An Offer You Can’t Refuse?
The Godfather films were experiences I watched over and over, pretty much on repeat. I was enthralled by these family dramas overshadowed by violence, treachery, and power. And mostly, it was the scenes in Sicily in parts one and two that really piqued my interest. Is this where the Mafia began? Religion and honour were the keystones, and it was a world that was both scary and exciting.
Mafia: The Old Country is a game that draws on the famous franchise, set in Sicily. But instead of going forward in time, it takes us back to the turn of the 20th century. So, swear your allegiance to me as we explore the world of the underbelly of crime.
A Focused Narrative: From Mining to the Mob
Aside from Definitive Editions of Mafia I, Mafia II and Mafia III, the last ‘new’ game in the franchise, Mafia III, came out in 2016, but it wasn’t a particular fan favourite. A good game in my opinion, I think the more GTA-like, open-world nature of the game didn’t appeal to some. But that is all in years gone by and now, with Mafia: The Old Country we have a more focused narrative journey, with just a hint of an open world that isn’t really there to discover.
For many, those who are after a narrative and tale to immerse themselves in, this game delivers in spades.
Enzo’s Epic Opera
It all starts at the beginning of Enzo’s story. He is working in the punishing mines with his best friend, trying to raise – and hide – money to escape to America. It’s a tough life, and after a horrific mining incident, Enzo finds himself on the run from the Mafia group that runs things. He soon finds sanctuary with the Torrisi family, and we see him rise from stable boy to one of the most rusted lieutenants in the family.
He is loved and respected by the family, but his affair with the Don’s daughter, Isabella, risks everything he has worked for…
This narrative is a strong one, like watching a movie with evolving and dynamic cutscenes. The character building and Mafia-related stories are strong, with a narrative that spans several years and an ever-symbolic volcano rumbling in the background. It’s an epic opera of a story that delivers, with the island of Sicily itself playing host to some beautiful, visual storytelling. The characters and narrative are strong; I just wished I could have wandered about a bit more between the chapters.
Driving, Dodging, and Dueling
The gameplay puts you in Enzo’s third-person perspective, and you can run, vault, and walk around the world. You collect items and examine objects of interest, picking up documents and some very interesting collectibles.
You also get to use transport; you start with a horse but soon get some cars from the era, and there is a whole range of them to unlock and put in your garage. These cars are wonderful and if you remember back to the tank-like driving of the first Mafia game, this entry will be appreciated, with everything running at high-speed, lovely to drive. There are a few races that you get the chance to enter and some chase shootouts to get involved in as well, which are a lot of fun.
Stealth and Gunfights
The Old Country also features a lot of combat – as you would expect. You use stealth a lot to start with, going from cover to cover and creeping behind people to take them out with a knife or your hands. You can then hide bodies so as not to be seen, but soon it will end up in a gunfight. Here you have a range of old-timey weapons, from pistols to rifles and shotguns. There are also grenades and bandages to heal yourself. It all works great and is interesting to play, even though sometimes the AI does struggle to use intelligence.
Brutal Brawls and Exciting Set Pieces
There are some boss fights, and these will always be that of a knife-vs-knife fight. Here you can swipe, thrust, and perform a guard attack against the boss. You can dodge heavy attacks and parry smaller ones.
These knife fights are fun to start with, but over time, they do overstay their welcome. Thankfully, there are other great set pieces to enjoy, like a parkour chase through the town rooftops and a fight in an opera house.
The Beauty of Sicily
Mafia: The Old Country hurries you along through the world without giving you much time to go out and explore. You get money to spend on different clothes, weapons, and cars, but there doesn’t seem to be much point to any of that, as the journey is so fast. It’s not helped that side missions are very barebones, except for taking photographs of beauty spots.
But what a place to take some pictures. Sicily is glorious and the game’s visuals are outstanding, with some beautiful vistas, intricate architecture, and wonderful lighting effects. Every place I went to, both in terms of interiors and exteriors, are places I could walk around for hours. Character animations are great, from the main cast of rogues to the extras going about their business in the background. And the cars look brilliant, as does the attention to detail in documents and furniture. In fact, it’s so good that you can ignore the few stutters here and there, with nothing to get too worried about.
The audio is excellent as well, with a sombre and effective soundtrack throughout. The effects are quality, with a brilliant voice cast who give each of the characters plenty of emotion and gravitas.
A Streamlined and Cinematic Mafia Experience
It’s obvious that the development team wanted to craft a more focused and streamlined Mafia game than the last entry, and in that respect, they have done just that, super effectively with Mafia: The Old Country.
Mafia: The Old Country moves along at a breakneck speed; so fast that it perhaps doesn’t allow for enough time to smell the roses. Even when you have the opportunity to move away from the set path, you will continually get pulled back to the main story. I loved the journey and the story, and I think the price point reflects the 10-hour journey of the game.
However, whilst the combat works well, the knife fights appear too many times for my liking. On the opposite side of things, some of the set pieces are excellent, and the driving is fun and thrilling at times.
I would have liked more side missions and a greater opportunity to explore the beautiful world of Mafia: The Old Country, but the stunning visuals, exciting set pieces and immersive journey are more than enough to tempt you into a Mafia game again.
The Old Country has more than satisfied my Godfather cravings.
Important Links
An Offer You Can’t Refuse? Mafia: The Old Country Revealed with Gameplay, Release Date & Pre-Orders – https://www.thexboxhub.com/an-offer-you-cant-refuse-mafia-the-old-country-revealed-with-gameplay-release-date-pre-orders/
Welcome to the Family – Mafia: The Old Country Dives into 1900s Sicily on Xbox, PS5 & PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/welcome-to-the-family-mafia-the-old-country-dives-into-1900s-sicily-on-xbox-ps5-pc/
Buy Mafia: The Old Country on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/mafia-the-old-country/9P834N9S4LL0/0010
Grab a Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/mafia-the-old-country-deluxe-edition/9N15MGJQHRTG/0010
