- Mafia : Definitive Edition
- Rated M
- Hanger 13
- “Mafia Engine”
- Xbox One, PS4, PC
- Release: September 25, 2020
- Purchased personal copy on Xbox One
Thomas Angelo is a cab driver in the city of Lost Heaven. Like many Americans in the year 1930, Tommy is struggling from the aftermath of the Great 2Depression. With many out of work, fares come far and few in-between. Meanwhile, organized crime is picking up with the demand of illegal alcohol sales during prohibition. One night, he is forced to cabbie for a couple of guys being chased down by their rivals, the Morello gang. His passengers thank him and offer him a job, but he declines as the life of crime is not for him. He is later tracked down by Morello’s gang and is forced to find help with the Salieri family. Tommy’s life has changed but will he let the life of crime consume him?
Mafia : Definitive Edition is a remake of 2002’s Mafia made in Mafia 3‘s engine. Modernizing the core gameplay and redoing the setting, voice acting, and expanding the story.
Mafia DE at its core is a cover based 3rd person shooter. Gameplay consists of a mix of driving and on foot combat with a small mix of melee and ranged weapons. In between combat sections, you’ll find yourself driving across the city of Lost Heaven in a variety of cars.
While Mafia : DE can be considered an open world game, it is very linear experience. The game is divided into chapters that guide you from point a to point b, with no real need to explore the city outside of the mission.
I’d like to start off with the fact that I have never played the original Mafia from 2002, but I have played 2 & 3. It definitely feels like an offshoot of Mafia 3, while retaining the feel of a game of a game from the early 2000’s. There isn’t a lot to do outside the main story, but that isnt a problem here. Mafia 3 would have been better if it was condensed like Mafia DE. DE‘s totals game length is just right – little to no filler chapters, a handful of collectibles, and no extraneous side missions. It’s a straightforward experience.
The story is the best part of the game. Following Tommy’s journey from cabbie to his life in the mafia is great. Aside from the notorious racing chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lost Heaven. I even enjoyed having to watch my speeding around town before calling unwanted attention from the law.
Despite being built on the foundation of Mafia 3, the gunplay and driving could have been better. These two things weren’t perfect in 3, but the shooting always feels a bit random as none of the weapons ever feel 100% accurate.
Driving feels what i assume driving a 30’s era car would feel like, not very fun at high speed. Which detracts a bit as you’ll often find yourself getting chased down by enemies. During the chases, turns will be your biggest obstacle. The game supplements this by adding road hazards that you bait the enemy into.
Mafia Definitive Edition is definitely a product of the early 2000’s, but it is a great story that is cleaned up and modernized that is still worth playing. It does just enough without getting too overwhelming.
- + Great Story
- + “Meat and Potatoes” kind of game.
- – Combat/ Driving could be better
Codigo Aztecha 