Review: Mafia: The Old Country

I have a particular fondness for the Mafia franchise and it exists as bookmarks to a few life events.

Mafia 3 was the game that convinced me to buy a second TV because my wife Kareema couldn’t stop playing it and Mafia Definitive Edition was the first game I played after having Covid in July 2021 so I jumped into the new entry with expectations.

Mafia: The Old Country is a cinematic trip into the sun-bleached origins of the Mafia, delivered with lashes of drama in mostly linear fashion. You’re Enzo Favara, a sulphur-mine labourer who gets involved in the Torrisi crime family.

I enjoyed the graphics, from the vineyards, fruit, and interiors, often pausing to take it in, and appreciate the immersion.  The developers opted for an over the shoulder camera framing, reminding me of both Hellblade: Senua Saga and 2018’s God of War.

This also helped ground the game a bit which I found especially helpful after all my time smashing recklessly in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Gameplay

Gameplay is where the game loses some points as the mechanics and gameplay elements often felt antiquated and repetitive. You can expect a somewhat repetitive and predictable loop of cutscene, stealth, shooting, knife duel, horse or car chase.

Gunplay feels serviceable yet somehow didn’t have the weight or satisfaction of Mafia 3. It’s been almost a decade since I played Mafia 3 and I can still remember how visceral headshots felt all across the bajou. Knife fights are tense… until they become so frequent they wear out their welcome and while there’s some complexity to it.

It didn’t have the same thrill as duels in Ghost of Tsushima. A few chase scenes raise your pulse, but you’ll catch yourself thinking, “Here we go again.” The world looks vast and open, yet it funnels you swiftly forward with minimal excuse to linger, explore, or engage beyond your mission.

Value for Money

Value for money is probably the most meaningful metric my editor Nafisa asked me to include when I started writing for Recharged a few years ago and it’s something that I reflect on when reviewing games, especially because rands are stretched so thin these days.

If the story, mood, and mafia-movie aesthetic are what you want, it’s a rich, compact experience, about 10 – 13 hours, well-paced, and easy to slot into your week. But if you crave open-world exploration, replay options, gameplay variety, or long-term value – this may feel lean.

I’m happy that 2K priced this game under R1000 (cheapest I found physical was R939 at Game4U) and I do expect it to go on sale soon.

For fans of mob stories, period drama, or mafia-genre immersion, this is a polished, engaging ride. For those chasing gameplay depth or expansive environments consider Assassin’s Creed Shadows and pick this up on sale as it’s worth playing.