Mafia Definitive Edition Review (PS4)

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  • Game: Mafia Definitive Edition
  • Platform: Playstation 4
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Mafia Definitive Edition

Mafia is surely one of the most well-known franchises in gaming, and maybe one of the most plagued ones. After the first iteration became a fan favorite, reaching cult status, the following episodes let down the community evermore. After the disappointment of the third installment, finally, 2K enticed us again with an offer we could not refuse: a remaster of all the three episodes.

But as is always the case, something too good to be true should be avoided: after the rejuvenation treatment Mafia III became worse than the original, while the remaster of Mafia II proved to be utterly poor, souring any good memory left of the original release. After that fiasco is there still hope for the remake of the original? Read on find out.

I started Mafia Definitive Edition with a question: after all the mishaps how could they even let Hangar 13 anywhere near this franchise? After the game, I have to admit that my harsh opinion about the developers mellowed somewhat, even if it did not change completely.

Let’s start with the obvious: the graphics and visuals are spectacular, although in some instances there is space for serious improvement, and the game feels modern and actual in 2020. One of the main reasons is that the driving and the shooting were overhauled form Mafia III. The rest can be attributed to the approach and care of the developers. As a result Mafia Definitive Edition truly feels like a remake, that offers much more than the two remasters that came before it.

Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
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Using a quality base material, Hangar 13 has shown skill and knows how to chop it, boosting the key ingredients and presenting a result that further enhances the charm of the original. The Definitive Edition offers roughly around 10 hours of fun, which is even more immersive than the original, thanks to the tinkering mainly in the right spots.

First and foremost this Lost Heaven is not the same city as it was 18 years ago. Although the map is the same, the context is quite different from the original: we land in the middle of a rotten establishment, a hotbed for the criminals, where the only difference among those on the street and those in the office is the color of their collar. It is a more brutal world that requires different types of actors. As a result, even the friendly faces will feel less familiar.

Not just the looks and voices of the characters have changed, but their personalities as well. Our hero Tommy is no longer a walking accident, a victim of the power plays around him, who turns into a criminal by accident. The new Mr. Angelo can handle himself, knows his way around a gun and although he still has a conscience, he makes a deliberate choice when it comes to the life of crime. He knows perfectly well what he gets into and what is expected of him. And just like him, all the other puppets of the Don evolve, gain depth and sometimes turn into something unexpected.

The scenario and character development are far more elegant this time than and the pace of the storytelling is much better. Sam and Paulie, along with the Don, reveal their true self gradually, layer by layer, and only towards the end of the game will you truly know them for who they are. Paulie for example, who at first seems as the careless stereotype gangster, drunk on power, will become more and more human, while Don Salieri himself will turn from a benevolent-looking grandpa into a criminal mastermind.

Although in some cases the missions can feel a bit rushed, and some of the secondary plots start nowhere and end in the same spot, thanks to the generous length of the dialogues and cutscenes, the main events come together in the end. the developers wanted to make sure that you will not miss any of the clues, and that every character falls into its rightful place just like the pieces of the puzzle. They failed big time with the family of Tommy, that still feels an afterthought in all of this.

There is no focus on our hero's personal life, and the few scenes where they appear they leave an odd feeling, not fitting into the picture. On the other hand, a great lot of effort went into making clear why and how you end up chasing down Frank, the right hand of the Don, with a sawed-off shotgun in your coat. Another sign that the real family is considered the one you get made into, is the detective Tommy turns to.

Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
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He has now an important role in revealing the great picture, a sharp contrast to his silent placeholder status in the original game. Still, the idea of saving your own family feels more like an excuse to tell the criminal story and getting to the bottom of what really happened.

And the fact that every part of the game works towards the same goal, and has a well thought out place and role makes Mafia Definitive Edition work even so many years after its original release. The most loyal fans of the original production will have a lot to complain about, but they have to understand that this is truly a remake that yanks the original Mafia in 2020, not just a graphical update of the original.

The new Mafia has different characters, different motivations, different voice actors, and even the songs on the radio are different, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Mafia Definitive Edition is a more current, more aggressive, and a more in your face game, without resorting to visual violence. It sheds the innocence of the original release and presents the world without holding back, knowing that its mature audience can handle it.

Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
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And this can be seen and heard throughout the game. The graphics can be spectacular in some points and some of the minor details, such as the airplanes and balloons flying around truly help build the illusion of a living world. The illusion is destroyed due to various issues, such as the textures that load only at the last second, the collision detection errors, and the scenes where the character models seem to have been left in the year 2002.

The game would have clearly needed more time with QA, since it has major errors such as the moments when you will run down a simple corridor, and suddenly fell through the solid floor and die. Also, the designers tried to make you follow a path of their own design, putting insurmountable obstacles in your way, such as bushes that should be no problem going over. This can be accepted in-game logics, but the fact that often you will get stuck in these bushes, or walls or buildings you were not even supposed to get into, is not.

On the other hand, the music is phenomenal again, teleporting you to the 1930s, even though it will not be to everybody’s liking. The new tunes match perfectly the atmosphere of the scenes, and the two radio stations differ enough to create some variety. The voice acting is pretty solid throughout the game and although some accents may seem over the top they are part of the identities of the different characters.

Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive Edition
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The Good

  • Detailed story, solid pacing
  • Great character development
  • Top-notch soundtrack

The Bad

  • Technical errors can ruin the experience
  • Several plot holes in the story
  • Can feel a bit short and too concentrated

Conclusion

Overall Mafia Definitive Edition is a solid remaster, that despite its numerous flaws should be experienced by the original gangsters and the new wave of players as well. We can comment about the technical errors, about the holes in the revamped story, and other shortcomings, but all in all, Mafia still proves to be am immersive experience, even after 18 years. This Mafia is not the same as the original, but it is better because you can enjoy it in 2020.

The hardcore fans of the original will find a lot to nit-pick. But they can return to the original, to remember how archaic it is, or can they try to beat the game in classic mode, “enjoying” the quirks of the original recipe. Despite the criticism, we have to admit that Hangar 13 managed to take an 18 years old game and make it work in 2020, without crushing its soul.

story 8
gameplay 7
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 8
multiplayer 0
final rating 7.5
Editor's review
good
 

Mafia Definitive Edition screenshots (44 Images)

Mafia Definitive Edition
Mafia Definitive EditionMafia Definitive EditionMafia Definitive EditionMafia Definitive Edition
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