Mafia: The Old Country is not just another continuation of the cult series, but a real return ticket to the roots of the gangster drama genre. Set in the middle of the 20th century, in sunny but also ruthless Sicily, this game brings back the focus to what has always made Mafia special, a strong narrative, believable characters and an atmosphere that draws you into the world of organized crime.
In this story, you take on the role of Enzo Favara, a young man whose destiny is shaped in the dark alleys and villas of the most powerful dons in Sicily.
A story awaits you about loyalties that last until death, but also betrayals that hurt more than a bullet. The Old Country makes it clear from the first minutes that it will not spare the players, but also everyone involved in this masterpiece!
Content of the tested version
The version of the game we tested represents the final retail release with the Day 0 patch included and the full feature set available at launch.
At first I thought the localization was awesome, English, French, German, Spanish Russian and Czech are available. But wait, where is Italian? Oh, there are text subtitles in Italian, oh okay...
Then I came up with something that just blew my mind, and that is Sicilian dub. Yep, you read that right, this game has authentic Sicilian available.
At that moment, I realized that the localization is not phenomenal, but perfect!
I played the whole game with it and it felt like I was in a mob classic, you know those masterpieces from the 60's and 70's. Ingenious atmosphere, ingenious setup, but let's go in order.
Performance and technical impression
Recommended specifications:
- OS: Windows 10 or 11
- RAM: 32 GB
- VRAM: 12 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT
- SSD: 55 GB free space
Minimum specifications:
- OS: Windows 10 or 11
- RAM: 16 GB
- VRAM: 8 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
- SSD: 55 GB free space
I played the PlayStation 5 version, and at the first scene the game froze for a second. I immediately started to explain to my wife that it was time for her to buy me a PlayStation 5 Pro, but Mafia betrayed me at that moment and didn't bother me until the end of the game.
The game works perfectly, without any errors.
Installation and start
For PC, the game is activated via Steam and the process is the same as the standard procedure: purchase from the store (or entering a code), download (about 55 GB), installation and launch without additional complications. The Day 0 patch is immediately included in the build, so there are no additional downloads before the first playthrough.
It's even easier on PlayStation 5, and can be played for an hour while the installation runs in the background.
Gameplay
Mafia: The Old Country balances cinematic action and tactical planning. I can say about this game that it bordered on the movie in so many moments and I can't say anything bad about the graphics. Although I saw a few comments on the animation of the characters, for me personally the animations added to the flair until the end.
The combat is more brutal and down to earth than in the previous sequels, this is not a game where you will randomly run through bursts of enemies like say Mafia 3 did for one simple reason: There are no automatic weapons.
There are also no bullets to throw, and any open confrontation carries the risk of quick death, so it is necessary to use maximum stealth and precise shots. Enzo has help from his friends, but they are often in far worse situations in terms of numerical superiority and enemies need to be dealt with smartly.
Stealth is sometimes a little too easy, but generally fun. The first serious mission actually gave me problems, but when you are stalking, it becomes a great way to clear the map before the main confrontation with enemies, of which there are always plenty.
One of the new factors is the knife fight which reminded me of the Ghost of Tsushima duels and provides a great opportunity to take revenge on certain characters up close.
We also have horse riding for the first time in Mafia, and it provides exactly the old school feeling that this game was aiming for.
Instincts
One of the key innovations is Enzo's Instinct, an ability that briefly marks enemies, their positions, and potential cover or paths for silent elimination. If you've played Hitman, you know what I'm talking about (storing corpses in boxes also reminded me of him, but in a positive way)
This encourages thought before action and reduces the reliance on Rambo style play, and frankly it's easier if you get rid of a good chunk of enemies quietly.
Charms system
During the story you will come across Charms. To me, this is a brutally well-thought-out mechanic where special medals are added to the parts of the crown between the beads that give you additional benefits.
Knives
Enzo collects different knives during the game, each one has its own attributes and favors a certain playing style. Some are perfect for quick and silent eliminations, others for hand-to-hand combat where you want to deal maximum damage.
Of course, like a real mafioso, I used the stiletto purely for roleplaying, even though other knives would often be a better choice.
Driving and weapons
Driving remains true to the series, harder and more realistic than typical open-world games. Cars have weight, you feel their sluggishness on narrow streets, and sometimes you get into comical situations while driving.
The good news is that you can easily turn around with the push of a button, which was extremely useful for me as I found myself in a bunch of crazy situations.
Explore Mode
After completing the prologue, Explore Mode is unlocked. There is one small complaint, because I personally did not figure it out right away, but played through the chapters, which are quite linear.
The game itself is linear, but in the sense of Mafia 1 linear, with a focus on missions, which is absolute perfection. Mafia 3 never sat down for me because it was filled with a bunch of unnecessary open world missions that only reduced my enthusiasm for the main story, which I found great.
The focus here is on the story. And what a story.
Atmosphere and game world
The Old Country excels in creating atmosphere. Towns and villages exude authenticity: fruit stands in markets, smoke from kitchens, loud conversations of elderly locals, the sound of church bells in the background.
Whenever I stopped to look at the scenes around me I saw loads of detail, never once did a location lack life. People who go to work, work, throw up after going out, cheat on women, totally how one imagines Sicily.
But Sicily is not just a postcard, dark alleys, half-empty warehouses and abandoned properties hide danger around every corner. Rainy nights are especially impressive, with light reflections on wet cobblestones and shadows hiding both you and your enemies.
Narration and characters
The game opens slowly but extremely effectively. It doesn't immediately throw you into the chaos of bullets and explosions, but draws you into its world like a good novel or a great movie would.
You spend the first hour of the game getting to know Enzo Favara, the main protagonist, through the everyday work in the mine, and already in the first chapter you get a small detail that will return a couple of years later at the end of the game.
Not bum spoilal, but a perfect example Chekhov's guna, which I must admit I did not expect.
A particularly intriguing element is the hidden symbolism scattered throughout the game. It runs through the scenography, the gestures of the characters, and even through the choice of colors in certain scenes.
Sometimes they are subtle hints of future events as I mentioned a moment ago, and sometimes they are reflections of themes like family, betrayal or the price of power. The game does not overtly explain these symbols, it leaves it up to the player to notice and interpret them.
It's a world where smiles are often as dangerous as weapons, and silence sometimes speaks louder than any words. And sometimes an ordinary apple provides insight into why lust is a sin.
Enzo is far from the stereotypical video game good guy.
He is shaped by his environment, the harsh rules of the street (or mine in his case), unwritten laws of honor and difficult decisions that rarely have a right answer.
His actions are not guided by black and white moral logic, but by a constant balancing act between loyalty and survival. You can clearly feel that the other characters do not understand his desperation and that he is just trying to survive, and they see it as extra effort.
It is this moral gray area that makes him a fascinating character. sometimes you will understand and support him, and sometimes you will look at him with wonder. Again, no bum spoilal, but it will surprise you!
What further elevates the story to a higher level is the layering of characters around him. There are no secondary characters in the classical sense.
Everyone has their own motive, history and hidden agenda. Even characters who only appear in a few scenes give the impression that they live outside of your story. I was surprised on several occasions when I realized that a character was in the background in the first chapters, and I didn't pay too much attention to him.
Dialogues are written with such skill that is rarely seen in games. There are no superfluous sentences, no inflated monologues; every conversation has a purpose, whether it builds tension, reveals small details about the world, or underlines the characters' personalities.
They are often charged with emotion, but the classically Italian one you can expect from top characters.
Much of the atmosphere comes from the Sicilian dialect in the voice acting. Even if you don't understand every word without subtitles, the way sentences are pronounced carries a weight that is impossible to translate with text alone.
The performances of the actors are flawless, from the small changes in the tone of voice to the way the breath "gets stuck" in the throat in the middle of an emotionally heavy sentence.
Mafia: The Old Country manages to do what few games can, to make you wonder what the hell is going to happen next?!
Sound design and music
The music masterfully follows the pace of the game. A light mandolin when you're chilling, an orchestra when there's action.
I'll just say I'm writing this while listening to the soundtrack along the way.
The sound effects are fantastic!
Difficulty and challenge
On standard difficulty, the game provides a good balance, but those who want more can play with the options in the menu: manual aiming, more realistic vehicle behavior with manual gear shifting, and of course there is a higher difficulty.
Customization
In the deluxe edition, you get a bunch of clothes that you can use if you turn off the story outfits, which allows Enzo to wear any unlocked outfit. This gives an extra sense of personalization, especially in Explore Mode. The Deluxe Edition adds a few more striking suits and vehicles, and to be honest, I only used those vehicles because they are BRUTAL.
I love old cars, and you won't find any older than these in games. The top, the perfection, the wonderful, it handles like other Mafia games and you will feel sometimes that you are playing a race sim because of how well it is done.
In addition, you also have horses that are an absolute pleasure to ride, and I often used them instead of cars.
Conclusion
Mafia: The Old Country returns the series to the top of the genre. The combination of authentic atmosphere, compelling story and thoughtful gameplay makes this a must-have title for all fans of Mafia and quality games that focus on the story. Expect 10-15 hours of top action with great gameplay!
A trip to Sicily worth every minute.
A copy of the game was provided by the distributor CD Media for review purposes
