Set in the 1950′s Mafia II screams “cast an eyeball” over here.  Irish and I got our hands on 2kCzech’s mobster sandbox title and it really razzed our berries! (that’s 50′s lingo for impressed us!)

The gameplay takes place in fictional Empire Bay which seems to be a hybrid between the 50′s version of New York and Chicago. The city itself seemed quite organic as NPC’s carried on real life actions like sitting on benches, buying food from a street vendor, and running from the smoking barrel of Irish’s shotgun. Mafia II already has over 60 different vehicles, weapons, and incendiary devices throughout a 10 sq. mile environment within which you can get your gangsta on.

With features like an easy in – easy out cover system similar to that of Gears, a smooth targeting system, cool death physics and blood effects this game will surely get you feeling like a real Mafia hitman. I know Irish and I did in the demo here’s how my hands on played out..

From the outset we weren’t going to be your smooth criminal, so as I sat down to get my first taste, I could hear the voices of generations of movie gangsters replaying in my head.

The fuzz was already hot on my trail thanks to Irish’s bad boy ways and I had no intention of being any milder.  I hopped in the nearest car and easily set a waypoint to the nearest gun store.  The demo wanted me to do something different but this was sandbox and I was gonna explore.

After laying a strip outside some diner, I was off and rolling with my radio blaring authentic 50′s music.  Within seconds the cops were on my tail and the movie style car chase had begun.  Carefully staying on the road while the pigs tried to rub me out I finally reached the gun shop. I quickly capped one of the doughnut eaters in the face and ran inside filling the store owner with a face full of lead.  I had reached my goal.  Shotgun ammo! I easily changed from pistol to shotgun and wasted the copper that had followed me into the store. I then proceeded outside to my very own Mafia II killing spree, wasting flatfoots, clydes (normal people) and dames alike, no one was safe from the spray of my shotgun…I was sold.

This game is fun, nuff said but I’ll elaborate because I can.  It uses a screen degeneration health status so taking hits makes it harder to see and control your character Vito Scaletta.  Mafia II uses some familiar methods like clothing change, car painting, and the awesome police bribery to decrease your wanted levels.

Irish and I also got a cool opportunity and were able to talk to Production Manager Dan Schmittou and ask some questions that may not have hit the press kit yet. During our interview we found out that there are at least 100 licensed music tracks, hide out apartments strewn about the city, closets to hang various outfits for mission scenarios, garages for up to 10 upgradeable vehicles, and an exclusive partnership with playboy!

That’s right during your adventures in Empire Bay you can collect and read Playboys from the era, which can earn you a nice sized…chievo.  Get your minds out of the gutter.  For those of you who have trouble in that area there is also a stat that will document “time spent reading articles” so unless you want your wife, mother, or significant other on your case you may want to refrain from greasing your gun barrel too often.

If you need something other than the cool firefights to distract yourself you can always just go tie one on at your local watering hole. That’s right Schmittou confirmed a drunk effect in the game and also stated “it may not be the best time to get into a gunfight.”

After it was all said and done I asked Irish what he though and he had this to say ” All in all the title surprised me more than I thought it would. With games such as GTA as well as the godfather series still fresh in the back of gamers minds, Mafia 2 still looks to carve its own niche into the genre with solid gameplay, a worthy story, and a true commitment to the 50′s generation giving it an immersive old time feel.”

So while this wasn’t a full build and there were a couple drawbacks, like clunky driving in those big ole 50′s gas guzzlers (which may be intentional). The proprietary engine looks polished and ready, so QA should have time to iron out the kinks. With about 15+ hours of storyline gameplay, side-missions, and probable DLC, Mafia 2 could prove to be a heavy summer smash when it hits the shelves on August 24th for all 3 next generation platforms.