The Story of the Mafia Franchise So Far Explained

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As a historian who has spent countless hours delving into the dark and intricate world of organized crime, I can say with confidence that the Mafia series has truly captured the essence of this shadowy underworld. Each game offers a unique perspective on the rise and fall of these powerful criminal organizations, drawing upon historical events and real-life characters to weave an immersive narrative.

For nearly two decades, the iconic Mafia series, developed by Hangar 13 and 2K Games, has left an indelible impact on gamers worldwide. This influential franchise has enthralled fans with its three primary installments, each delving into the world of organized crime families dating back to the 1930s. Drawing heavily from the real-life Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, the franchise focuses on authentic and raw depictions of criminal syndicates’ rise to power.

In a 1930s backdrop, the Mafia series established its storyline basis, and each primary installment since then has delved into distinct and contrasting periods of organized crime, extending up until the late 60s. Although the open-ended and engrossing gameworlds created by the Mafia franchise hold substantial appeal on their own, it’s the intricate and compelling narrative that intertwines its releases that has significantly contributed to the series’ success throughout the years. As the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country delves even deeper into the past of this series, potential players might be curious about the broader Mafia saga up until now.

The Complete Mafia Story As Things Stand

The Mafia saga commenced in the 1930s, when the original game was released in 2002, depicting events in the fictional city of Lost Haven, which drew significant influence from actual East Coast cities like Chicago and New York. During this time, marked by prohibition, the narrative of Mafia primarily revolves around the surge of criminal activities in the underworld, with the main character, Tommy Angelo, transitioning from a taxi driver to an associate of the Salieri crime family.

Title One delves into themes of morality and power as Tommy, along with his associates Paulie and Sam, ascend through the family hierarchy. As Tommy carries out brutal tasks for the family, including political assassinations, the Salieris grow increasingly volatile, especially during the transition from prohibition to new income sources. Deception from the family leaders prompts Tommy and Paulie to rob a bank against their wishes, resulting in Paulie’s demise. The story strongly hints that Sam was responsible for Paulie’s death, and later betrays Tommy, compelling the protagonist of Mafia 1 to live in fear under witness protection after testifying against the Salieri family.

Mafia 2 Continues the Franchise’s Story with a Heartbreaking Twist

In the timeframe between 1945 and 1951, Mafia 2 carries on the narrative in the neighboring town of Empire Bay. The story introduces us to series protagonist Vito Scaletta, an Italian immigrant who had served in World War II. Upon his return from the war, Vito finds himself entangled in the world of organized crime, a path that has been paved by his friend Joe Barbaro, who had already established connections with the city’s powerful mafia families.

Vito gets caught for a series of crimes committed to settle an old debt owed to a loan shark. He’s freed from prison in 1951 and is inducted into the Falcone family as a high-ranking member, alongside Joe. However, their newfound affluence doesn’t last long, as the consequences of Vito’s violent past start to haunt him and his loved ones. This leads Joe and Vito to engage in the drug trade, igniting a fierce conflict between the dominant mafia families and the Chinese Triads.

In the aftermath of a disastrous drug deal and now burdened by debt from a ruthless loan shark, Vito and Joe are compelled to return to their deadly profession of contract killings. They notoriously hunt down and eliminate Tommy Angelo, an aged mobster who had previously betrayed them as an informant for the government. With adversaries closing in from every direction and his protected status within the mafia beginning to crumble, Vito is left with no choice but to perform one final assassination to buy himself more time, engaging in a dramatic gunfight against Don Carlo Falcone. The death of Falcone temporarily saves Vito, but he is only granted this reprieve by Leo Galante, the new power in the underworld. Sadly, this leniency does not extend to Joe, and the conclusion of Mafia 2 leaves us hanging on the edge of our seats, wondering about Joe’s future.

Mafia 3 Offered a New Perspective On Organized Crime

In a daring shift for the series, Mafia 3 was set in the late ’60s, depicting New Bordeaux, a city resembling New Orleans remarkably. The game, released in 2016, introduced a fresh character, Lincoln Clay, to the franchise. A Vietnam war veteran, Lincoln’s journey into organized crime bears striking similarities to Vito’s pathway from two decades prior. Lincoln’s adoptive father heads the “Black Mob,” and this mob is entangled in a struggle against the Haitian Mob. This conflict results in Lincoln taking action, eliminating the Haitian leader.

This draws the attention of Sal Marcano, head of the Italian mob, who hires Lincoln for a highly complex heist to steal gold from the Federal Reserve. Immediately after the successful operation, the Marcano family turns on Lincoln and his family, killing them all while leaving Lincoln for dead. Having miraculously survived and now with an unending thirst for vengeance, Lincoln operates closely with rogue CIA handler John Donovan to work directly alongside other crime syndicates who have Sal Marcano as a common enemy.

In my gaming world, I find myself tangled in a web of power and betrayal, dealing with three key players – the fresh Haitian mob, the Irish mob, and Vito Scaletta from Mafia 2, who was relocated to Marcano’s family due to a deal in the final act of Mafia 2. However, just like the unpredictable twists of a game, I’m betrayed by Marcano. Determined to bring down the Marcano family, I use these new resources and eventually take out Sal. The choice of who takes control post-Sal’s demise becomes crucial, pushing me towards some tentative allies.

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2024-12-14 00:24