The classic simulator of a functioning crime family is back with Mafia III from Hangar13 and 2K Games. Set in the troubled 1960s in a fictional version of New Orleans called New Bordeaux. Take control of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran forging his own mafia to take revenge on those who betrayed the crime family who adopted him.
Open-world of a realistic city A completely open world divided into ten districts, New Bordeaux is torn apart by the war between several criminal organizations. While some of them are allied with the game's main antagonist, the Marcano family, others decide to join Lincoln Clay's attempt to take over the city from the Marcanos. The city feels close to life, as every district will react to Lincoln's actions in a different way depending on the inhabitants.
Mafia III's New Bordeaux reflects the complicated social dynamics of the 1960s. Realistic gameplay Mafia 3 separates itself from other open-world crime games like Grand Theft Auto or the Saints Row series. As fits the kind of story it says, the action is toned down for a more authentic recreation of the period.
The activities Lincoln has access to all tie into the general theme of taking control of the city from the hands of Marcanos and their allies. Mafia III's gameplay is a thematic and brutal journey back in time, not a playground for outrageous action sequences known from other open-world crime games. Flexible gameplay Lincoln Clay during his time in the military was also participating in covert operations and it shows in the options available to him in the gameplay.
He can approach missions openly, using the impactful gunplay and cover system to eliminate enemies in a loud and bold declaration of war. The enemies react realistically, so shooting them in the legs will not necessarily make them stop shooting at you, though they will stop moving. On the other hand, a stealthy approach and carefully eliminating your opponents without making a sound is just as possible, and rewarded with brutal execution animations.
In time Lincoln will be able to call in allies to help him in combat, often able to take out any enemy on their own, or offer a useful distraction. Engaging story Just as the first Mafia 3 PC trailer suggested, the game takes a mature, serious tone focused on revenge and relations between characters. The game is set in the stunning and troubled setting directly inspired by the 1960s New Orleans.
The main character, Lincoln Clay has to deal with hostility towards him as a man of mixed race in the time of civil unrest when white supremacists are one of the organizations controlling the city. The storyline is mature and complex, filled with fleshed out characters with clear motivations. The performances of the actors, and incredible attention paid to facial expressions make Mafia III's narrative feel real and believable.
Mafia 3 is a title that should be tried to the end to be appreciated. The story of Lincoln Clay is worth to be played, because too often the narrative plot is put aside in favor of high resolution textures and stunning special effects.
If anything, I think the game is worth checking out for the story alone. It’s unfortunate that the gameplay is so much of a slog that some players may not think the story is worth the trouble. However, if you have the time, the extra coin, and love mob stories, this tale has a satisfying end.
Mafia III does most things right, though. It is an enjoyable game, one that has probably the best licensed soundtracks for a game outside of a music-based game. The combat and cover mechanics work really and the cut-scenes allow the story to progress smoothly in the wonderfully presented city of New Bordeaux.
Mafia 3's goals are ambitious and even laudable, but to tell a serious story about race, especially within the form of an open-world action game, requires heavy lifting. For all of the writing's attempts to push the genre forward, its game design is trapped in the open-world conventions of five years ago. That stale foundation isn't strong enough to hold the weight of Mafia 3's words — even if they're words that are worth hearing.
The story and characters are excellent and the game is enjoyable, but the open world detracts from the experience rather than adding to it.
Hangar 13 has done a terrible job on the PC port. But even ignoring all those pesky technical issues, Mafia 3 suffers from lack of variety. The game’s open world is dead and artificial, while the great atmosphere and competent storytelling feel wasted.
It tells its story well, with smart writing and some superb characterisation that elevate its simple revenge plot. Ultimately, however, it never capitalises on its open world potential, instead succumbing to an almost constant lull of tediously unimaginative repetition that makes for a boring and dated open-world shooter.
March 27, 2020
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