Gaming Union writes: Gameplay in Mafia II is similar to the first, and quite like Grand Theft Auto and the likes. The graphics are much better over last year's GTA4, and quite nice to see given the caliber of AAA game graphics this year. Where Mafia II doesn't innovate on its gunplay, Mafia II Producer Denby Grace laid out exactly what the true focus of the game is,
"People ask, 'how does it compare to the game Rockstar makes, how does it compare to Saints Row?' It doesn't. It compares more to Bioshock than those games."
