Mafia: Definitive Edition Review

It’s difficult to get through a month without seeing some sort of remake hit game store shelves. Practically every classic game that was any good has been remastered or revamped for modern hardware. Now, it’s Mafia’s turn.

The remastered version, Mafia: Definitive Edition released on September 25 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It is developed by Hangar 13, with has some pedigree with the franchise. They also worked on Mafia III in 2016.

With this latest release, Hangar 13 has reworked the entire Mafia experience. In fact, compared to the original 2002 game, the remaster is hardly recognizable. But, despite the flashy visuals and improved presentation, Mafia: Definitive Edition’s gameplay still ends up feeling dated.

Story

Immediately upon starting Mafia: Definitive Edition, players are thrown into the plot. For fans of the original, the opening story beats will feel awfully familiar. That’s because Hangar 13 has ensured it captures the essence of the original story perfectly in the remake.

The missions are all the same and the plot plays out in pretty much exactly the same way. However, that is not exactly a bad thing. After all, the original Mafia is widely regarded as having a great story. So, it makes sense not to mess around with it too much.

Taking place in a fictional city known as Lost Heaven, it’s obvious that 1930s Chicago clearly inspired the setting. The game starts with the protagonist, Tommy Angelo, forced into helping some mobsters. These criminals make the cabbie their own personal getaway driver and turn the law-abiding man’s life upside down. Fired from his job after a rival gang targets his taxi firm, Tommy is left with little option other than to join the Salieri crime family.

The fact that the narrative lasts for just a dozen or so hours might disappoint some. Especially when other open-world games can have stories that last for up to 100 hours. Yet, the shorter length of the campaign means that it is more focused and impactful.

The storytelling in Mafia: Definitive Edition is nuanced and packed with drama and suspense. It’s more akin to a TV series rather than a traditional game and it works exceptionally well. Few games from this era nail the plot as well as the original Mafia, so the remake still has plenty of punch.