Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Review: Mafia 2


An amazing story

Set in Empire Bay…


Mafia 2 is really a fantastic game. The story is told in the same way as the first game in the series and the fantastic atmosphere of a gangster story are present. The most difference with the first game is the timeline the story is set in. In the first game, we followed Tommy Angelo from his first encounters with the Mafia in 1930 and throughout his life, until the 50’s.  In this game we get thrown right out, when you join allied forces in Italy, under the second world war and the story goes on in to the middle of the 50’s.

Vacation please: When sent to prison at young age, Vito gets the chance to join America during world war two.

You play as Vito Scaletta, an average Joe, who travel from Italy with his family to start a better life in America. But things don’t always go as planned, you will soon understand. That’s actually why Vito get sent to war early in the game. You will whack many people on your way as you work for different mafia bosses throughout the game, alongside with your best buddy Joe. As the story progresses and you sit there and witnesses the events going down, you get the same feeling as in the first game, this is something really special. The graphics are somewhat up to perfect and the modeling of the faces are extreme sometimes. The casting for the actors were also well made and this sounds like a typical Mafia movie. You can nearly call it a movie, because this sequel have just as many cutscenes as The City of Lost Heaven.

Right hand man: Joe Barbar is Vito's key to the gangster life, after returning from Italy he fixes deals and organize appointments for Vito.

Leo Galante: You will encounter Leo when sent to prison and save his life in the game. At the end it's still you that owes him.

The only thing that can be boring is the driving between the missions and it sometimes feels like the creators make you drive from one side of the city to the other, to add gametime. In the end, it won’t destroy your feelings for this game. You will be so excited to see what’s happening next anyways. If Mafia 2 was a movie, it would have kicked ass in the theaters and many more people would have experienced this fantastic story. If you haven’t played Mafia, I recommend playing the first game and then proceed to the sequel. And I think it’s fair to say that we deserve a third Mafia. When the credits roll over the screen, we still don’t know what really happened.

Locked? Allright: Locked doors no problemo for the mafioso.

Drink up: Hard day at work, time for one beer (or ten)


Gamescore


Mafia 2 (2010)

Graphics: Extreme, fantastic and amazing. The game makes the characters express feelings so it feels so real. The number of details on cars can’t even be counted, and the whole city comes to life. 10/10
Audio: Beats some of the best Mafia movies I’ve seen. I wonder where 2K Games find their actors for their games. 10/10
Gameplay: The story is one hell of a ride! You will always be excited and interested in what’s going to happen next. No point in wandering around if not on a mission, there is nothing else to do, but you could always go for a burger or buy yourself an expensive new suit. 10/10
Controls: Can’t see how it could have been better. Works good with standard keyboard/mouse settings. Some situations chooses the wrong camera though.  9/10

Overall Score: Mafia 2 is the nearest thing you come to videogame heaven. Some people say it’s a copycat of GTA, but it’s something really different. Instead of sitting and playing a 100 boring missions in Grand Theft Auto, play 15 missions in Mafia 2 that you will remember. I guarantee, you will remember this the rest of your life.   10/10

Monday, December 19, 2011

Review: RTL Skijumping 2007


Skijumping is fun

At least for a while…


Starting up with an old game. RTL Skijumping 2007, a game that has been played every year when the first snow pops up. At first eye the graphics isn’t that bad, at least not for a 2007 game. The Stadiums are easy to recognize and the details on the jumpers are pretty good actually. The sound and commentary are also pretty good, but the commentaries duo got a little boring after 10-15 jumps. The biggest problem in this game is variation.

Ski Flying: It's an awesome feeling when you land after flying over 200 meters in Planica. Thank god for the weather conditions.

That feeling: When you break your neck after a failed telemark. Typical.

You start up by learning the basics and after that it really isn’t much to learn. I Played with the mouse and it only took 2-3 jumps before I managed to stand after the fall line everytime, so it’s pretty easy to learn. After a few jumps you get the hang of it and you know what is waiting for you the following hours. You start with a pretty poor jumper and then build your way up to become the ultimate jumper legend. Alongside you have to choose trainers, waxers and what kind of shoes,skis and dresses that suits you best. This is the one player career mode, you can also take over 4 jumpers and train them in national team mode and you can choose wheater you like to jump yourself or not.


You get to travel around the world and 41 real stadiums are in the game. The license for real-life jumpers aren’t there and it’s kind of boring to jump against names like Hannes Ahorn (Janne Ahonen) and Bjoern Roemer (Bjørn Einar Romøren). It’s good entertainment when you wait for a real life event or just want to kill some time, but you will get sick of this in the end. It’s pretty difficult to make something bigger out of the skijumping sport and I have no problem to see why it hasn’t been done before. (Except Deluxe Ski Jump, which was a pretty big success from Finland.)

First test: Welcome to Trondheim


Gamescore

RTL Skijumping 2007 (2007)

Graphics: Pretty good for a 2007 game, but I am giving the ratings for 2011 standards. 3/10
Audio: Some good snow sounds and the commentary duo are fun for a while. 6/10
Gameplay: Very fun the first  time, very boring the 50th time. 4/10
Controls: Very easy with the mouse, more difficult with keyboard. So choose mouse. 9/10


Overall Score:
 Fun for a while, but slows down. Should give It a try while the jumpseasons up and running though. 5/10