Among the varied franchises within the gaming business – lively, inactive, hated, never-was – Mafia all the time stands out within the strangest methods. The primary sport developed by Phantasm Softworks arrived in a post-Grand Theft Auto 3 period and delivered an unimaginable narrative with out making an attempt to leap on the open-world bandwagon. And but, the sequel took a whopping eight years to launch. Evaluations weren’t practically as optimistic, however for many who waited a very long time for a follow-up (and a few readability on that scene from the tip), it was sufficient.
Enter Mafia 3, this time launching six years after the second. A brand new period, a brand new metropolis, a brand new story that existed nicely sufficient by itself (with a number of good callbacks) – the franchise appeared poised for a correct revival. And but, regardless of the compelling narrative and beautiful visuals, it was marred by repetitive mission design, tacked-on open world and intensive efficiency points. The truth that it went on to promote greater than seven million copies by March 2020 is noteworthy as a result of, for the longest time, one other follow-up appeared inconceivable.
9 years later, Mafia: The Previous Nation is formally right here on Xbox Collection X/S, PS5, and PC. The turnaround from its announcement in August 2024 to launching lower than a 12 months later is spectacular, even when Hangar 13 really confirmed the sport was in improvement way back to 2022. However the most effective half is that it’s fairly good.
The Previous Nation is a triumph in that regard as a result of it delivers so nicely on the sequence’ premise – an action-adventure title that captures the lifetime of a mafioso. Which earlier entries have finished as nicely in their very own methods. So what makes this so particular?
To begin with, it’s a prequel, set in 1900s Sicily. Not solely is it iconic in the actual world, with a wealthy historical past of real-world mafia households and conflicts, however the location in query, San Celeste, carries nice significance to the sequence. It’s the place Tommy Angelo was born, the place an incident precipitated the ruination of his father and in the end shifted his total household to America. It’s additionally the place Vito Scaletta fought in Mafia 2, the place he witnessed Don Calò successfully saving the lives of him and his males. So many characters’ lives are intertwined with San Celeste, and we lastly get the possibility to discover its streets and the encompassing countryside.
It might all be for nought if the precise story and characters weren’t price it. Nevertheless, after all of the criticism towards the earlier sport, Hangar 13 really went again to the franchise’s roots by delivering a linear narrative with a concentrate on characters. Their personalities and feelings, the interior turmoil that drives them and in the end creates battle, and the way the darkness inside contrasts with the beautiful locales. Enzo Favara is a succesful protagonist in all this – somebody who went from struggling within the mines as an indentured laborer to coming into the world of crime as a part of the Torrisi. Whereas it’s a powerful alternative to make one thing of himself and climb the rungs as a part of one thing greater, it’s additionally an obligation. With out Torrisi, Enzo can be nowhere, which he’s reminded of on multiple event.
It helps that the Don is charismatic and respectable sufficient, at the least on the surface, to command that form of dedication. The remainder of the solid is equally as compelling, together with Luca, an underboss and mentor, and Cesare, Torrisi’s nephew, who struggles to earn respect whereas constructing a friendship with Enzo. As occasions take a flip in San Celeste, their tales turn into all of the extra compelling. Good writing in video video games will get you invested within the characters and the world, however nice writing rewards you for doing so. Suffice it to say that The Previous Nation fulfill the latter, making us want for the most effective for its solid even when completely satisfied endings are just about non-existent within the franchise.
With the historical past surrounding the city and such well-crafted characters, it’s seemingly a dream come true for long-time followers, particularly those that yearned for one thing extra akin to the primary two video games. Nevertheless, making a prequel set earlier than the principle trilogy is sensible as a result of it serves as an amazing jumping-on level for newcomers. It’s successfully the beginning, and whereas these with present information will likely get essentially the most out of it, you possibly can get pleasure from The Previous Nation as its personal story. The truth that the worth is just $49.99 additional lowers the barrier to entry.
After all, the gameplay can also be necessary, and whereas it could not essentially break from action-adventure conventions, Hangar 13 has added fairly a bit. The setting lends to firearms like revolvers, shotguns, and rifles taking priority over automatics, however ammo remains to be scarce. Knives are a key a part of the fight and tradition, which facilitates new duels the place ducking and weaving by way of an enemy’s assaults is the important thing to victory. Better of all, they’re woven in naturally with the story, avoiding what I wish to name “Batmobile syndrome” (if , ).
Even past that, The Previous Nation provides a stunning quantity of depth to its knives with differing kinds that lean into particular playstyles, perks, and so forth. Their efficiency means giving some actual thought to stealth, however sturdiness means considering rigorously about which of them to lean on and for what functions. When issues get uncontrolled and lead begins flying, the gunplay sticks to the tried and true cover-based taking pictures that you just’ve seen many occasions over, nevertheless it’s nonetheless well-executed.
That being mentioned, this isn’t an expertise for everybody. The story isn’t dozens of hours lengthy, and, as famous in our evaluate, it might have used a bit extra time on the finale. Regardless of the beautiful world and Discover Mode for basking in all of the beautiful monuments and metropolis streets, there isn’t tons of content material to unpack. There’s additionally the matter of efficiency, which is all the time a quandary for Unreal Engine 5 titles. All of it comes right down to optimization, and most builders working with the engine have been flailing in that regard for the higher a part of this 12 months.
Nonetheless, saying this “isn’t an expertise for everybody” is also considered as a power. Mafia: The Previous Nation makes no bones about what it’s making an attempt to perform, and it excels in lots of these facets. It’s an pleasing narrative but in addition a powerful start line for many who need to get into the franchise. In the identical vein, it reminds us why we fell in love with the unique whereas increasing on its gameplay in new, thrilling methods.
Will it edge out Sport of the Yr contenders like Clair Obscur: Expedition, Blue Prince, Loss of life Stranding 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2? Probably not, nevertheless it stands amongst them on the subject of a constant, well-executed imaginative and prescient. On this period the place many firms haven’t wizened as much as the perils of reside service and pattern chasing, and the place greater remains to be considered as higher (particularly on the subject of the sum of money allotted to the funds), it’s good to be reminded of the virtues of a extra centered title. An expertise that’s one and finished, offering your cash’s price, and delivering an pleasing expertise whereas it lasted.
Word: The views expressed on this article are these of the writer and don’t essentially signify the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a corporation.
