Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: 24th September 2020
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One & PC
Reviewed on: PS4 Pro
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Mafia II was my first introduction to the series when it first released back in 2010. I remember even back then before open worlds had to be bigger with every passing game, that it was nice having a more linear story in a manageable open-world setting. The 2010 cult hit made me a fan. I took the day off work for the release of Mafia III in 2016 and while it didn’t live up to the hype for me personally, I still enjoyed what I played.
I had always considered going back to play the original, but PS2 games tend not to age very well and I always ended up putting it off. So you can imagine my excitement when this definitive edition was announced. From the very first screenshots that were shown it looked like something special. I remember talking with people on Twitter about how it looked next-gen and there being a real buzz around its release. So after a slight delay we now finally have the game in our hands. Does it deliver? Let’s delve in deeper and find out.
STORY
Despite having not played the original Mafia before, I always associate the series with a strong narrative. Mafia II told an excellent story, and while the third game became repetitive, the quality of the writing was great. In terms of storytelling though, this is the peak of the series. The cutscenes and voice acting are absolutely superb. Even secondary characters have standout performances, which is really admirable attention to detail.
You play as Tommy Angelo, a cabbie turned gangster who is part of the Salieri crime family. The story moves at a slow and deliberate pace, which was such a breath of fresh air. You see relationships grow as similarly to Mafia II the narrative takes place over multiple years. The game is made up of mostly driving and shooting, with the odd bit of stealth intertwined. Given this, it would have been easy for it to feel repetitive during the 12-hour campaign. The strength of the story and the characters always kept things ticking along though.
There isn’t anything in the way of side missions here to pad out your experience. This was a bit disappointing as it would have been great to see some of the lesser characters stories and personalities expanded upon with a few side stories. There is the possibility this could come in the form of DLC, but I imagine the studio is currently hard at work on Mafia IV.
GAMEPLAY
This is the one area of the game where I have heard complaints about. Personally, I really enjoyed it from start to finish. There is no denying it feels dated at times but in the case of the driving that almost feels like a feature and a product of the times. Tapping the brake when approaching a corner to swing the back end out and sliding around the corner is always exhilarating. There are also set-pieces marked on the map during car chases that you can lure your enemies into, causing them to crash and give you an opportunity to make your escape.
Shooting is fun without ever really standing out. You have a variety of weapons that feel unique and the ability to pick up enemies weapons means you are never stuck with an unwanted firearm for long. I really enjoyed the Tommy gun, although at times when under heavy fire I did find myself switching back to a pistol for easier headshots due to the recoil of the automatic weapon.
The hand-to-hand combat on the other hand could have been a lot better. For the most part, it is just a case of mashing circle with a few blows followed by a ‘finish him’ animation doing the trick. On the odd occasion you tap triangle to evade an incoming blow, but other than that there is no real depth to it. Stealth is tacked on during a few sections and despite being serviceable, it never really adds to the experience.
GRAPHICS AND PERFORMANCE
From the moment I saw the first screenshots of Mafia Definitive Edition I was blown away at how good it looked. That has translated into the final product as well. There is so much detail in the world that it can almost feel like a disservice that you don’t have a reason to explore more, aside from collectable mop up in free play. Areas of the map look unique and every street looks like it has been given a special amount of love. Facial animation, especially during cutscenes is really impressive.
Coming off the Mafia II remaster, I was a little concerned about how this remake would run. Thankfully the news is almost all positive. Framerates are smooth, animations look good and glitches are kept to a minimum. The only negatives I saw was some pop-in textures while driving out in the countryside and occasionally when you pause the game during a cutscene the subtitles keep going.
AUDIO
Audio is something I rarely mention when reviewing a game but I feel it deserves a special mention here. Not only is the voice acting superb, but the radio does an excellent job of setting the tone for the time period. News bulletins that appear periodically also flesh out the story, giving the city and police side of all the ensuing madness.
VALUE
This package offers superb value. The standalone price of £34.99 is fair given how well polished the game is. It may only take a dozen hours to complete, but there is replay value in going for all the trophies or completing the game in the infamous classic difficulty – something I plan to do for the platinum trophy. There is even an option to buy the Mafia Trilogy for £49.99, which not only gives you access to this definitive edition, but the remaster of the second game that was released back in May as well as the third game with all it’s DLC.
WHAT NOW
As I stated above I firmly believe developer Hanger 13 are now hard at work on Mafia IV. What I wanted to discuss here briefly is what that game should look like. Mafia III felt like a step back for the series. The game was bloated and became repetitive. I don’t think this will happen, but I would love to see the incredible world of Lost Heaven, which is based on Chicago, used in the next game.
I have spoken before ad nauseam about wanting open-world games to condense in size and become denser. Lost Heaven was never properly explored in Mafia Definitive Edition, so why not take that world and open it up. Not in terms of size, but in terms of realism. Make it so that most of the buildings can be entered and explored. Make the world more populated. I would love for Mafia IV to be a 15-hour campaign with another 10-hours of optional side missions. Manageable world size, manageable completion time, maximum fun.
TROPHIES
The trophy list is exactly what you would want from a game like this. A mix of story, collectable and difficulty related objectives. As a trophy hunter myself I fully admit I could have done without the ‘Made Man’ trophy for finishing the game in classic difficulty, but I know I will feel a sense of accomplishment once I complete it. Two playthroughs are recommended with this game, so you are probably looking at around 25-hours for the platinum with a difficulty of 6/10 according to those in the community.
VERDICT
Overall, Mafia Definitive Edition is a brilliant remake. I get a feeling of déjà vu saying that because of all the great titles that have been modernised for console this generation, but Hanger 13 have gone over and above here to make this the best title in the Mafia series. This is a must-buy for all fans of open-world action games. Just note that it is a lot less open than you may expect.
-Craig 🧐