Forget the usual big-city mob wars. Mafia: The Old Country trades the neon lights for early 20th-century Sicily, telling a more realistic story about where the mafia came from. You play as Enzo, a poor mine worker whose life changes when he joins Don Torrisi’s crime family. It is not just about money or power. The game shows the poverty, the distrust of authority, and the raw survival instincts that caused organized crime during that time.
Story & Pacing
The game is not an open world, it is rather linear, but in a good way. It starts a bit slowly at first. You will be loading wine crates, walking through villages, and listening to conversations before the action picks up.
However, the story is solid, with a few emotional moments, even if it can be a bit predictable at times. There are no big twists, but you will have an amazing time following Enzo as he earns his place in the family.
World & Atmosphere
The setting of the game in incredible. The countryside, ruins, and vineyards feel alive. The Sicilian-language dub (with local dialect) adds a lot of authenticity as well. The game also gives you enough time to take in the environment, and enjoy it as much as you want. It does not rush you into the next quest.
The Torrisi vineyard acts as a home base, with people chatting, workers harvesting grapes, and cars arriving and leaving. You will feel like home, just like Enzo!
Between missions, it is worth just walking around to take it all in! The game rewards patience more than constant sprinting.
Gameplay – Good Ideas, Repetitive Execution
Despite the combat being extremely fun, it can become repetitive over time. The Stealth system focuses on knife attacks and simple distractions, but does not really evolve over time. Shootouts are more fun than stealth but get repetitive quickly as well. Boss fights are mostly also just repetitive knife duels.
The “open world” has a few extras to discover, like photo spots, historical documents, and fox statues. They are a nice change from the main story and give you something to do between missions, without overwhelming you with endless collectibles.
Culture & Detail
Traditional music, cars that fit the period, pocket knife duels, all the little cultural details are here. The game shows the mafia not as modern-day idealistic anti-heroes, but as people stuck in another dangerous job, under a different kind of boss.
Final Verdict
Mafia: The Old Country is a slower, more realistic take on the series. It is not the typical action AAA some might expect, but if you want a beautiful, story-first crime drama with real historical context, it is worth playing.
It may not break new ground, but it is a nice reminder that not every game needs endless loot and massive checklists. Sometimes, just telling a good story is enough. We give it a solid 8 out of 10!
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