one of my all time favorite games and an incredibly special experience. i first played mafia 2 when i began to develop an interest in games and amidst the likes of assassins creed, the arkham series, the last of us, red dead redemption, and bioshock, there was this game. a game that hooked me from start to finish, helped fuel my love and reverence towards gaming as an artform, my passion for narrative and storytelling, and told an enthralling story with care and depth. despite its several imperfections (and somewhat lacking gameplay) i love this game to death and i still see myself revisiting it as the years go on.