This DLC for Mafia II shifts the focus to Joe Barbaro while Vito is imprisoned, extending the crime drama with new story missions and locations in Empire Bay. Gameplay features optional, arcade-style city quests centered on score accumulation via combos, precision driving, and combat executions for online leaderboard competition. Released in 2010, this content requires the base game and adds new clothing and collectibles to the experience.
The core appeal of this addition lies in its focus on Joe Barbaro. While Vito is serving time, Joe is left to navigate the complex underworld of Empire Bay and uncover the circumstances surrounding Vito’s imprisonment. Players experience the events from Joe's impulsive and unpredictable viewpoint, delving deeper into the internal politics of the Clemente crime family through a dramatic storyline.
This expansion introduces several new environments for players to explore, extending the map of Empire Bay. New locations include a train station, a boat yard, a cathouse, and a lakefront area that features seasonal changes. Additionally, players will encounter previously unseen buildings within the city.
Beyond the main story missions centered on Joe, this DLC introduces a significant layer of optional, arcade-style gameplay integrated into the city environment. This system is score-based, encouraging replayability through high scores on online leaderboards.
Core mechanics within these optional quests reward skillful execution:
The content package also includes new cosmetic items, such as fresh clothing options for Joe, new collectibles scattered throughout the expanded map, and additional classic music tracks from the 1940s and 1950s to enhance the atmosphere.
This content is not a standalone experience; it requires the base game to access the story and world. It substantially enhances the original narrative by providing crucial context and perspective during a major gap in the main storyline. While the scope is focused on Joe’s specific arc, it adds significant replay value through the introduction of the arcade-style city quests, offering a different type of challenge compared to the main game’s structured missions.
The optional city-based quests are designed around high-octane action and score accumulation. These missions provide a distinct gameplay loop focused on chaining together impressive driving feats and combat maneuvers to climb the online leaderboards, offering a fast-paced counterpoint to the narrative missions.