars would kill me before I could put some distance between us. :shifty:

And then the friendly AI is dumb as nails, I've had shootouts where they would not contribute to a gunfight at all, or they would just stand there in the open not doing anything.

Or worse they would attack the enemies but they would run in front of me when I had the perfect shot.


They said they removed certain free roam features so the story was perfect, but honestly I don't give a damn about the story. I care more about Niko and his plights than Vito.

The characters feel cold and dead in my opinion, and the animations just seem off. Even my Fiance noticed it.

The check point system is highly inconvenient too.

Throw in the fact that I failed the final mission right after talking with Leo for no apparent reason, and then having to start all the way from the beginning of the chapter.


I'm definitely glad I did not pay for this game and have only borrowed it.



Also a minor thing, and probably not the game's fault, but one of my TV's pixels burnt out while playing. :damn:


Edit: Also the speech can get annoying. I was in some hall and one of the NPC's said the same thing over and over again. And Joe constantly bitching up the red light I ran but saying the exact same thing every time(except for the once in a blue moon chance that he says something else) was extremely annoying.
Plus I just got a wanted level, and the Police said "The subject is such and such" Dispatch replies with "Roger" and then they say the exact thing again.

[Arclight]

WEll, seems the PC version is a lot better than. Most of the issues you describe are new to me. :hmmm:

Also, your house burning down? Fits the theme perfectly. Might want to think about the story a bit more. Far cry from something like GTA (purely story comparison). ;)


Trying to escape by car can be frustrating though. Or even just getting to a car to escape in, if there's a hoard of cops waiting for you.

[Dowly]

WEll, seems the PC version is a lot better than. Most of the issues you describe are new to me. :hmmm:.

Must be the 460. :O:

[Arclight]

Haven't played it on that yet. :|\\

[Dowly]

I'm sure it adds new features to the game, like every single weapon of the time period modeled, all cars, all buildings accessable and player will be a woman with physx accelerated bouncing boobs. :hmmm: