Green Room Review| Mafia: The Old Country

 

Image Credit : Nvidia Blog

    Twenty three years ago Illusion Softworks now known as 2k Czech released Mafia a semi open world crime game that took place in Lost Heaven a fictional mix of Chicago and San Francisco that followed Tommy Angelo a cabby who became wrapped up in the world of the Mafia after a fateful night. Twenty Three years later Hangar 13 released Mafia: The Old Country a prequel set in Sicily that shows some of the origins of the families we see in the future games. Set in the early 1900's this game is a departure from prior titles that take place in the 1920's onward in America. Let's Dive in!

(Reviewed on Xbox Series X on 4k TV)

Gameplay

    Mafia: The Old Country returns to the classic Mafia formula of having a large map with a linear story and an optional free roam mode. The game is split up into three different main mechanics for the majority of its sections those are knife duels, stealth sections, and gunfights. These mechanics are very simple and don't reinvent the wheel as the knife duels feel similar to Mafia II's fistfights, the stealth feels like it did in the previous two Mafia tiles where it is simple line of sight and hiding bodies, and finally the shooting feels the same as the shooting in in the Mafia: Definitive Edition and can be made smoother with optional upgrades. This game knows that it doesn't have to reinvent the wheel the most issue I have with any of these mechanics is the stealth, it is easy and very surface level to the point where at some points where it is not required at some points and you can just engage with the more fun firefights. The stealth sections can be trivialized by using the throwing knife as it makes the stealth very simple and boring. The shooting is fun the weapons feel very weighty from the devastation of the shotguns to the precision of what I believe is a musket, the shooting feels satisfying. The guns are fun and period correct don't expect to use old series staples like the tommy gun though as everything is period accurate. Finally the world is one of the best parts of this game as not many titles take you to early twentieth century Sicily. The buildings are beautifully modeled and feel very handmade and you can feel the passion the devs put into it. There are many beautiful vistas of ancient temples, views of the bay, or the bustling port cities that feel like a bustling population center. While the gameplay doesn't evolve it carries with it what Hangar 13 has solidified for the past three entries.

Story

    Mafia: The Old Country follows the story of Enzo Favara a miner who was sold by his father into indentured servitude in a Sicilian sulfur mine near Mount Etna. From the mine Enzo soon finds himself as an employee of Don Torrisi who runs a vineyard nearby but is a rival to Don Spadaro the owner of the mines that Enzo worked in. As the story continues Enzo is drawn deeper into a world of violence, betrayal, and crime as he climbs the ranks in the family. The story introduces many characters who are expertly portrayed by their actors and really keep you playing as you want to see what will happen next. With this game being a prequel there are many characters who will come up as you go back in time through the series and you can see how some were raised or where some rose to power they hold in America. If the unoriginal gameplay is possibly a hang-up the story definitely will make up for the issues you enjoy more cinematic stories. One quick side note do not expect a massive twenty plus hour story as the developers stated it is made to be a twelve-fifteen hour title and was priced at $50 (USD) to reflect that.

Audio

    The audio of this game really is where you could feel the love these artists had for their craft. If you watched any of the "Breaking Omerta" videos in the initial marketing push for this tile they talked about working with collector's of these old 1900's cars and making sure each one had the appropriate sounds and using traditional Sicilian instruments in the phenomenal soundtrack. The guns sound distinct but powerful. The voice work is top tier as well as the performance capture really making it feel like a movie or show at points. The audio is the area where I have no complaints aside from a few occasional glitches like cars sounding very far off  or almost silent while driving.

Summary

    Mafia: The Old Country is an enjoyable experience elevated by it's story, strong acting, and beautifully crafted audio and world. The dated gameplay can make some parts a bit boring but wanting to see how Enzo's story concludes really pulls the player through to the climax. This game will have you booking a flight to Sicily after seeing how beautiful the map looks and the care the devs put into making it feel real and like it could've actually been from that period. I will give this title 4/5 stars as the story and audio are amazing but are dragged down by the gameplay. There are several amazing set pieces in this title that will make you smile from ear to ear, recoil from brutality, or feel like a true Mafioso. Thank You for reading!