Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country is a story-driven, linear game set in early 1900s Sicily, immersing players in a cinematic mob world filled with loyalty, betrayal, and crime. The game shines with its beautiful graphics, authentic atmosphere, and strong voice acting, offering a rich narrative experience reminiscent of classic Mafia titles. Players control Enzo, a character whose journey through the criminal underworld is marked by a gripping story and engaging knife combat mechanics.

However, the game faces criticism for its limited open-world freedom, with many missions restricting exploration and forcing players through linear paths. Gameplay often feels repetitive, with stealth, shootouts, and cutscenes dominating the experience. Technical issues like bugs, performance hiccups, and occasional crashes slightly mar the experience. Despite these flaws, the game is praised for its story, setting, and overall presentation, making it a worthwhile experience especially for fans of the series, though many suggest waiting for a sale due to its short length and limited gameplay variety.

Highlights

Players praise the game’s stunning visuals and detailed world design, capturing the essence of early 20th century Sicily. The storytelling and voice acting receive strong commendations for creating an immersive mafia narrative. The knife combat system is noted as satisfying and well-executed, while the horse riding and car physics evoke nostalgia from previous Mafia and Red Dead Redemption titles. The game’s soundtrack perfectly complements the mood, enhancing the cinematic feel. Overall, the game’s atmosphere and narrative depth are its strongest points.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the highly linear gameplay with minimal freedom to explore, making the world feel restrictive and sometimes empty. Repetitive mission design—mostly stealth, shootouts, and cutscenes—leads to monotony. The ending is widely seen as disappointing and rushed, undermining the story’s potential. Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, and performance problems are frequently mentioned. Additionally, the gunplay and AI are considered underwhelming, and some players find the combat and driving mechanics frustrating or lacking depth. The game’s short duration and limited post-story content also detract from replay value.