The Mafia series has always been celebrated for its gripping storytelling and immersive worlds, and Mafia: The Old Country takes the franchise back to its roots. Set in early 1900s Sicily, the game delivers a compelling crime drama with refined gameplay and a carefully crafted world. While not without its flaws, it’s a memorable experience that reinvigorates the series.
A Classic Story of Revenge, Redemption and Family
You play as Enzo Favara, a young Sicilian forced into labor in a sulfur mine at just five years old to pay off his family’s debts. Years later, he saves enough money to buy his freedom, which sets the stage for his rise within the Torrisi crime family.
The story builds slowly, allowing the characters and world to take shape before ramping up into high-stakes drama. While the pacing might be too slow for some, the rich narrative payoff makes it worth the wait.
The game’s voice cast delivers outstanding performances, making every interaction feel impactful. Motivations and relationships are carefully developed, enhancing the game’s cinematic experience.
A Stunning Sicilian Setting
Mafia: The Old Country trades the urban sprawl of past games for the scenic landscapes of 1900s Sicily. From sweeping mountain vistas to bustling town squares, every detail of the setting is well crafted. Transportation options include riding horses or driving vintage cars, and improved driving mechanics make exploration a joy.
The game gives players the freedom to explore at their own pace, though skipping travel sections means missing out on character-building conversations. These moments add context and depth to the story, making them worth you taking the extra time.
Gameplay: Refined but Repetitive
The 14 or so hour campaign offers a variety of missions, from infiltrating hideouts to eliminating enemies. While settings and objectives keep things fresh, mission structures can feel a tad repetitive, often boiling down to sneaking in and neutralizing a target.
Enzo’s toolkit includes stealth options like a knife for silent takedowns and tools for unlocking doors, as well as firearms, grenades, and distractions like coins. The “instinct” ability that helps you identify enemy positions. We’ve seen this in other games, but Mafia has incorporated it well into this title..
Gunplay and the cover system make combat a fairly fluid experience. An interesting feature is the addition of knife duels. These tense one-on-one battles require precise timing to parry, dodge, and strike, offering a rewarding challenge. Though rare, they serve as memorable highlights during major story moments.
Unfortunately, not all gameplay elements hit the mark as the AI can be inconsistent. Enemies sometimes fail to notice bodies in plain view but show impressive tactics during gunfights. These minor flaws don’t detract too much from the overall experience but can occasionally break immersion.
Atmosphere and Music
The soundtrack is exceptional and deserves special recognition. It masterfully immerses you in the Italian setting as you explore the picturesque landscapes of Sicily, seamlessly building tension during confrontations and perfectly complementing key story moments. This game fully justifies turning the volume up, as the music elevates the atmosphere and adds emotional depth to every scene.
A Strong Entry to the Franchise
Mafia: The Old Country stands as one of the best titles in the series. With a gripping narrative, well-developed characters, and a visually stunning world, it delivers a truly memorable and cinematic experience. Its strengths far surpass its weaknesses.. The Old Country offers an immersive journey into a historic criminal underworld that is absolutely worth your time.
I played the game on the PlayStation 5 and around 75% using the PlayStation Portal. For me this experience of hand held gaming was an absolute immersive blast that ran extremely smooth across the network.
Mafia: The Old Country is out now on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S and scores an 8 out of 10 on doccydarko.com
