Mafia II: Definitive Edition vs Project Retrograde: The Becoming

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 1940s-1950s Empire Bay
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Definitive Edition Release: 2020-05-19
• Unique Feature: An iconic, character-driven mob story set in a beautifully realized open world that authentically transitions from the 1940s to the 1950s.

• Perspective: Third-Person (with some First-Person elements)
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Post-Apocalyptic Underground
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Window: To Be Announced
• Unique Feature: A unique 'Parasitic Combat' system where players absorb memories to unlock and switch between entirely different fighting styles, combined with a weather-manipulating 'LUX' system.

• Joe Barbaro: The game is a single-player experience. Vito's best friend, Joe, and other mobsters like Henry Tomasino frequently accompany him on missions, providing fire support and driving the narrative through their interactions.
  Human (AI)

• Playboy Magazines: Vintage Playboy magazines from the 1950s are hidden throughout the game's levels. Each one features an authentic centerfold from the era.
• Wanted Posters: Posters depicting key members of the game's development team are hidden throughout Empire Bay.
• Greaser Magazines: (Joe's Adventures DLC) Car-themed magazines hidden throughout the DLC missions.

• Combat Memories: Absorbed from other hosts. These are the primary collectibles that unlock new fighting styles and parasitic abilities for the player.
• Lore Items: Found through exploration of the shattered underground cities, these items piece together the history of Project Retrograde and the L.U.C.A. parasite.

• Organized Crime
• Mafia
• 1940s-1950s America
• The American Dream
• Friendship & Betrayal
• Action-Adventure
• Period Drama

• Post-Apocalyptic
• Sci-Fi
• Survival
• Action
• Third-Person
• Narrative-Driven
• Body Horror
• Retro-Futurism

• Pistols & Revolvers: Sidearms
  Period-accurate handguns like the Colt 1911, .357 Magnum, and M1911 Special. The standard weapon for most encounters.
• Submachine Guns: Automatic Weapons
  Iconic WWII and post-war SMGs, including the Thompson M1A1 and the MP40, perfect for close-to-medium range firefights.
• Shotguns: Close-Quarters
  Powerful pump-action shotguns that are devastating at close range.
• Rifles: Long Guns
  Military-grade rifles like the M1 Garand, used for powerful, accurate shots at longer distances.
• Throwables: Explosives
  Includes Molotov cocktails for area denial and Mk. II grenades for clearing enemies from cover.

• Firearms: Varies (Pistols, etc.)
  A range of firearms used in the 'Gungfu-centric' combat system, featuring mechanics like ricocheting bullets.
• Melee Weapons: Axe
  The game features brutal melee combat, with the 'Baba Yaga' fighting style centered on a powerful axe.
• Parasitic Abilities: Supernatural
  Powers granted by the L.U.C.A. parasite, unlocked by absorbing combat memories.

• None: The game does not feature an armor system. Player durability is based on their base health, which regenerates partially. Health can be fully restored by eating food or drinking beverages found in the world.

• Outfits: Players can purchase and change Vito's outfits by visiting clothing stores or using the wardrobe in his apartment. Outfits range from leather jackets and casual wear to expensive suits. Clothing is purely cosmetic but is required to change appearance and lose a police 'wanted' level.

The game does not feature a traditional skill tree or RPG leveling system. Progression is tied to the narrative. As Vito earns money and status, he can afford better clothes and cars. Weapon upgrades are not a feature, but players gain access to more powerful firearms as the story advances.

Progression is driven by the unique 'Parasitic Combat' system. The protagonist can absorb combat memories from other hosts to unlock new parasitic abilities and master entirely new fighting styles, such as a fluid Kung Fu master or a ruthless, axe-wielding 'Baba Yaga'. Players must also manage their parasite infection level to prevent overload.

The open world of Empire Bay is a detailed, atmospheric setting that evolves as the story progresses. Key districts include the Italian neighborhood of Little Italy, the bustling downtown district of Midtown, and the industrial port of Southport. The city changes visually and culturally between the 1940s and 1950s sections of the game.

• 1940s & 1950s American Cars: Sedan, Coupe, Truck
  The game features a large roster of fictional vehicles heavily inspired by real cars from the 1940s and 50s. Players can steal cars, store them in their garage, and upgrade their performance at auto shops. The city's vehicles and traffic change as the story progresses from the '40s to the '50s.

• Vito Scaletta: Playable Protagonist
  A WWII veteran who joins the Mafia to escape a life of poverty. His story traces his rise and fall within Empire Bay's criminal underworld.
• Joe Barbaro: Deuteragonist / Best Friend
  Vito's impulsive and loyal best friend. He is already connected to the criminal world and is responsible for Vito's introduction to the mob.
• Henry Tomasino: Ally / Mobster
  A 'made man' in the Clemente crime family who mentors Vito and Joe, providing them with their first real jobs in the Mafia.
• Eddie Scarpa: Capo / Boss
  The underboss of the Falcone crime family. A charismatic but dangerous figure who gives Vito and Joe many of their high-stakes assignments.

• The Bounty Hunter: Playable Protagonist
  A survivor in a post-apocalyptic world who is symbiotically bound to the L.U.C.A. parasite, granting them immense power.
• Winter: Ally
  A surface agent who teams up with the protagonist.
• Sean Anderson: Antagonist / Target
  The bounty hunter's primary target, who is responsible for a recent mutation event.
• L.U.C.A.: Parasite / Power Source
  The ancient parasite that has overrun the world and is symbiotically linked with the protagonist, granting them powers at the risk of consuming their identity.

• Story Chapters
  The game is divided into 15 linear story chapters that follow Vito Scaletta's life and career in the Mafia over a decade, from his return from war in 1945 to his dealings in 1951.
• DLC Add-Ons
  The three included DLCs ('The Betrayal of Jimmy,' 'Jimmy's Vendetta,' 'Joe's Adventures') offer more arcade-style, action-focused missions that take place within the Empire Bay open world, separate from the main story.

The Definitive Edition is the all-in-one package, available as a standalone purchase or as a free upgrade for owners of the original Mafia II on Steam. It includes the base game and all three story DLCs: 'The Betrayal of Jimmy,' 'Jimmy's Vendetta,' and 'Joe's Adventures,' as well as all bonus packs.

All post-launch content is included in the Definitive Edition. The three story add-ons ('The Betrayal of Jimmy,' 'Jimmy's Vendetta,' and 'Joe's Adventures') offer more arcade-style, action-focused missions that take place within the Empire Bay open world, separate from the main story.

• Q: What is included in the Mafia II: Definitive Edition?
  A: It includes a remastered version of the full base game plus all three of its story DLCs: 'The Betrayal of Jimmy,' 'Jimmy's Vendetta,' and 'Joe's Adventures.'
• Q: Do I need to play Mafia 1 before Mafia 2?
  A: No. While they exist in the same universe, Mafia II features a new protagonist and a standalone story. There are some minor connections, but it is not required to play the first game.
• Q: Is Mafia II an open-world sandbox like Grand Theft Auto?
  A: No. While it is set in a large, open-world city, the game is a very linear, story-driven experience. The city primarily serves as a setting for the story chapters, with few side activities.
• Q: How is this different from Mafia III?
  A: Mafia II is a more focused, linear narrative with less emphasis on open-world activities. Mafia III features a systemic open world where the player must actively take over districts. The stories and protagonists are also completely different, though Vito Scaletta from this game appears as a supporting character in Mafia III.

• Q: What is Project Retrograde: The Becoming?
  A: It is a single-player, third-person action survival game with a strong narrative focus. It is known for its 'Gungfu-centric' combat, a parasitic ability system, and a unique weather-manipulation mechanic.
• Q: What games is it similar to?
  A: Its visual style, camera angle, and action combat have drawn heavy comparisons to the modern Resident Evil remakes (particularly RE4), while its narrative atmosphere has been likened to The Last of Us and The Evil Within.
• Q: What is the 'Parasitic Combat' system?
  A: It's a unique progression system where the player absorbs combat memories from other hosts to unlock completely new fighting styles, such as a Kung Fu master or an axe-wielding 'Baba Yaga'.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: No specific release date has been announced yet, but it is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The Definitive Edition is a remaster of the 2010 original, featuring updated character models and higher-resolution textures to bring the visuals closer to modern standards. The game is celebrated for its authentic and detailed recreation of a mid-20th century American city.

The game features an acclaimed licensed soundtrack with dozens of authentic songs from the 1940s and 50s. The music is delivered through three in-game radio stations that change their playlists and news reports as the story progresses through the different eras.

Features a standard third-person shooter UI with a mini-map, health bar, and ammo count. The world map is used for navigation between missions. The overall presentation is highly cinematic, with a focus on immersing the player in the period setting.

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Mafia II: Definitive Edition. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Hangar 13 and publisher 2K, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a remaster of a 2010 title, the requirements are very low by modern standards. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated for context.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance. Given the game's age, almost any modern gaming laptop will run Mafia II: Definitive Edition at maximum settings and high framerates without any issues.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as even low-power modern GPUs will be more than sufficient.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems, but good thermals are always beneficial for system health.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game is not CPU-intensive by modern standards, and any recent mobile CPU will handle it easily.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: While not essential for this title, a MUX switch can help reduce system latency, which is a general benefit for gaming.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Mafia II: Definitive Edition does not have official integrated support for modern upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like Antialiasing, Shadow Quality, and Ambient Occlusion. However, most modern hardware can easily run the game at maximum settings.
• Game Name: Mafia II: Definitive Edition

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, heavy particle effects, and cinematic combat.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense boss fights will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game with slow-motion mechanics.
• Game Name: Project Retrograde: The Becoming

• Upscaling Tech: Mafia II: Definitive Edition does not have official integrated support for modern upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like Antialiasing, Shadow Quality, and Ambient Occlusion. However, most modern hardware can easily run the game at maximum settings.

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as even low-power modern GPUs will be more than sufficient.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems, but good thermals are always beneficial for system health.
• C P U Power Limits: The game is not CPU-intensive by modern standards, and any recent mobile CPU will handle it easily.
• M U X Switch Optimus: While not essential for this title, a MUX switch can help reduce system latency, which is a general benefit for gaming.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, heavy particle effects, and cinematic combat.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense boss fights will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game with slow-motion mechanics.