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Reviews - Featured Reviews: Games
Written by Olin Coles   
Monday, 23 August 2010
Table of Contents: Page Index
Mafia-II Video Game Performance
Mafia II Initial Impressions
Mafia II Interesting Characters
Mafia II Gameplay Details
NVIDIA APEX PhysX Enhancements
NVIDIA 3D-Vision Effects
Graphics Detail: Polygons
Testing and Results
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Page 1 of 9

Mafia-II Video Game Performance Review

Mafia II is a single-player third-person action shooter developed by 2K Czech for 2K Games, and is the sequel to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven released in 2002. Players assume the life of World War II veteran Vito Scaletta, the son of small Sicilian family who immigrates to Empire Bay. Growing up in the slums of Empire Bay teaches Vito about crime, and he's forced to join the Army in lieu of jail time. After sustaining wounds in the war, Vito returns home and quickly finds trouble as he again partners with his childhood friend and accomplice Joe Barbaro. Vito and Joe combine their passion for fame and riches to take on the city, and work their way to the top in Mafia II.

Mafia2_Benchmark_Performance_Review_Banner.png

Mafia II is a DirectX-9 compatible PC video game built on 2K Czech's proprietary Illusion game engine, which succeeds the LS3D game engine used in Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Mafia II Illusion game engine using ATI Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce video cards. PhysX and GeForce 3D-Vision technologies are revealed in Mafia II, which shape and build this game into an immersive experience. Characters and gameplay are explored, while game strategy is explained with Mafia II tips and hints added to help players get the most out of their time behind the trigger.

Product Name: Mafia II
Model Number:
Manufacturer: 2K Games
Price As Tested: $49.99

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by 2K Games.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • OS: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
  • Processor: Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Dual core) or higher
  • Memory: 1.5 GB RAM
  • Storage Space: 8GB
  • Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8600 / ATI HD2600 Pro or better
  • Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
  • Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepad

Recommended System:

  • OS: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
  • Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
  • Memory: 2GB or more
  • Storage Space: 10GB or more
  • Video Card: nVidia GeForce 9800 GTX / ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better
  • Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
  • Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepad


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Comments 

 
# Nvidia Sponsored? — KuzzenJoe 2010-08-23 11:14
"For best results in Mafia II, players are suggested to use NVIDIA GeForce products to properly process PhysX features and produce high-enough frame rate performance to enjoy 3D Vision". Nice to see an editorial follow the Nvidia-supplied script to the "T". Too bad Nvidia intentionally cripples Phys-x on CPUs and blocks Phys-x with ATI cards. But no worries - my HD 5970 runs just fine with Phys-X running on a seperate 9600GT, and it can display across three screens without needing another matching card. But of course, you would not know any of that from reading this article.
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# RE: Nvidia Sponsored? — Olin Coles 2010-08-23 11:31
@KuzzenJoe: After seeing our benchmark results you somehow think I was biased for recommending GeForce video cards with Mafia-2? I know there will be ATI fanboys, but ignoring facts goes beyond favoritism. But you go ahead and play Mafia-2 with your $700 Radeon 5970 and watch a $200 GeForce GTX 460 eat it up with PhysX enabled.
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# RE: RE: Nvidia Sponsored? — Adam 2010-09-09 13:55
strange. my hd 4850 plays it just fine and it cost me £50. your move
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# RE: RE: RE: Nvidia Sponsored? — Olin Coles 2010-09-09 14:01
Who's move? Nobody said it wouldn't play fine with other cards. They just won't enjoy APEX PhysX with the extra post-processing unless it's a more recent GeForce video card.
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# RE: RE: RE: RE: Nvidia Sponsored? — Adam 2010-09-09 15:50
yours and as a matter of fact im enjoying the apex effects quite well with a previous gen mid range ATI card thank you.
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# RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — RealNeil 2010-08-23 12:13
It's cost seems a little too high for a game that can be completed in less than 5 Hours.
I like all of the old styled cars though.
The Phys-X eye candy might be worth buying a pair of GTX 460 1GB cards in a SLI configuration. (just to try it out)
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# RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Olin Coles 2010-08-23 12:18
To be fair, I do explain that all of the cinema scenes were skipped my first time through because of the fast-approaching deadline. If you watch them all, and actually try to hunt down posters or Playboy magazines, you'll spend a lot more time in the game.

Also, I really suggest Mafia-2 with 3D-Vision. The combination of APEX PhysX and 3D-Vision take this game to a whole new level.
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# RE: RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — RealNeil 2010-08-23 14:06
Thanks for the further explanation as to the time in game. As to 3D-vision I'll reserve judgement and adaptation until I can Actually see it with my own eyes and try it out a little. Phys-X is real doable for a decent price if you opt for the GTX-460 1GB cards in SLI, or so I'm being told by a few of my friends that have bought the overclocked ones from NewEgg recently. They're quite happy with that setup and now I want it too.
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# Who Cares — Glen 2010-08-23 12:33
I don't have to worry about requirements anymore. Going to play this game tomorrow on my Netbook, far below the minimum thanks to OnLive.(Oh yeah and I'm going to get any free game(probably Just Cause 2) with a purchase OnLive) So $25 for this game and $25 for Just Cause 2.
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# RE: Who Cares — AP 2010-08-25 09:43
Not at all blatent advertising for OnLive.
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# RE: RE: Who Cares — Olin Coles 2010-08-25 09:45
Let's see if there's a reply in defense, otherwise I'll remove the comment.
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# RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Martha Jones 2010-08-23 12:37
@KuzzenJoe, it is not nvidia's fault if ATI refuses to support CUDA and PhysX in their prodicts. nvidia has stated that ATI is welcome to support both, but ATI says they won't support a format which they have no control over and which is spearheaded by their competitor.
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# RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Goodsir 2010-08-29 08:37
Why is the GTX480's framerate cut so much when PhysX is turned on, but the GTX460's framerate is hardly affected?
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# RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Olin Coles 2010-08-29 08:41
Aside from different GPU's (GF104 vs GF100), there isn't a clear explaination. Each video card was tested more than seven times per test, and all of the results were verified a second time through.
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# RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — K 2010-08-29 10:21
Probably used CPU physX =P
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# RE: RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Olin Coles 2010-08-29 11:21
What? This game doesn't have a setting to pick between GPU and CPU PhysX. If the GPU support PhysX (GeForce) then it uses GPU, if it doesn't (Radeon) it does what it can with CPU.
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# RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — K 2010-08-29 13:10
There actually was an issue back in the Demo version of Mafia 2 that the PhysX update, when installed could make your card's PhysX capabilities on a forced disable.

You should check it for yourself by running the game again, except with the "Show PhysX visual indicator" option enabled in your Nvidia Control panel. It's there under the 3D settings menu, next to View and Help.

If it says PhysX > CPU, then it's processing PhysX effects via the CPU, if PhysX > GPU, then it's utilizing the GPU to produce physX effects.
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# RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — Olin Coles 2010-08-29 13:28
The demo version wasn't used for this review; it's the full retail version of the game.
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# RE: RE: RE: Mafia-II Video Game Performance — K 2010-08-29 13:32
Aye. However, there's always the possibility. And it's probably no effort just to doublecheck. ;)
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# wtf — Teflon 2010-09-13 19:13
Moin! This is a strange benchmark!!! My Gtx 260 and phenom II x4 (@3ghz) can handle the game at the highest settings (1920x1080). getting a frame rate around 35. physx on high.
greetings from germany,
Tef
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# problem with physx — diaeko 2011-07-20 08:34
the brand of my graphic card is intel and physx only supports nvidia
what should I do to run the game without physx?
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# RE: problem with physx — Olin Coles 2011-07-20 10:38
You will have very poor performance without a 3D graphics accelerator. You can still disable PhysX in the games video options, if you want to try. I suggest reducing all setting to their minimum.
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