Mafia: Definitive Edition is a captivating remake that makes it easier than ever to enter the world of Mafia. The story is excellent, the atmosphere is perfect, and though the shooting segments could use some work, the whole package is more than worth checking out.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Developer: Hangar 13
Price: $40
Platform: PS5, Xbox One, PC
My only memory of Mafia was playing the demo for Mafia II over and over on my PS3. It’s a series I’ve always wanted to get into but never had the chance to. Now, Mafia: Definitive Edition has arrived to scratch that itch, and it does it quite well. It’s not without a few flaws, but it’s a stellar remake of what many view as a PS2 classic.
The story starts at the end, with mafioso Tommy Angelo telling his story to a police officer in exchange for protection for his family. We then flash back to Tommy’s days as a cabbie, where he is forced to drive two Salieri family mafia members away from a rival family that is chasing them. Tommy joins the Salieri family and slowly climbs his way up the ladder, becoming more and more ingrained in his life as a criminal. It’s a classic story that you likely know from mafia films, but it’s very engrossing due to its strong characters and tight dialogue.
The most impressive thing about Mafia’s story is how quickly it makes you feel like you’re really part of the Salieri family. Through Tommy, you grow to feel attached to all the members, from Sam and Paulie to Ralphie and the Don. It makes every event that happens in the story feel personal, especially towards the end when things inevitably go south. The characters feel fully developed, like real people, which helps make Tommy work as both an immersive viewpoint and his own fleshed-out character. A couple of chapters do feel somewhat extraneous or unnecessary, but the overall pacing of the game is brisk and fun to follow.
“The licensed music and radio programs you can hear in the car are fascinating to listen to as well, as they really sell the time period that Mafia takes place in.“
The gameplay of Mafia: Definitive Edition takes place in a giant open-world, the city of Lost Heaven. You’ll primarily be either driving around the city or navigating through a building and shooting enemies, with some free-roaming mixed in. The way the cars handle is an interesting feature, as they drive more like tanks than cars, but it adds a vintage feeling to the world as these old cars probably would be pretty clunky. It’s a small detail that adds to the world of Mafia, making the 1930’s setting more immersive.
On the other hand, the shooting feels clunky as well, but not in a way that feels vintage or proper. Guns don’t feel especially powerful outside of headshots, which are somewhat challenging to nail because of the large aiming reticle. An enemy can take quite a few shots from you, while it feels as though it only takes a few shots to down Tommy. This can make a few of the shooting sections into repetitive slogs, as you try to avoid any damage while making it to the next checkpoint. The checkpoints are well-distributed, so it isn’t as frustrating as it could be, but I still wish shootouts felt more even.
After completing the first chapter, you gain access to Free Ride mode. This mode lets you run rampant in what is essentially free play mode, or compete in phone booth race missions to unlock cars. You can use any weapon, car, and costume that you’ve unlocked, making Free Ride a very fun and potentially very chaotic open world. The racing missions add a bit of structure to the mode should you wish for it, so their optional status is also appreciated.
Visually, Mafia: Definitive Edition looks excellent, as it updates the visuals of the original Mafia without feeling foreign to the original vision. The characters and environments all look quite realistic, and the new voices for each character fit perfectly. The music is also fantastic, balancing excitement with slower more tragic tones depending on the segment. The licensed music and radio programs you can hear in the car are fascinating to listen to as well, as they really sell the time period that Mafia takes place in.
The Final Word
Mafia: Definitive Edition is an engrossing and fun way to dive into the Mafia series. The story and visuals are exceptional, and while I wish the guns were a bit more powerful, I had a lot of fun as I played through the game. If you’ve ever wanted to play as a mafioso, this is one of the best games to do so in.
MonsterVine Review Score: 4 out of 5 – Good
