#Open world by no means felt proper for the Mafia sequence—and I’m glad The Outdated Nation did not go there
Mafia 3 was the primary recreation within the sequence to go open-world, and whereas it aimed to broaden the sequence’ scope, it by no means fairly captured what made the sooner titles particular. Fortunately, The Outdated Nation goes again to the previous methods with a linear story. It’s a step in the proper course, placing the highlight again on what the sequence does finest.
Mafia 1 and 2 laid the muse for the sequence’ linear gameplay, the place the main target was solely on the protagonist’s journey, leaving little room for distractions. Who wants an countless open world when the story is so charming that you simply’re compelled to comply with it to the very finish? That’s what Mafia 2 did for me, my first correct introduction to the sequence. Watching Vito Scaletta rise via the legal world wasn’t only a story; it was an expertise, deeply satisfying as energy and wealth flowed with every step, making the journey all of the extra worthwhile. Seeing The Outdated Nation return to that very same targeted type feels just like the sequence lastly correcting course after the detour that was Mafia 3.
Mafia: Definitive Version solidified my dedication to the sequence’ linear format, fully revamping the unique. Tommy Angelo’s story is the epitome of a basic mobster story: an trustworthy man who takes a incorrect flip in life, solely to search out camaraderie and betrayal in equal measure. The best way the sport paints his evolution, his immersion on the planet of crime, feels each real and riveting. The gameplay saved me on my toes, not simply with gunfights or routine automotive chases, however via distinctive twists, like managing pace to keep away from tickets or racing via the streets. I used to be so engrossed in Tommy’s journey that the shortage of sidequests or retailers to discover didn’t matter. All I cared about was what would occur to him subsequent.
Positive, these tales may be accomplished in about 20 hours. And possibly Mafia: The Outdated Nation’s Enzo Favara will end up the identical. It’s typically mentioned that longer video games supply extra worth in these 20 hours, however Mafia 1 and 2 delivered a few of my most memorable experiences. Concise, targeted, and to the purpose, these hours felt much more significant.
Typically, I need a recreation I can sit down with, immerse myself in, and end in a day or two. I can’t even rely the variety of titles amassing mud in my library left unfinished due to their countless grind. With Mafia, each second counted, leaving me with an enduring sense of accomplishment, irrespective of how bittersweet these endings may be. I’d a lot fairly have The Outdated Nation comply with an identical format than danger an excessively drawn-out, forgettable open world.
Even should you desire open-world mechanics, it’s not as if Mafia 1 and 2 abandon these components. Mafia: Definitive Version included small however memorable touches, like quirky cellphone sales space sidequests that added a little bit of shock and problem. One even took you on an out-of-this-world journey as you survived an alien invasion. I’m nonetheless uncertain why aliens are in a mobster recreation, nevertheless it made issues extra attention-grabbing. Mafia 2 had its personal taste of exploration, with outfitters that allow you to swap outfits to match the style of the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties. There was one thing charming about choosing a recent coat, tuning in to old-time radio, and cruising via the streets as the town quietly hummed round you.
You would argue that these options hinted on the sequence’ potential to go totally open-world, and on the time, Mafia 3 appeared able to embrace that path. I used to be genuinely excited to see the sequence broaden its scope, however the map was large however empty. Other than inflicting chaos within the streets, there wasn’t a lot to find or do. It turned a case of scale over substance. The sport’s opening hours stood out primarily as a result of they leaned closely into the narrative. Nonetheless, after that, it slipped right into a repetitive cycle of taking down crime bosses. The missions lacked selection, and the story, which began with promise, stalled as Lincoln Clay’s quest for revenge turned more and more one-note.
Had Mafia 3 adopted a tighter, extra structured method, it may need lived as much as the emotional weight it was reaching for. Lincoln’s story had potential—there have been even delicate callbacks to earlier entries that would have deepened the expertise. However buried beneath filler content material and an overstretched world, the center that outlined Mafia 1 and 2 simply didn’t come via.
Though Mafia: The Outdated Nation has but to be launched, it already feels prefer it carries the identical spirit that made its predecessors so compelling. I’ve at all times beloved a very good origin story, and shifting from acquainted American cities to the mafia’s birthplace in Sicily appears like a daring new starting.
The latest The Outdated Nation trailer has drawn comparisons to GTA 6, seemingly as a result of the bulletins got here shut collectively, however the two are in totally completely different leagues. Mafia was by no means meant to be Grand Theft Auto, and it shouldn’t attempt to be. I play Mafia as a result of it provides a targeted expertise constructed round a narrative, not sandbox chaos. That’s why I’m relieved that The Outdated Nation isn’t chasing open-world traits. As a substitute of attempting to compete with huge, countless video games, it’s carving its personal path, specializing in ambiance, character, and narrative depth. In a style obsessive about going greater, developer Hangar 13’s option to go deeper makes it stand out.
