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I recently beat the original game in the Mafia series, it was rereleased in a remastered form with updated graphics and the engine from the third game. When I played it originally, I couldn't figure out how to beat the "Ordinary Routine" mission so I set the game aside. 18 years later, I was able to use Youtube and complete that mission when I bought the definitive edition so I could carry on through the chapters. I found the graphics outstanding in their realism, from the texture and look of the clothes, to pours in skin, strands of hair, sheen in eyes, sheen on metal surfaces, light and dark for realistic times of day, the list goes on, it was a very pretty and realistic game that added to the experience. The introduction is phenomenal, the camera angles and panning are really immersive, my favourite part was when the view was moving at eye level, showcasing the whole city as if the camera was mounted on the back of a bird or a drone exploring the city, swooping, swerving, and diving, exposing people's day to day life. I was also impressed with the general authenticity, in the language used, clothing and automotive styles, music played, even down to current events like the building up to World War 2 and advertisments for products and department stores being broadcast on the radio, as well as all the advertisements for cigarettes and everyone smoking. I found the controls mostly intuitive from other similar games I've played over my gaming life, just little things like climbing and getting into cover took some active thought. The vehicle camera pitch was interesting, I kept inadvertently moving it up to an overhead view when I was trying to sprint or drive, getting acclimated to the controls and subsequently it took me a few tries to beat some of the early missions. Mafia was also the first game I played where it gave you the option to let the game reload your gun as always, or manually do it yourself, that was something new to me. In regards to weapons, they were mostly true to the time period and effective during each individual mission. The pump-action shotgun, and 1921 Thompson were my favourites and the most effective at close quarters where you were for the majority of the levels, although, personally, for authenticity's sake, I would have changed the shotgun which was an anachronistic Remington 870 to a period correct Winchester Model 12 or Ithica Model 37 chambered also for 12 gauge shells and the "Magnum Revolver" which was represented by an effective but also anachronistic Colt Python to a Smith and Wesson Model 27, also chambered in .357 magnum. I felt a bit of nostalgia when I got to use the 1903 Springfield battle/sniper rifle in "Better get used to it" and "Election Campaign", it reminded me of playing Metal of Honour. All the other weapons were authentic. A technical inaccuracy I noticed was that whenever Tommy-or any other member of the Salieri family-used their 1911A1 sidearms, you can really see it at the end of "Better get used to it", and "You lucky bastard" but the hammer never cocks back, with a single action firearm, that means it wouldn't have fired. You heard the "click" of the firing pin in the empty chamber, but the hammer never fell. Going back to the graphics and development, the vehicles were perfectly, authentically rendered, you could tell what they all were, and things like rain, effected driving and road conditions, and changed sound when it hit the bodies. I remember at the end of "You lucky bastard", I could even see the rifling at the muzzle of Tommy's 1911. I liked the personalities of all involved, Tommy was happy to help, but he was never completely comfortable working for the mob, he was always reluctant to kill outright, and even though he did it in "Creme de la creme" it was more in the capacity of doing his job and as an act of mercy. Good for him for saving himself. This is the third game I played where it starts with a confession and then you're playing through the main character's memories. Those other two games were A first-person special forces game called Black from 2006, and 2009's Dead to Rights Redemption. Paulie was eager to get into a fight and have fun, and show Tom the ropes, he was also easy to know and get along with, but you got the feeling he was only in the life because there was nothing else and he was desperate to give his life purpose. I respect him for his reasons for robbing the savings and loans, his feelings of betrayal and not being respected were palpable. I felt sad for him at the end. Sam was tough, reserved, and business-like, and I never really warmed to him, yet it still sort-of felt like a betrayal in the end. I found Don Salieri to be welcoming and he told you things up front and as they were, but I also found him to be vindictive. I liked Sarah and her tough, scrappy personality, combined with her love and respect for both her dad and Tommy, her relationship with Tommy was great. The game was all new to me from "Fair Play" on because that was further than I got back in 2002. I beat the whole game on easy, and I still found it challenging. In my experience, all the higher difficulty levels do is add more-and more observant-NPCs. A small detail I would have changed was the colour of the reticle-the little crosshair (or circle, in the case of a shotgun) showing the position of the gun's muzzle in relation to the target-to something more contrasting so it can be tracked easily and quickly before it turns red, signifying you're on target. That would have helped immensely when shooting the engines in "Creme de la creme", and the turret and windows in "A trip to the Country", along with acquiring and detonating explosive targets during shootouts. That was also part of the rewarding challenge for me. I found the "skip drive" option helpful in forgoing the monotony of driving back to your destination, but it also helped with quickly finishing after fighting to escape pursuit. Surprisingly, I didn't need to use it on the "Fair Play" mission, it was easy and fun, driving the Carozella C-series (1931 Bugatti Type 54) through the city at midnight. I found it really special during the race because I had only recently heard of the 1931 Miller V16, the Brubaker Forte, and now I got to race it! I used my experience playing the Forza games to win the race as well as having the difficulty on easy. I really had fun coming back from spinning out and battling to the front of the pack a couple of times, having overshot corners to win. I tip my hat to the gamers who could beat Mafia on Classic or the harder difficulties, but I found easy challenging and rewarding enough all things considered. I had so much fun riding the 1932 Indian Sport Scout, the Haverley Tomahawk, it was so much fun, and an authentic experience that differed from the bikes I rode in GTA. The 1935 Cadillac V16 Model 70 Boattail Speedster roadster ( Lassiter V16 Roadster) was my favourite car in the game on beauty alone. At the end, having beaten Mafia 2, it was neat seeing Vito and Joe carry out the hit on Tommy from another angle, it was really touching and sweet seeing Tommy having lived a mostly full life, (he was only 51) seeing and experiencing all his happiness, I really had a lot of respect and admiration for him, seeing the look of acceptance in his eyes and being resigned to his fate, dying with dignity in a sense, he knew what was coming and he faced it head on. Family is everything, they pick you up, support you and are always there for you no matter what. I never bothered to play the "Free ride" mode, but it looks like a fun way to kill time, driving around town and stealing/accumulating different-and sometimes-anachronistic-cars and bikes.