Mafia: The Old Country’s Bold Break from Open Worlds – Risk or Reward?

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As I immerse myself into the world of “Mafia: The Old Country,” I’m excited to see how this installment continues the legacy of the Mafia franchise. What sets it apart is its daring reinvention of the series’ formula, as instead of being set in mid-20th century America like its predecessors, this game takes place in early 1900s Sicily, in a small, semi-rural town named San Celeste. I can’t wait to follow our young protagonist, Enzo, as he navigates the formative years of Italian organized crime, promising an authentic and mature narrative.

In contrast to its predecessors, the standout difference in Mafia: The Old Country lies in its absence of an open-world setting. For longtime fans accustomed to the series, this change might not be a significant drawback, considering that past Mafia games were criticized for their lackluster and monotonous sandbox design. While they pale in comparison to games like Grand Theft Auto or even Ubisoft’s open-world titles, which, despite their flaws, offer activities to keep players engaged, Mafia: The Old Country opts for a linear, narrative-focused approach. However, this doesn’t imply that Hangar 13 is abandoning an innovative open-world formula altogether; it merely suggests that the game’s quality isn’t definitively positive or negative in this regard.

The Pros and Cons of Mafia: The Old Country Being Linear

Mafia’s Open-World Design Was Never Great, but Maybe It Could Have Been

Given the significant transformations The Old Country has introduced to the Mafia series formula, being its first release in nearly a decade, it’s not unreasonable to anticipate that it might address the criticisms of the uninteresting open-worlds in earlier installments. The original Mafia trilogy showcases expansive cities ripe for exploration, but despite occasional collectibles and functional police mechanics in Mafia 2 and 3, as well as other reactive features, these environments often come across as devoid of life. There’s little incentive to wander the streets of Empire Bay or New Bordeaux, as there are rarely any unexpected discoveries or valuable hidden treasures to find.

Since the release of Mafia 3 in 2016, open-world design has significantly evolved. Perhaps The Old Country could have gained insights from pioneers like Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring. A freestyle interpretation by Hangar 13 of turn-of-the-century Sicily as an expansive, explorable map could have been intriguing. This version might have included hidden gems to discover, vehicles to acquire, and potentially dynamic traversal mechanics akin to Breath of the Wild’s climbing. Such an approach could have fostered a deeper bond between the player and the game world, making The Old Country a distinctive option compared to crime games such as GTA 6 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Open-World Design Can Erode Good Storytelling

One key advantage of the Mafia series lies in its cinematic approach to storytelling, drawing heavily from classics like The Godfather, utilizing traditional film techniques to create serious and captivating narratives. Unlike the satirical, action-packed games of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, these stories are intended to be both enjoyable and thought-provoking, offering a level of maturity, depth, and complexity. However, open-world game design may clash with this objective, as it can be challenging to immerse oneself in the narrative’s intensity when the character casually explores the city, engaging in violent acts or evading authorities at will. Moreover, the rhythm of the story often suffers significantly when a game is open-world.

Many players within the gaming community have come to understand that not every video game must be an open-world adventure. In reality, the majority of games tend to thrive with a more defined structure in their storyline and design. This structured approach offers a tailored, refined experience for gamers. To put it simply, the open-world, sandbox style isn’t a universal fit for all games; rather, it is a specific style that can work effectively at times, but may not always be successful. The upcoming game Mafia: The Old Country will help us determine where this series fits within these two camps.

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2025-05-15 05:14