Life in the mob is tough and so too is following up on the excellent original Mafia that preceded Mafia II.

The tale of Vito Scaletta is no gangsters paradise, casting aside what worked in the original Mafia for a less charismatic lead and a story that lacks purpose. Originally released in 2010, Mafia II has received some technical enhancements as well as all three of the DLC to come together in Mafia II: Definitive Edition. Struggling to reach the heights of the first Mafia, even this remasters bells and whistles hold it back.

It’s all about family

The opening cinematic has protagonist Vito Scaletta recounting his childhood, derailing his family’s move from the Italian town of Sicily to Empire Bay in America. Vito’s life has never been easy and the adoption of a life of crime with best friend Joe Barbaro sees him arrested in 1943. Dodging a prison sentence in exchange for enlisting with the US Army during World War II, Vito’s service is short lived as he returns home 2 years later on leave after taking a bullet.

Joe wastes little time upon his friends return to arrange for counterfeit discharge papers so that Vito can stay home permanently. Learning of his late fathers debt to a loan shark, Vito needs to work to secure the livelihood of his mother and sister to avoid any further interest or harassment from the loan sharks goons. At the recommendation of his mother, Vito briefly works for his fathers former employer Derek Papalardo who then recommends him to a prominent figure in the Clementi family.

This tale of Vito sprawls out rather quickly, serving time again in prison before becoming a made man in Don Carlo Falcone’s family alongside Joe. As the pair rise through the ranks, betrayal, power struggles and questionable business decisions send the story in a variety of directions with consequences that continue to push the story forward. A transition from the 1940’s to the 1950’s during Vito’s prison sentence is wonderfully conveyed in its aesthetic. The way people are dressed, the types of cars driving around and the music changes with it, giving legitimacy to the time jump which is overall executed well.

Vito’s motivations are initially to protect and look after his family as he and Joe become accustomed to life as made men in a prominent crime syndicate. Their greed gets the better of them and compromises the balance amongst the other two crime families in the process, starting a war they can’t finish without crossing lines and significant bloodshed.

Full of drama, action and thrilling story beats, perhaps the most crippling element of the narrative is Vito’s lack of personality or player investment. He’ll flip in the same scene from accepting a gun from Joe without hesitation to questioning why Joe himself is carrying one. Vito as a character is inconsistent and while his intentions and directions are at times clear, his journey overall is not tethered to any grounded plan.

The final act ramps up the tension and thriller vibes, with a very cool moment that intertwines with the shocking conclusion of the first Mafia but overall the interesting story ultimately underwhelms, leans on predictability and fails to have a purpose as meaningful as its predecessor.

Running the streets

Third person shooting is at the forefront of the gameplay in Mafia II: Definitive Edition. The gunplay itself handles well, an assortment of guns ranging from shotguns, rifles, pistols and machine guns have variants that each feel unique. The cover mechanics lend well to disposing of enemies from the safety of a concrete pillar, desks and barricades for instance that are only temporary. These covers can be destroyed so careful attention must be paid to their deterioration after a flurry of shots.

Driving remains tedious for the second instalment in the Mafia series, as per my review of Mafia: Definitive Edition (which can be found HERE) this can partially be attributed to the time period and the manoeuvrability of cars in the 1940’s and 50’s. Driving gets a lot of time so it’s unfortunate the mechanics don’t feel more enjoyable.

Dress for success… and less police attention

The customisation for cars is fun, albeit rather limited. Any car can be taken to a mechanics and have a custom colour applied, performance tuning and new wheels added for example. Custom licence plates can be acquired too which is not just a vanity item but rather a means of clearing a wanted level when the car is being hunted by the police. This is a fun and clever mechanic that adds some tension to the players escape. Just because the police aren’t in direct pursuit does not mean the player is safe as the car will be identified almost immediately when spotted by the police.

Another police aversion and customisation tactic is the changing of Vito’s clothes. Some outfits are unlocked via story progression but several can be purchased from clothing stores. These include leather jackets and jeans with different coloured shirts, suits with coats and even casual attires. Just like the car will attract police attention if it is wanted, so too will Vito if he is in the same outfit he was last seen causing mischief in. Switching up the wardrobe either at Vito’s home or a store is constantly required if the player enjoys running amok in Empire Bay.

Passing time with crime

Cars can be stolen either by picking the lock or smashing the window and taking by force if parked or by ripping the driver from their seat if on the road. These cars can be taken to a particular character indicated on the map and sold or taken elsewhere and crushed, each activity will pay Vito for his troubles. This cashflow can then be used to spend on new outfits or car customisation as mentioned above. There is nothing else to spend money on or even anything else to do as far as optional sub-missions which keeps the life of crime rather tame outside of the story.

The original DLC? It’s here… for FREE!

All three of the original DLC expansions for Mafia II have been included, selectable separately from the story in the main menu. These add several hours to the overall experience and even more for the completionists out there.

The Betrayal of Jimmy focuses on a hitman named Jimmy, a gun for hire working for both the Gravina crime family and the Irish mob. The missions available are less linear and can be tackled without a particular order. These include a score based feature which awards points for completing certain actions. It plays the same and offers little more than a story that exists alongside the Mafia II story without crossing over.

Jimmy’s Vendetta continues the events from The Betrayal of Jimmy with a similar focus on the scoring system.

Joe’s Adventures fills in the gaps between Vito’s prison sentence from the late 40’s to early 50’s. Emphasis on Joe is clever as it allows the player to experience his rise through the ranks of the Falcons family before Vito joins him upon leaving prison. This contains standard missions and the score based style missions from the pair of Jimmy-centric DLC expansions.

Putting the “Definitive” in Definitive Edition

Technical improvements of the 2010 title aside, it’s the visuals that stand out most as far as extra attention goes. While it lacks the polish of a next gen title in 2020 the improvements are significantly noticeable over its original release. It doesn’t look like an older title as much as it feels like one but at the same time it remains engaging enough on a presentation and gameplay level to feel worthwhile a decade later.

The score is perfectly curated with tunes that feel authentic to the 40’s and 50’s time period they occupy. The voice acting is well done and consistent and adds more personality to some of the cast than their actual characters achieve through their actions and motivations.

Are the 40’s and 50’s worth visiting or revisiting 10 years later?

A decade has passed since Mafia II first released. It’s gameplay and presentation would have succeeded more in its time than now, even with its Definitive Edition upgrade. With that being said, as someone who had never played Mafia II, I was pleasantly surprised but how it didn’t look and feel as last gen as I originally expected. The visual and technical upgrades have gone a long way to inject new life into a 10 year old game and for the most part it succeeds.

Another outing in another time period to experience the inner workings of life in the mob paves the way for an interesting story with enjoyable gameplay. Mafia II: Definitive Edition is worth the effort in 2020 and by adding in all of the original DLC, there is plenty to keep a player busy long after the credits have rolled.

+ Interesting story

+ Gameplay is consistent

+ Cool mechanics with Wanted system

– Vito isn’t particularly likeable

– Driving isn’t enjoyable

Games of DAYNE Rating

Developed by: Hangar 13

Published by: 2K

Release Date: May 19 2020 / September 25 2020 (Mafia: Trilogy Pack)

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC

– Additional links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

The post Mafia II: Definitive Edition Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

Rumble in the jungle… and swamp… and everywhere else you can think of! WWE 2K Battlegrounds shakes things up!

Similar to 2011’s WWE All Stars, WWE 2K Battlegrounds brings it’s superstars together for some outlandish and over the top arcade style brawling. Replacing the more in-depth combat system present in 2K’s near-decade run of WWE titles with a simplified arcade concept certainly doesn’t compromise the fun to be had. The ridiculousness of the moves, locations and cartoonish art style of the extensive roster of Superstars comes together for a fun, wacky and entertaining brawler.

Pick Your Superstar

The WWE Superstars have been brought to life with a wild and cartoonish flavour, appearing almost as caricatures of themselves in a playful and endearing fashion. Each sits within a class that has its own strengths and weaknesses. The Powerhouse class for example is a little slower but their attacks hit with more impact while an High Flyer is faster but hits with less impact. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the players selected Superstar as well as that of their opponent will help players be more efficient with their play style.

Boasting a roster of over 70 current and Legend WWE Superstars to be unlocked, with over 60 more to come post-launch, players can select wrestlers from essentially every era to compete with. Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt… you name them, they’re here! Though, majority of the Superstars have to be unlocked by spending either in-game currency or micro-transaction currency. They vary in price according to their rarity, ranging from common up to legendary but every single one of them can be unlocked with the in-game currency, none are locked behind an actual paywall which is a relief. Each superstar also has 2 alternate attires to unlock. Continuing the fun of the presentation, each Superstar and their alternate attires are inside what looks like a figurine case, pounding at the plastic packaging to be set free. When purchased, they kick through the plastic and are ready to be used.

A WWE Original Comic Story… wait, what?

Packed with a bunch of modes that can be played solo vs the CPU or with friends either locally or online, a Campaign mode is present that contains an original story featuring 7 budding Superstars created exclusively for WWE 2K Battlegrounds. The premise sees Paul Heyman enlist the aid of WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to find new talent.

The story is told through comic book illustrations which fits perfectly well with the overall approach of the in-game animation and quirky action. Each potential Superstar discovered has a set of compulsory and optional matches to complete against WWE Superstars and Legends to push the story forward. Rewards for these matches include new Power-ups, cosmetic items, Superstars and Arenas. Each of the 7 original Superstars have unique gimmicks/personas and move sets.

While some players may be initially upset to not be able to play as actual WWE Superstars, these characters are fun and diverse enough to remain engaging throughout the approximately 6-8 hour story. This playtime can easily blow out by the wealth of optional matches to complete with additional rewards to earn.

Stepping into the squared circle

Before we get to the other modes, we need to talk about the gameplay. Unlike 2K’s previous instalments with their WWE 2K series, the gameplay has been built from the ground up by Saber Interactive for a more accessible arcade type experience. Each strike and grapple move is ridiculously over the top and it works. Uppercuts that launch opponents high into the air or grapples that see both Superstars take to the skies before crashing to the mat with comic-like impact is fun and unique.

Each Superstar has a health, stamina and power-up bar, as well as a Heat Bar beneath the character. Attacking the opponent in any fashion be it with Melee strikes, grapple moves or weapons and other environmental advantages inflicts damage and reduces the health bar. When the health bar turns red, the Superstar is more at risk of succumbing to a pin-fall or submission as the button mashing mini-game associated with each becomes more difficult to escape.

Stamina is consumed by signature attacks and finishing moves as well as countering moves from the opponent. It refills gradually over time but needs to be used conservatively to ensure there’s enough in the tank to counter an opponents move.

The Power-up feature is easily the most fun and interesting additions to the gameplay mechanics. Each Superstar can si as health regeneration or absorbing all nearby opponents Heat Bar and finally Tier 3 has abilities like unblockable damage or summoning thunder. There are several to unlock and all are fun to experiment with and offer even greater variety within each match. Power-ups can also be upgraded to be more powerful by spending Bucks which are earned by completing matches. The Power-ups are not single use as the bar will continue to replenish throughout the entire match.

The Heat Bar is filled by inflicting as well as receiving damage. When it is full, the player is able to activate their Superstar’s finishing move, dealing incredible damage in a manner as wild and wacky as possible. Taking the actual finishing moves used by the WWE Superstars and accentuating their impact and style is incredibly fun to see for WWE fans in particular.

Anything can happen in WWE!

The environment can be as much of a weapon as a steel chair or kendo stick found from under the ring. Fighting in the swamp arena has alligators leaning over the barricade at ringside to chomp on nearby Superstars or to catch those unlucky enough to be thrown into them. Have you ever wanted to use a remote control to control a goat to chase down and head-butt your opponent? WWE 2K Battlegrounds have got what you need. It’s these outlandish moments that shine amidst the already enjoyable arcade style combat, reminding players that just like the actual WWE product itself, anything can happen at a WWE event.

As for weapons, I was certainly not expecting to see a motorcycle used to beat my opponents down but I was pleasantly surprised to see it unfold. Traditional weapons such as steel chairs, guitars and kendo sticks are also present as well as an assortment of other unexpected objects that are all fun to utilise.

For all the things present that aren’t expected, one thing I personally didn’t expect was an invisible referee. Instead of a physical ref, the counts of a pin-fall and count-outs when outside the ring are represented by a number on the screen and vocalised. It may be a minor nitpick but having a visible referee would have gone a long way in adding to the immersion of the experience and by no means ruins it, instead it leaves it feeling just a touch incomplete.

Got Modes?

Outside of the Campaign, there are separate Men and Women Exhibition modes featuring classic match types such as singles, triple threats and fatal four ways, Royal Rumble, Gauntlet, tag team and the most electrifying Steel Cage match to ever grace a WWE video game in both single and tag team variations. These can be played alone against the CPU or with up to three other players either locally or online.

King of the Battleground mode makes up to 4 players survive a gauntlet as long as possible. Once a Superstar has been eliminated by being forced from the ring, another will enter. Various scores and stats are recorded for the online leaderboards. This mode supports optional cross-play with other platforms.

Battleground Challenge requires a custom character to be created and used. This is presented similar to a battle pass but requires no cost to play. There is an extensive tree full of challenges that offers rewards upon completion. Playing this mode will allow for the created characters attributes to be upgraded via an impressive skill tree that covers Offense, Defence and Charisma.

Tournament mode is an online variant putting players against each other players in a 7 match competition. Men’s, Women’s and Steel Cage Tournaments are present as well as one that is “coming soon”. Some Tournaments require an entry fee of 1,000 Bucks, the in-game currency earned by participating in any match type or mode or 25 Golden Bucks, the micro-transaction currency of WWE 2K Battlegrounds.

Character and Battleground creation are present, allowing players the opportunity to create their very own Superstars with a fun and varied assortment of cosmetics. Additional cosmetics can be unlocked or purchased with premium currency to create some pretty fun Superstars.

The Battleground Creator suite lets players choose all aspects of the venue, from the ring design, exterior, entrance ramp and lighting, crowd appearance, what weapons are under the ring and much more. There are several of each to choose from and many more that can be unlocked with either Bucks or the premium Golden Bucks currency.

There’s a daily challenge system that refreshes each of the three challenges that have been completed. These regard the player with Bucks and contribute towards a leveling bar, similar to a battle pass that awards Bucks at regular intervals and a cosmetic item at the 20th and final level.

Stylish WWE Presentation

Complimenting the play by play commentary from WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler and fan-favourite Mauro Renallo throughout each match is a pretty kickass soundtrack, adding an additional sense of pace to each match. The fast paced gameplay accompanied by a fast paced soundtrack adds to the energy and atmosphere of these Battleground brawls. Commentary repetition does bring the matches down slighty.

The cartoonish art design absolutely works and removes the seriousness of more photo-realistic visuals in exchange for a lighter, more comical tone that suits the nature of the gameplay mechanics and experience overall.

No holds barred

WWE 2K Battlegrounds pulls no punches when it comes to presenting an alternative to the typical WWE video games we’ve grown accustomed to. It’s out there, it’s over the top, it’s downright unbelievable but in the best of ways. In comparison, this is what WWE’s live product has always been about. Entertaining it’s fan base by giving them something though don’t expect, for better or worse.

In the case of WWE 2K Battlegrounds, the shakeup to the formula is much needed and culminates in an incredibly fun and dynamic arcade brawling experience that is engaging. With plenty of modes, challenges to complete and Superstars, Power-ups and cosmetics to unlock there is plenty to keep players returning for more, especially when new content arrives post-launch.

+ Over the top action

+ Fun environmental elements

+ Simplistic arcade gameplay

+ The Power-ups are awesome

– Invisible referee

– Commentary repetition

Games of DAYNE Rating

Developed by: Saber Interactive

Published by: 2K Games / Take Two Interactive

Release Date: September 18 2020

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC

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