Mafia: The Old Country PS5 review - keep your enemies closer
In a world where Dragon Age is now treated as a dead franchise and it's 14 years since The Elder Scrolls got a mainline sequel, the Mafia franchise seems to have led a charmed life. Despite never excelling either critically or commercially it's been going since 2002, with a steady stream of sequels, remasters, and remakes. Who's asking for any of this we don't know, to the point where the game itself almost feels like a front for the mafia, but the series is nothing if not consistent.
The Mafia games are often mistaken for GTA clones, but they only share a superficial similarity with Rockstar's epics. Although they do have the semblance of an open world there's nothing to really do in them and the story progression is entirely linear. Which isn't a criticism, but it is one easy way for newcomers to the franchise to become disappointed – although there are plenty of others too.
These issues are clearly not unknown to developer Hangar 13, which incorporates some of original series creator Illusion Softworks. The Old Country sensibly does away with any pretence of an open world, but while its story does have some narrative weight it feels even less interactive than usual.
Mafia 3 had the most expensive attempt at an open world, but that only made it even more irritating to play through, which is a shame as its storytelling is excellent and would've got far more attention if it had been part of a better game. The Old Country seems to acknowledge this by decreasing the level of interactivity to such a low level it's almost like the third person shooter equivalent of a visual novel.
The best thing The Old Country has going for it is the excellent graphics and unusual setting of 1900s Sicily. However, while Mafia 3's story dealt with heady issues of racism and intolerance (it focused on the Black Mafia, rather than Italian Americans), The Old Country isn't quite so daring.
To its credit, its examination of why good people are driven to do bad things is not superficial, as it shows how poverty, peer pressure, and toxic masculinity sends protagonist Enzo Favara into a spiral of criminality from which he never escapes. Literally, because while this is supposed to be interactive entertainment his fate is predestined the moment you start the game.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
It takes the game precious little time to start ripping off paying homage to characters from The Godfather. It's done with relatively subtlety – this isn't GTA 3 era Rockstar Games – but if you've any interest in The Old Country's there's little chance you haven't see the films and so the various pastiches stand out like a memberberry moment from Star Wars.
In any case, Enzo joins the mob, gains a father figure, and falls in love with the Don's daughter. Oaths are taken, feuds are started, and crimes are committed. What makes The Old Country so strange though is that while the plot is by-the-number the writing and acting is very good, and well up to par with Mafia 3. It all takes a while to get going, and Enzo is so laconic it's difficult to empathise with him at first, but the characters are three-dimensional and believable.
The problem is not so much that the story is cliché because it's knock-off of famous mafia movies, but because it feels overly reminiscent of previous Mafia games, which had already farmed those same films for inspiration. What you're left with is a copy of a copy and no matter how well acted it is, that's a serious issue.
An even bigger problem is that as a video game, and particularly as a third person shooter, The Old Country is completely uninteresting. The gunplay is a mild improvement on Mafia: Definitive Edition but it's still completely unremarkable. The driving is worse, while the stealth sections, and instant fail situations, are the sort of thing that makes the beginning of Star Wars Outlaws seem like Metal Gear Solid. More Trending
The only gameplay element that's above average is the enemy AI, which does a good job of trying to outflank you and is always on the offence. But that's nowhere near enough to excuse how dull and frustrating the game is for most of the time. The knife fights that end so many of the sections are also fun at first, although the excuses for why the various people don't just shoot you when they have the chance become ever more unlikely.
In terms of presentation, The Old Country is absolutely top notch, from the graphics to the voice-acting, but as both a game and a story it struggles to keep your attention. And that's despite the fact that it's only around 12 hours long. Although, and we have to hand it to Take-Two on this one, its price does reflect that.
Hangar 13 clearly enjoy what they do, and there must presumably be plenty of fans that do too. The game's lack of interactivity is not necessarily a problem, but the fact that it sacrifices so much of what being a video games is in order to tell a story that's been told many times before, including by the series itself, is just not a price worth paying.
In Short: The most cinematic entry in the series so far but no matter how good the visuals or acting are, the story is clichéd and predictable, and the gameplay feels like barely an afterthought.
Pros: The graphics are excellent, and the script and voice-acting are just as impressive. Surprisingly good enemy AI during combat.
Cons: The plot is predictable and formulaic even compared to other Mafia games, while the characters remain largely uninteresting for far too long. Banal gameplay and an almost completely uninteractive game world.
Score: 5/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PCPrice: £44.99Publisher: 2KDeveloper: Hangar 13Release Date: 8th August 2025
Age Rating: 18
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: BioShock 4 is definitely happening 'without question' says Take-Two boss
MORE: Extremely rare Xbox game is being sold for over £1,000 – do you own a copy?
MORE: New Lego Batman game will be revealed at Gamescom claims rumour
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
19 hours ago
- Metro
GTA 6 maker Rockstar working on multiple other games says Take-Two
Aside from the Max Payne remakes, GTA 6 studio Rockstar is rumoured to be working on more ports of older games. With how big a game GTA 5 was, both in terms of its content and how much it sold, it's not unreasonable to assume GTA 6 is aiming to be even bigger. As such, you have to imagine that the entirety of developer Rockstar Games is putting all its time and energy into ensuring it lives up to the lofty expectations of fans. Especially since it's been more than a decade since GTA 5's initial launch. This isn't necessarily the case, though, as Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive, has suggested the studio has a lot more on its plate besides GTA 6. As spotted by Rockstar Mag on X, Zelnick made a recent appearance on CNBC's business section, where he was of course asked for an update on GTA 6's progress. After once again recommitting to its new release date of May 26, 2026, adding that his 'level of conviction is very very high,' Zelnick was then asked how much of the Rockstar team is working on GTA 6 specifically. 'Rockstar does have a lot of other things going on,' answered Zelnick, adding that GTA 6 is, of course, 'the primary focus.' Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. This does make sense since larger studios tend to juggle more than one project at a time. Otherwise, the wait between new games would be much longer. Rockstar Games travaille sur « plusieurs projets » et pas seulement sur # niveau de conviction concernant la date de sortie de GTA 6 est « très, très élevé ».Rockstar compte dépasser les attentes les plus élevées dans l'industrie du JV et de la Pop Culture avec GTA 6. — Rockstar Mag' (@Rockstar_Mag) August 12, 2025 With how much of an undertaking GTA 6 is, any other projects Rockstar is simultaneously handling are likely smaller in scope. So, don't go expecting a big budget Red Dead Redemption sequel to drop in a year or two. If anything, Rockstar could be working on ports and remasters of its back catalogue; several of which have been the subject of popular rumours in the past. More Trending Red Dead Redemption 2, for instance, is said to be due an updated re-release for modern consoles, including the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as modern ports of 2008's GTA 4 and 2012's Max Payne 3. Speaking of Max Payne, Rockstar does have a hand in the remakes of the first two games that are currently in development over at Remedy, the studio responsible for the Alan Wake and Control games. According to a new financial report from Remedy, development on the remakes is going steady and 'collaboration with Rockstar Games remains close and productive, ensuring alignment as the project advances toward its next major phase.' However, there's nothing to indicate when Remedy will have something tangible to show, let alone a release date. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: GTA 6 cost might surprise fans as Take-Two boss talks 'fair price' MORE: GTA Online age check settings confirmed real as screenshots leak MORE: Lewis Hamilton admits he's cancelling work just to play new video game
The Review Geek
a day ago
- The Review Geek
Mafia: The Old Country Guide: 'Chapter 4 – Il Barone' Walkthrough & Collectibles
Mafia: The Old Country Guide: Chapter 4 – Il Barone Chapter 4 of Mafia: Old Country picks up in 1905. When you begin, head over and grab a horse from the stables. When you open the menu, scroll across to the Saddle options and choose Polio Tack to unlock the Achievement: Riding in Style. You don't have to stick with this Saddle and can switch it back if you wish, but this is one of the simpler trophies you can get almost immediately here. You can also choose to customize your Horse here with Dinari, granting extra Spurs or a different appearance entirely, but the default horse should suffice. Ride to the ruins with Isabella Back to top ↑ Once you're ready, ride with Isabella until you stop the first time. You'll need to help the boys out with their car, so approach the front and hit X to crank it for Gennaro until you're ready to move on again. The second stop with the priest you don't need to get off your horse. Eventually you'll come to a race section. Race with Isabella The race with Isabella is quite straightforward and the same tactics you used in chapter 2 will also work here too. Use Spurs during straight sections of the countryside to speed up, and cut the corners whenever you turn left or right. You don't gain anything by winning or losing (except bragging rights) but eventually you'll ride on together to the next area. Join Isabella on the overlook Back to top ↑ Eventually you'll reach the overlook with Isabella, where you'll be shown how to use the Camera. This is the first Photograph you'll get automatically and the tutorial will help show how to line up the shot just right. To get the right focus and exposure, you need to make sure the arrows turn Yellow. When you do, snap the photo for your journal. Ride to the ruins with Isabella When that's done, follow Isabella to the ruins where a cutscene will trigger. With Gennaro and Isabella off together, it's time to go for a ride with Luca. Just as you did before, crank the car again and we'll be back on our way. You'll now have a driving tutorial and will end up driving round the ruins twice. On the second circuit, you'll need to race back to the ruins for a shootout. Get to the temple Back to top ↑ The shootout here is relatively straightforward, but from here on out, it's a good idea to try and get as many headshots as you can for the Achievement: Cold-Blooded, which requires 30 headshot takedowns on enemies. The rifle is a great option for this. Work your way through the temple ruins but do note that if you hug the right side of the arena (from your starting position and the opposite side to the marked location) you'll find a workbench tucked under a large tarp which holds a Trinacria on (pictured below). After dispatching all the soldiers, head for the marked spot on your screen to trigger another cutscene and a chase sequence. Pursue the bandits Back to top ↑ Now you'll be driving with Enzo after Isabella and will need to shoot the kidnappers as they race away. Watch out for the parts of the road that are burned or columns destroyed as you drive. Eventually you'll come to a corner where you'll need to take a left turn and will find the yellow marker right in front of you. Don't brake at the corner and keep your finger pressed on the accelerator. As you descend the hill you'll do so at speed, and as you jump off the edge of the path into the air, you'll manage to go at enough speed to get some airtime and nab the Achievement: Daredevil for jumping the car over 40 meters. This chase sequence does go on for a while and after hopping aboard your horse, you'll need to chase after Isabella while on horseback. This is less about getting Isabella and more about taking out the pursuing attackers so keep going and don't fret if the wagon gets too far away. Keep using your spur on the straight sections of the path too and fire at the bandits as they get close on horseback. Eventually this section will trigger another cutscene. Find Gennaro Back to top ↑ When you take control of Enzo, Charm: Fantasma will be resting on the wall right in front of you. This dampens your footsteps and makes you harder to detect, and as stealth will serve you well in this first area, I'd recommend equipping it for the time being. You can go in all-guns blazing if you want, but as some levels require you to keep to stealth for Achievements, this is a great opportunity to test those skills out. From your starting position, descend down into the camp via the right path. Take out the guard in front of you after the second guard moves away, then keep crouched and continue moving toward the marker on the right. At this point there should be two guards patrolling back and forth. If you take either of these guys out, it's a good idea to move the bodies out of sight, preferably in the cave you originally entered into this area from. There's a blue box there you can stuff enemy soldiers inside. Hug the rock wall to your right and then circle around and enter the next cave. Follow the route with the orange torches, up the stairs, and stealthily take out any soldiers in your way until you climb some stairs. Keep following the torches and you'll come to a large cave with a ton of enemies inside. You can do this bit stealthily but it'll take a while. Alternatively, there's a rifle overlooking the top of an enemy camp that you can use to dispatch these guys. On one of the tables in the middle of the camp you'll find the Newspaper: Russo-Japanese War collectible (pictured above). This is also missable so you need to make sure you pick that up while you're here! Exit the cave and follow the path up. However, on the way you'll find an enemy soldier moving to the left and a path overlooking a beautiful view. You'll also find a Mystery Fox here, just to the right of the campfire. Regardless of if you've done the whole section stealthily or not, at the top of this path you'll need to attack the soldiers that arrive and take them out. Keep moving through the area and at the end of this path, you'll find Gennaro. However, just before interacting with him, be sure to check left of the campfire to grab the Charm: San Giuda pick-up. Find a way out of the camp Untie Gennaro and then follow the path all the way up to the marker. Hop over the fence and you'll have another fight on your hands. Knife Fight – Messina Back to top ↑ Messina is a tough cookie but the rules here are largely the same and don't differ too much from previous fights. Be patient, use parries wisely and counterattack when you can. Don't lunge in too aggressively and bide your time to hit him where it hurts. Eventually Messina will go down and it'll trigger another cutscene to end the chapter. For completing this section, you'll nab the Achievement: A Trip to the Coast.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Mafia: The Old Country PS5 review - keep your enemies closer
The fourth Mafia game is a prequel to the whole series, set in Sicily at the turn of the 20th century, and featuring some amazing graphics and performances. In a world where Dragon Age is now treated as a dead franchise and it's 14 years since The Elder Scrolls got a mainline sequel, the Mafia franchise seems to have led a charmed life. Despite never excelling either critically or commercially it's been going since 2002, with a steady stream of sequels, remasters, and remakes. Who's asking for any of this we don't know, to the point where the game itself almost feels like a front for the mafia, but the series is nothing if not consistent. The Mafia games are often mistaken for GTA clones, but they only share a superficial similarity with Rockstar's epics. Although they do have the semblance of an open world there's nothing to really do in them and the story progression is entirely linear. Which isn't a criticism, but it is one easy way for newcomers to the franchise to become disappointed – although there are plenty of others too. These issues are clearly not unknown to developer Hangar 13, which incorporates some of original series creator Illusion Softworks. The Old Country sensibly does away with any pretence of an open world, but while its story does have some narrative weight it feels even less interactive than usual. Mafia 3 had the most expensive attempt at an open world, but that only made it even more irritating to play through, which is a shame as its storytelling is excellent and would've got far more attention if it had been part of a better game. The Old Country seems to acknowledge this by decreasing the level of interactivity to such a low level it's almost like the third person shooter equivalent of a visual novel. The best thing The Old Country has going for it is the excellent graphics and unusual setting of 1900s Sicily. However, while Mafia 3's story dealt with heady issues of racism and intolerance (it focused on the Black Mafia, rather than Italian Americans), The Old Country isn't quite so daring. To its credit, its examination of why good people are driven to do bad things is not superficial, as it shows how poverty, peer pressure, and toxic masculinity sends protagonist Enzo Favara into a spiral of criminality from which he never escapes. Literally, because while this is supposed to be interactive entertainment his fate is predestined the moment you start the game. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It takes the game precious little time to start ripping off paying homage to characters from The Godfather. It's done with relatively subtlety – this isn't GTA 3 era Rockstar Games – but if you've any interest in The Old Country's there's little chance you haven't see the films and so the various pastiches stand out like a memberberry moment from Star Wars. In any case, Enzo joins the mob, gains a father figure, and falls in love with the Don's daughter. Oaths are taken, feuds are started, and crimes are committed. What makes The Old Country so strange though is that while the plot is by-the-number the writing and acting is very good, and well up to par with Mafia 3. It all takes a while to get going, and Enzo is so laconic it's difficult to empathise with him at first, but the characters are three-dimensional and believable. The problem is not so much that the story is cliché because it's knock-off of famous mafia movies, but because it feels overly reminiscent of previous Mafia games, which had already farmed those same films for inspiration. What you're left with is a copy of a copy and no matter how well acted it is, that's a serious issue. An even bigger problem is that as a video game, and particularly as a third person shooter, The Old Country is completely uninteresting. The gunplay is a mild improvement on Mafia: Definitive Edition but it's still completely unremarkable. The driving is worse, while the stealth sections, and instant fail situations, are the sort of thing that makes the beginning of Star Wars Outlaws seem like Metal Gear Solid. More Trending The only gameplay element that's above average is the enemy AI, which does a good job of trying to outflank you and is always on the offence. But that's nowhere near enough to excuse how dull and frustrating the game is for most of the time. The knife fights that end so many of the sections are also fun at first, although the excuses for why the various people don't just shoot you when they have the chance become ever more unlikely. In terms of presentation, The Old Country is absolutely top notch, from the graphics to the voice-acting, but as both a game and a story it struggles to keep your attention. And that's despite the fact that it's only around 12 hours long. Although, and we have to hand it to Take-Two on this one, its price does reflect that. Hangar 13 clearly enjoy what they do, and there must presumably be plenty of fans that do too. The game's lack of interactivity is not necessarily a problem, but the fact that it sacrifices so much of what being a video games is in order to tell a story that's been told many times before, including by the series itself, is just not a price worth paying. In Short: The most cinematic entry in the series so far but no matter how good the visuals or acting are, the story is clichéd and predictable, and the gameplay feels like barely an afterthought. Pros: The graphics are excellent, and the script and voice-acting are just as impressive. Surprisingly good enemy AI during combat. Cons: The plot is predictable and formulaic even compared to other Mafia games, while the characters remain largely uninteresting for far too long. Banal gameplay and an almost completely uninteractive game world. Score: 5/10 Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PCPrice: £44.99Publisher: 2KDeveloper: Hangar 13Release Date: 8th August 2025 Age Rating: 18 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: BioShock 4 is definitely happening 'without question' says Take-Two boss MORE: Extremely rare Xbox game is being sold for over £1,000 – do you own a copy? MORE: New Lego Batman game will be revealed at Gamescom claims rumour
