Description
Mafia: The Old Country brings the series back to a linear, story‑first format reminiscent of Mafia and Mafia II—this time rewinding to Sicily at the dawn of organized crime. You play as Enzo Favara, a miner turned mob enforcer whose rise through the Torrisi family unfolds across a compact, cinematic campaign. Expect fewer open‑world distractions and more carefully staged missions, with riding, driving, stealth infiltrations, shootouts, and recurring one‑on‑one knife duels that punctuate major confrontations.
Critics consistently praise the atmosphere: sun‑baked vineyards, cramped alleyways, crypts and ruins, horse races inspired by period motorsport, and meticulous audio—from clattering early automobiles to the bustle of festivals. Performances, especially Don Torrisi’s, are singled out as superb. On the flipside, reviews point to dated, instant‑fail stealth segments and serviceable cover shooting that rarely surprises. If you want a focused, actor‑led crime tale without open‑world busywork, this is the series’ return to form.
Highlights pulled from top reviews and the PS5 listing:
- Linear, narrative‑driven structure with exploration‑lite “museum‑quality” environments (IGN, GameSpot, Push Square).
- Strong writing and standout voice acting; a “gripping narrative and refreshing brevity” (~12–13 hours) (IGN 8/10; Reddit review threads; Metacritic roundup).
- Gorgeous depiction of 1900s Sicily; excellent soundscape and period authenticity (IGN, GameSpot).
- Conventional combat and dated stealth; frequent knife‑fight set pieces (GameSpot 6/10, Push Square 6/10).
- PS5 features include fast loading, DualSense haptics/adaptive triggers, 3D audio, and PS5 Pro Enhanced support (PlayStation Store page).
What reviewers are saying
- IGN: “Conventional but effective… wonderful eye and ear for detail.” Score: 8/10.
- GameSpot: “Beautiful setting held back by shallow mechanics and dated design.” Score: 6/10.
- Push Square: “An offer you maybe can refuse… stunning scenery and performances, thin gameplay loop.” Score: 6/10.
- Metacritic (PS5): low‑to‑mid‑70s metascore; user scores generally favorable.
PS5 specifics
- Fast loads via SSD, DualSense haptics/adaptive triggers, Tempest 3D Audio support, Game Help, and PS5 Pro Enhanced badge (PlayStation listing).
- Single‑player only; optional in‑game purchases per store label.
Good fit for
- Players who value story, performances, and period atmosphere over open‑world systems.
- Fans of Mafia 1/2 who prefer a focused campaign without modern sandbox bloat.
