Game Reviews

Between Mafia II and Civilization V, 2K has quite a showing at this year's GDC. We covered Civ V in a comprehensive advance preview on Monday, so when we hit the 2K appointment on Tuesday, we headed right to the Mafia II demo. Senior producer Denby Grace walked us through a thrilling montage that set up the basic story of the game before turning us loose on the city of Empire Bay for some in-depth hands-on time with the Xbox 360 version of the game.

Denby's montage, entitled Home Sweet Home, begins in February of 1945 and sets the stage for the game and reveals the heavy cinematic influences behind the game. A train slowly pulls to a stop in a station and the camera cuts to a soldier stepping off, suitcase in hand. Vito's come home temporarily while he recovers from a bullet wound he received in the War. The winter backdrop gives the whole scene a muted look, but there's still lots of activity in the station as travelers scurry back and forth bundled against the cold. Unexpectedly, Vito's buddy Joe is waiting there to meet him and offers Vito a ride home. As they walk out of the station, a pair of police officers looks on with suspicion.

Before dropping him off at home, Joe takes Vito out for a drink. While catching up, Joe learns that Vito will have to return to duty once his wound heals. Bothered that his friend would have to go back to fight the Germans, Joe excuses himself to make a phone call. As he leaves, Vito catches the eye of a woman at the bar. The jukebox plays "Hey, Big Spender" as the two flirt with each other across the bar. Soon Joe returns with news that he's fixed it so Vito doesn't ever have to go back into the service.