Just when I thought GTA had it all, along came a small studio and proved the genre can be improved in every possible way
During the course of the game, you will take on various missions ranging from car chases, to full blown shootouts, and even some sneaking sequences. The missions are varied enough to keep you playing for many hours, and even after finishing the main game mode, you will unlock a bevy of racing and chasing challenges in the free to roam metropolis.
One of the great things about Mafia is the cars. There is a good variety of era-vehicles to choose from, all of which have believable physics and dynamic damage. During a typical car chase you will have your fellow mafiosos hanging from the windows shooting in all directions, and you can also aim freely with your gun. Tires and can be blown, which will affect car handling, and crashing head on at full speed will damage all passengers. All these features which were not available in a game of the same genre before have helped set Mafia as a unique experience.
The atmosphere in the game is complemented by a beautiful soundtrack accompanying players through radio or during some of the cut scenes, and the sound effects of guns, along with top notch voice over, help make the experience a pleasant one.
With the long awaited sequel to Mafia close at hand, I can only hope it will deliver as immersive and epic adventure as its predecessor.