Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Tested on: PlayStation 4
Mafia: Definitive Edition – Review
A few generations back, the first Mafia game was released. This game received many positive reviews for the great story, yet one fact was universally known, this game was insanely difficult. This had mostly to do with the way games got made back then and with remakes being more and more popular these days, it felt like it was only a matter of time before the legendary game would be remade. This Definitive Edition of the first Mafia game is one that will take you back to the hard days, albeit slightly more accessible.
Story
You step into the shoes of Tommy Angelo, a young cab driver that is just working on the clock when one day he meets his fate. Two gangsters are running away from another mafia. You escape and drop the two off at a bar. The two fellas seem to be part of the Salieri family and offer Tommy compensation for the damages but also a job. Tommy initially refuses the offer, but as he is attacked the next day on the job by the rival gangsters, he decides to join the Salieri family. As you become a soldier and hang out with Sam and Paulie, you will make a name for yourself in the ranks. The story of Mafia: Definitive Edition is an amazing one, you will want to follow each cutscene and listen close to the conversations in-game. There is so much lore right in front of your eyes and the way the story is brought is just perfect. A true must-have game is you love a good story that is easy to follow.
Graphics
As the original game came out a few generations ago, it has received a complete graphical overhaul. Everything looks much clearer and smoother and all the characters have been updated to look more realistic. Another difference is that the characters are now based on their voice actors, rather than other imagery used in the older version. This makes that each person looks matches their voice rather flawlessly. The weather effects and lighting are also really realistic and with smooth frame-rates, you will enjoy the cinematic experiences in the game.
Sound
As mentioned earlier, the characters are based on their voice actors. This means that during the gameplay and cutscenes everything feels more organic. A fact that is greatly appreciated is that the voice acting or general dialog isn’t the cheesy mafia stuff that movies or some games show. It really feels like you are part of a crime syndicate. The game takes place in the 1930s, this is also noticeable with the really old music playing on the radio. There are two radio stations where you can listen to talk shows and music, ideal if you love to get a sense of the era.
Gameplay
Mafia: Definitive Edition is an action game where you play as Tommy Angelo, a cab driver whose life changed on one unfortunate day. The game starts with Sam and Paulie running away from other gangsters, as they get into the cab, they threaten Tommy with a gun to his head. You immediately get told how to drive and notice how the game feels different than others. The mechanics are like the old game, where cars handle very sloppy (old tires did not have that much grip). Before starting the game, you can decide on what difficulty to play, it is advised for the story difficulty to pick one that fits you. Do you miss the old game? Then put everything in simulation mode, this makes the game feel and play like the original. When driving vehicles in the realistic setting you will notice that they like to slide, yet with some skill, you can manipulate these settings to your advantage.
The first few missions all serve the purpose of guiding the player through an interactive tutorial that doesn’t really feel like one. You can easily blast through these levels if you want, or take the time to learn all the controls. One thing that still is difficult is the gunfighting. The controls are decent, yet you don’t play like a war hero that is a superman, you are still an ex cab driver that turned to the criminal life. This means that shootouts can be really dangerous, so you best be careful or utilize as much stealth as possible.
The game is played chapter per chapter, so in true Mafia fashion, it isn’t an open sandbox experience. The story is nicely pieced together with cutscenes between each chapter. If you want to drive around a bit with a vehicle, you can try them out on the test track to measure your speed or do some missions in the city.
Controlling Tommy and the vehicles depends on your setting. In the normal modes, the cars drive more forgivingly while in the simulation mode they will handle as they did in that era. The movement feels pretty decent. It still is a bit static like in the old game, yet it doesn’t feel all that aged. It could be possible that the developers used the same engine as in the other more recent Mafia games because it strangely feels really familiar.
Conclusion
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a great game that captures the story of the original Mafia game in a modern jacket. The story is amazing, the chapters are pieced together with interesting cutscenes brought to you by great voice actors. The gameplay is smooth, feels modern, yet has these classical elements so it still feels like the old game. Thanks to the different difficulty settings it welcomes all kinds of players to enjoy the story that most couldn’t before due to the game being too difficult. The graphics are nice and the music takes you back to the 1930s.
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