The Mafia franchise has long struggled with the concept of an open world, often leaving players feeling as though they were navigating through mere set dressing rather than a fully realized environment. In the original Mafia, Lost Heaven served as an odd, sparsely populated backdrop that failed to resonate. The sequel, Mafia 2, succumbed to commercial pressures, stripping away side activities that could have enriched the experience, resulting in a map that felt just as hollow as its predecessor.
What is it? A local boy’s journey into the Sicilian mob in 1904, with all the expected complications.
Release date: August 7, 2025
Expect to pay: / £45
Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K
Reviewed on: RTX 4080, AMD Ryzen 3700x, 32GB RAM
Multiplayer: No
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Link: Official site
Mafia 3 attempted to address these shortcomings by populating New Bordeaux with various activities, yet it fell short, offering repetitive tasks that detracted from the engaging revenge narrative at its core. The latest installment, Mafia: The Old Country, opts for a more focused approach, honing in on its main storyline and discarding the distractions that have plagued previous entries. This shift, while seemingly a step in the right direction, raises questions about whether the series has sacrificed depth for brevity, as the narrative struggles to maintain interest over its concise 13-hour runtime, especially when compared to the 40 hours of its predecessor.
Carusu-ing for a bruising
Players begin their journey as Enzo Favara, a Sicilian laborer with a tragic backstory, thrust into chaos shortly after the game begins. A catastrophic event leads him to the employ of Don Torrisi, a local figure whose intentions for his daughter Isabella and nephew Cesare create a web of predictable plot threads. The narrative unfolds in a manner that feels all too familiar, lacking the surprises that could elevate it beyond the standard mob story tropes.
Despite the predictability, the performances and dialogue shine, particularly the tension between the rival mob leaders. However, the overall experience is marred by a sense of déjà vu, as players navigate through a story that rarely ventures into new territory. The game touches on deeper themes—such as the mob’s entanglement with local politics—but quickly retreats to focus on its characters and their fates.
Mambo Italiano
Mechanically, Mafia: The Old Country does not significantly improve upon its predecessors. The gameplay oscillates between stealth, combat, driving, and knife fights, with stealth being the most enjoyable due to its simplicity. Driving, while generally acceptable, can become cumbersome in the narrow streets of early 1900s Sicily. Combat, however, feels outdated, reminiscent of mid-budget shooters from a bygone era, with enemies exhibiting questionable AI that often leads to frustrating encounters.
The knife fights, a nod to Sicilian culture, could have been a unique feature, yet they quickly become repetitive due to their formulaic nature. Players can anticipate the same sequence of actions, diminishing the excitement of each encounter. This over-reliance on familiar mechanics leaves little room for innovation, making the gameplay feel monotonous.
Che brutta figura
As a long-time fan of the Mafia series, the shift towards a more streamlined narrative in Mafia: The Old Country is disappointing. The ambition that once characterized the franchise seems to have been replaced by a focus on fundamentals that fail to impress. While the visuals of Sicily are undeniably appealing, the game ultimately feels like a missed opportunity, lacking the charm and eccentricity that once defined the series. The result is a title that, while decent, fails to capture the imagination or deliver the engaging experience that fans have come to expect.
