Mafia: The Old Country - A Critical Review

During the development of Mafia: The Old Country, the studio aimed to return to the series' roots with a deep, linear narrative. The game is set in the fictional town of San Celeste in the 1900s and serves as a prequel to the first Mafia game. It follows the story of Enzo Favara, who joins the Torrisi crime family after working in sulfur mines as a child. With a Metacritic score of 74, critics have commended the game's focus on tradition, whether it's the setting in early 20th-century Sicily or its narrative. The New York Times' Yussef Cole praised the game, saying it's a traditional video game that resists the trend of endless online experiences. The game's world is streamlined, with a focus on narrative and character development. However, some critics have found the gameplay to be unremarkable and feeling like it belongs to a bygone era. The game's combat mechanics, including gunplay, knifeplay, and stealth, have been criticized for being surface-level and lacking depth. Despite this, the game's immersive storytelling and worldbuilding have been praised, with some critics noting that it's a leaner, more focused Mafia game that trades scale for storytelling. The game's audio and language direction have also been commended, with the inclusion of full Sicilian voice acting and Italian phrases adding to the game's authenticity. Overall, while the game's gameplay may be lacking, its engaging narrative and immersive world make it a worthwhile experience.