Right away, the game feels familiar to the remake. It looks great, and on my Xbox Series X, it played just fine. I'm not one to nitpick technical issues, especially minor ones that seem to fix themselves with a simple restart (looking at you, Quick Resume).
Here is my 10-point breakdown of the game.
Story - 8/10
The story is a slow burn through the first half, which makes for a stellar final few hours. The second half of the game truly soars, but it could have used a bit more oomph earlier on. The setup ultimately helps the ending, but the early stages feel a bit too low-stakes. The tension in the relationship between Enzo and Isabella is light until it isn't. Ultimately, your patience will pay off, making the purchase worth it.
You'll spend most of your time shooting and sneaking your way through old Sicilian environments, getting into knife fights to solve problems. While there are upgrades and perks, I didn't spend too much time exploring them. I do appreciate the use of Catholic/Christian items in the game, which helped keep me invested in the world and story.
In-Game Art / Design - 9/10
I was a little worried that a game made with the Unreal Engine might feel a bit generic, but the environments are beautiful. The effort put into the setting is palpable. The design of the buildings and roads are incredibly smooth and don't feel cluttered. The color palette is pleasantly soft, with wonderful pastels near the sea. As I said before, it's a very pretty game.
Audio / Sound / Music - 10/10
Solid. The music is good and supports the story without taking it over. The developers could have gone with a bigger, more bombastic score, but they don't, and it works. The voice acting is also top-tier.
Gameplay - 6/10
It's straightforward and familiar, which is fine. It's comfort food. Younger or more casual players might appreciate its accessibility. The gameplay, much like the overall theme, feels "safe." To use a soccer analogy, it's like developer Hangar 13 is a club trying to avoid relegation and is making sound, risk-averse decisions at every position.
As I mentioned, the final few hours are excellent, but they aren't enough to completely blow you away - and that's okay, because they likely weren't meant to.
Longevity - 7/10
It took me closer to 20 hours to get through, which is longer than what I've seen other people say. That includes taking time to find and read notes and simply taking in the scenery. I might revisit this game later, especially if more content is on the way. Personally, though, I'd rather see the developers get to work on the next installment. Developers releasing a new game every decade is absurd to me. If you have a good thing, rip off another one!
Historical Significance - 5/10
This might be a "me, an older guy" score, but despite my score of 5, consoles desperately need more games like this one. These stories create memories of a specific time and place. A solid love story intertwined with themes of family, loyalty, faith, and friendship. Think about how many people still remember playing the original Mafia games 20 years ago. This one will resonate with high school and college-aged players and they will remember it for years to come.
X-Factor - 10/10
This game receives a perfect score here because it is a great time while being both balanced and competent. It also goes deep into recreating a time period filled with normal people. You aren't flying around, casting spells, or getting lectured about modern politics. My "X-Factor" is a "fun" score, yes but it also could be considered a "satisfied" metric. I like the game, it was worth the money. I want more of this story.
Promotional Art / Design - 7/10
It's fine. I wish I had picked up a physical copy of this game.
77 Overall
Final Thought... is for the team that made this game. If they happen upon this tiny site, this is a phenomenal game. I've read the reports out there regarding what has happened to the studio in recent years, and to create something as focused, controlled, and complete as this is an incredible achievement. This game will age like fine wine.
Here's a great scene:
Developers and writers
Alex Cox: Director and writer
Matthew Aitken: Lead writer
Scarlett Sinclair: Senior writer
Additional crew
Nick Baynes: President and Studio Head of Hangar 13
Nicole Sandoval: Voice Over Performance Director
Darragh O'Farrell: Mocap and Voice Over Performance Director
Main cast
Riccardo Frascari as Enzo Favara
Johnny Santiago as Don Bernardo Torrisi
Carina Conti as Isabella Torrisi
Christian Antidormi as Cesare Massaro
Alberto Frezza as Gianluca "Luca" Trapani
Annika Pampel as Valentina Trapani
Tony Amendola as Don Niccolò Galante
Mark Whitten as Leone Galante
Anthony Skordi as Agustino "Tino" Russo
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