Mafia Series Discussion (spoilers)

[Mugsy]

I've been playing Mafia 2 quite a bit lately and quite enjoyed the campaign. I love the way that second game linked back to the death of the first game's protagonist. No doubt that there will be a third game (I'm hoping it'll be inspired by the events in 1963 regarding Joe Valachi and Donnie Brasco in the 70's... and more casinos this time please). Considering the fact that the second game connects with the first, I'm hoping they'll do the same thing with the third game.

Seeing how Vito survives at the end of the second game at the cost of losing Joe, I'm wondering if Vito decides change around his life in the way his mother always wanted him to. Perhaps Vito becomes a priest of something which the protagonist of the third game will meet.

What do people want to see in the next title?

[tryonthis]

What do people want to see in the next title?

I'd love to see a game that lasts longer than 8-9 hours.

[Mugsy]

I'd love to see a game that lasts longer than 8-9 hours.

Seems to be the way of the future. Make games a bit shorter to leave room for DLC.

In saying that, I took my time through Mafia 2. What really annoyed me was that I spent many an hour crushing cars to get money and the game took that money away from me... twice!

[Maxpayne5th]

Oh don't get me started on Mafia 2's ending. After Vito went to ALL THAT TROUBLE of saving Joe, that he just leaves him is rubbish. If his character stayed the same, he woulda punched Galante in the mouth, or grabbed his pistol and shot everyone in the car, not leave Joe to die with his head in his hands!

I hate this "all-of-a-sudden" mood swing. This is why I was majorly disappointed with the story.

[Mugsy]

After Vito went to ALL THAT TROUBLE of saving Joe, that he just leaves him is rubbish. If his character stayed the same, he woulda punched Galante in the mouth, or grabbed his pistol and shot everyone in the car, not leave Joe to die with his head in his hands!

I actually thought the ending was quite believable. To me, Vito realised that it was both his and Joe's actions that caused a lot of people to die or get hurt. Killing more people to save his best friend was only going to make things worse. Vito made another mistake by thinking that Joe was going to be forgiven by the Vinci family as well and he's going to live with that mistake for the rest of his life.

Sure he could have have popped one in Leo and the others in his car and went to save Joe but the bloodshed was only going to continue if he went down that path. IMHO, Vito chose the lesser of two evils.

[Maxpayne5th]

After Vito went to ALL THAT TROUBLE of saving Joe, that he just leaves him is rubbish. If his character stayed the same, he woulda punched Galante in the mouth, or grabbed his pistol and shot everyone in the car, not leave Joe to die with his head in his hands!

I actually thought the ending was quite believable. To me, Vito realised that it was both his and Joe's actions that caused a lot of people to die or get hurt. Killing more people to save his best friend was only going to make things worse. Vito made another mistake by thinking that Joe was going to be forgiven by the Vinci family as well and he's going to live with that mistake for the rest of his life.

Sure he could have have popped one in Leo and the others in his car and went to save Joe but the bloodshed was only going to continue if he went down that path. IMHO, Vito chose the lesser of two evils.

But it was his best friend. I mean, did he really choose a bunch of guys that ALMOST killed him, over his best friend that has saved his **** on numerous occasions?

Thats what really got me. Vito's not like that, hes a guardian angel. If someone messes with the people close to him, he gets in their face and fixes whatever problems there are. Not smartly mind you, but fixes it nontheless. So for him to leave Joe for dead, or not even put up more of a fight or complain makes me think that either 2 things happened:

1) Vito, in the end, was a cold-hearted ****.
2) The Writers ran out of stuff to write about.

Personally, I think it was the 2nd. I mean, it could've been that Vito ends up killing the Yakuza leader, punching Galente in the face saying "The only reason your not dead is because of all you did for me back in the prison. But you betrayed me. After I saved your life..." and jumped in the front seat of the car to go and save Joe. Then he and Joe end up trying to escape to somewhere while the Yakuza try to kill them. Not only would it have extended the game, but it would've been a pretty cool ending for a Mafia story.

I'm sorry, but this just seems liek a very lackluster ending. After everything that Vito had showed himself to be, he throws it all the way at the end, and thats just not Vito. But then again, don't get me started on characters that seem to have major personality changes in the middle of the story. (See Haggard and Sweetwater in Bad Company.)

[tryonthis]

But it was his best friend. I mean, did he really choose a bunch of guys that ALMOST killed him, over his best friend that has saved his **** on numerous occasions?

Thats what really got me. Vito's not like that, hes a guardian angel. If someone messes with the people close to him, he gets in their face and fixes whatever problems there are. Not smartly mind you, but fixes it nontheless. So for him to leave Joe for dead, or not even put up more of a fight or complain makes me think that either 2 things happened:

1) Vito, in the end, was a cold-hearted ****.
2) The Writers ran out of stuff to write about.

Personally, I think it was the 2nd. I mean, it could've been that Vito ends up killing the Yakuza leader, punching Galente in the face saying "The only reason your not dead is because of all you did for me back in the prison. But you betrayed me. After I saved your life..." and jumped in the front seat of the car to go and save Joe. Then he and Joe end up trying to escape to somewhere while the Yakuza try to kill them. Not only would it have extended the game, but it would've been a pretty cool ending for a Mafia story.

I'm sorry, but this just seems liek a very lackluster ending. After everything that Vito had showed himself to be, he throws it all the way at the end, and thats just not Vito. But then again, don't get me started on characters that seem to have major personality changes in the middle of the story. (See Haggard and Sweetwater in Bad Company.)

Could not agree more with you.
Also, it should be noted that the writers had upwards of 50+ mission titles planned for the game. They must have been told to shorten the story and DLC the **** out of the game. I'll find the links later.

[Mugsy]

I must have been the only one to have enjoyed Mafia 2's story.

Anyway, I'm current going through the Joe's Adventure addon. The 'Charlie's Car' mission kept peeving me off when you steal the car and the other gangsters chase you in their own car. Thus, before starting the mission (for the third time), I went and found the longest vehicle I could find... a bus! Parked it so that it blocked the gangsters from getting to me... worked like a charm. I love open world games and the possibilities it gives you.