2K Games has discovered social media and wants to make sure you don’t miss the fact that Mafia II is coming out later this month. The publisher has announced not only a Facebook game, “Mafia II Hit List,” but a partnership with online music streaming service, Pandora.
“Hit List” appears to be a very basic Facebook application where you act as a “mob boss” and you put a hit on your friends. The goal? To become the most destructive boss, and get ranked on the “Top 5 Hitmen” and the “Top 5 Most Wanted” hit lists. How it works, I’m not entirely sure, because I refuse to spam my friends with Mafia II stuff, even in the name of science and journalism.
The Pandora stuff is a bit cooler. You’ll be able to load up a “Mafia II Pandora Mix Tape” online, which will stream a number of artists from the game’s soundtrack. Listen for Dean Martin, John Lee Hooker, Rosemary Clooney, Buddy Holly, Duke Ellington and more. From early previews I’ve played, it’s perfect mood music for whacking wiseguys. Or cleaning your house.
There’s a Mafia II demo available on your platform of choice, whether you’ve got a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or PC. So go play it. We’ll have a full review up at the end of the month when the game launches.
