Unfair Mafia II Impressions 6

by Adam Blue • Editorial

I tend to avoid sandbox-style games (especially if you play a law-breaking character) because they always do the the same things and never anything new. I still try them, though. Red Faction: Geurilla worked because it did so much different. Destrcutible environments, Martian setting, crazy sci-fi gadgets, etc. Wheelman introduced the greatest driving mechanic in sandbox gaming (hey devs, any of you plan to expand on that…please?). Just Cause introduced verticalness. Problem with others, they do the same thing. Nothing to get me to want to go back. This might be what sells and makes my rant rather pointless, but I expected more. Just Cause 2 is the same but restricted freedom. Stunning visuals and great marketing made gamers think this was a better game than the first, alas, ’tis not true. Crackdown 2 gave me no reason to do it all again. Red Dead Redemption, while I may get flack for this, had the problem of GTA IV’s horrible controls. GTA IV…just more of the same really.

This same is a few things. First, there’s always a map. It could be a western, or my main point, Mafia II, and there’s still a magical mini-map. To me, that just throws out all immersion. I would have loved it if in RDR, all you could do was pull out a map you somehow obtained. It should be part of your inventory. And if you’re lost, go up to an NPC with the map out and they will point out where you are. Or if you’re alone, use the sun or moon. Mafia II threw me off today. I couldn’t help but feel I was playing your average sandbox game but with a different skin. Secondly, I get to some timed missions. They are not fun, just filler between the fun. It starts to feel like a chore. Wheelman did a good job by making all the chore missions optional, but by doing them you upgrade certain aspects of your character, be that driving or shooting. Red Faction made chore missions still affect the entire game as a whole, as you may have destroyed an enemy instillation that later on allows you to waltz through. That is what sandbox really is.

If I’m going to continue to play these sandbox games, there needs to be less me too, and more immersion.

And all this from a couple hours of Mafia II.

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