Since Mafia 2 is one of the games for this year that we are planing on getting and one that we have personally been anticipating, we thought you should know what our impressions of the game demo are and it should answer some questions that you may have. The Mafia 2 demo is worth getting, but were debating on whether or not the game is a buy or a rent. For us, we feel that we’ve been spoiled with Grand Theft Auto IV’s Euphoria game engine and playing this demo on 2K games PhysX engine just feels different and that’s ok, because Mafia 2 is not Grand Theft Auto. We were expecting more from the demo, but to be honest with you, we are not that impressed with the gameplay in general.

On the positive side of this game the team over at 2K games did a great job as far as looks go because the graphics look amazing especially on the XBOX 360. We appreciated what the developers did, letting you choose whether or not you want to watch the cut-scenes or simply skip them. The driving was nice and flexible, but sometimes the streets were a bit narrow and being that in that era you had cars that were huge this made it a bit irritating because it makes you hit things.

The police in this game are really intelligent and so they will chase you around a lot so they will take you down. Another thing that this game has is that if you are planing to carjack up a car from somebody driving you better be ready to shoot that person because most of the drivers have guns and will shoot at you.

Because this is just a demo, we are not going to get discouraged about getting this game and we will buy it once it comes out that way we can give you a better review. There are alot of negative things about this game as well as positive and we will just have to wait and see.

Take a look at this sort of leaked video of the things you can do while playing Mafia 2. It looks like the game has been perfected and the team over at 2k Czech have done great work on this title. The main character Vito Scaletta can do a lot of cool things that were not available on Mafia number 1. One of the things that seem fun is opening the trunk of the car. The graphics look great as we were able to see them over at PAX east earlier this year so we will have to wait and see once the game comes out this fall, but for now check out the footage below.

Well there is no doubt that 2010 is an exciting year for video games and that is because there are a lot of games coming out some are sequels, expansion or simply just new games with new stories. The following handpicked games are the ones that are on our list of pre orders as always we will start the games that we will probably play less to the number one game. It will probably surprise you, but it’s our list and we know that these will be blockbuster titles.

Alan Wake / Remedy Entertainment  / Microsoft Games Studios / May 2010/ XBOX 360

We would like to start off with Alan Wake which is one that is on our list of pre orders because the game looks like it will have a good storyline. Developed exclusively for the XBOX 360 it will be a blockbuster that competes with the PS3′s new exclusive “Heavy Rain” which is already out in the shelves. Alan Wake is a Psychological thriller, action game and because it’s a thriller there will be lots of scary stuff  in it and it should be coming out May 18, 2010 in North America and May 14, 2010 in Europe.

Dead Rising 2 / Blue Castle Games / Capcom / August-September 2010 / XBOX 360 / PS3 / PC

We recently looked at the new trailer for Dead Rising 2 and we simply can’t wait for this game to come out. The game is a sequel so it’s set a few years from the original game so that means survival horror and action packed with zombies and surviving them. Set in a fictional Las Vegas which they call Fortune City it is Capcom’s new project and the best part is that we only have a few months until it get’s released. Look out for Dead Rising 2 in the fall of 2010 on the XBOX 360, Playstation 3, and the PC.

Tropico 3: Absolute Power expansion pack / Haemimont Games / Kalypso Media/  PC Summer 2010

A game that we have been playing a lot is Tropico 3 and the reason for that is that the game is fun and there is just no way of saying it because we really enjoy it, but this isn’t all just about Tropico 3 it’s about the expansion pack which will be called “Absolute Power” which adds many new features. The game is good as is so we can only imagine with more buildings, factions, and monuments what it will be like. Look out for Tropico 3: Absolute Power summer of 2010 for the PC.

Mafia II / 2K Czeck / ZK Games / Playstation 3, XBOX 360, and PC -Fall 2010

This one caught our attention in a bad way over at PAX east, but we still have high hopes for it being that we really enjoyed it’s predecessor Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven.  This new game is in a new city and although it would of been nice to see the City of Lost heaven again, Empire City should be interesting enough. New characters that do not connect with the old characters in any way make the game more unique, but our only worry that this game was developed by Illusion Softworks, which was bought by 2K games and the game is not being published by Gathering of Developers instead 2K Games will be publishing this game. Because this is a game we personally have been waiting for, it is in our list and it was even before news came about it being released. Mafia 2 is scheduled for release some time in the fall of 2010 on the Playstation 3, XBOX 360 and the PC.

Red Dead Redemption / Rockstar San Diego / Rockstar Games / PS3, XBOX 360, PC

We are really impressed with Red Dead Redemption and this is one that we personally got to play over at PAX east event in Boston. Rockstar Games did great work with RDR and the best part is that this is the second game that Rockstar has done which they used the Natural Motion’s Euphoria game engine basically the same that they used for Grand Theft Auto IV.

There is no one out there that matches to Rockstar Games because they create good games and when I held that XBOX 360 controller and had control of John Marston I knew that the game was worth it. When the Rockstar guy got the mission started for me we went through the cut scenes and finally it was time to play and while controlling John Marston and having him whistle his horse to have him come to you just felt great and I knew then that this is probably going to be one of the best or actually may be the best game of the year.

Red Dead Redemption is scheduled for release May 18, 2010 on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3

Take a look at this new Mafia 2: Developer diary which answers many questions that you may have about Mafia 2. One of the interesting things about this game is that you play as Vito, an Italian American trying to steer his family out of poverty, which makes joining the Mafia a capital idea. The other part that looks promising is that the story is about friendship and betrayal as in most stories about Mafia you will see a lot of that.

Watch below as this diary tells more

We got a chance to check out Sid Meier’s Civilization V and Mafia 2 at the Pax East event and we must say that were impressed with both games, but however Mafia 2 beats it. We were however not impressed with 2K Games in general because they created some VIP crap that basically means you have to wait a half an hour to test out their games, which can sort of distract you from coming back to their booths all together. Basically with all the stuff at PAX east you guys are encouraging people to not check your games out. Especially with Rockstar Games next to it and other awesome publishers around it.

Anyways Take 2 or whoever made the decision to do that VIP crap for 2K games we urge you to do it the way Rockstar Games did it at their booth. It’s fair and it gives everyone a chance to check you’re games out eventually, and yes even though people hate waiting in line, it’s much easier to wait for a bit and play than not wait at all and forget to play and test out your games at all.

This is one we have been paying close attention to and that is Mafia 2 the sequel to Mafia: The City of Lost heaven. The original game came out back in 2002 and it looked great on previous generation consoles and the PC. With technology the way that it is today the game will look almost realist and just fun to play. In case you were wondering when will Mafia II is coming well the news is finally here. Mafia II will be coming out August 24, 2010 in North America and internationally it will come out August 27 on the Playstation 3 and XBOX 360.