Hangar 13 Are Making An Offer You Can't Refuse With Mafia: The Old Country
The Mafia franchise is one I hold dear, and all of the games hold a special place in my heart. The mix of amazing story along with tight action set in very distinct time periods is a recipe that hits with me in a way that not many franchises do. I am even a staunch defender of the troubled 3rd game and will sing its praises despite its obvious flaws. So it is no surprise that I am excited for Mafia’s return with The Old Country. We have seen a couple of trailers but really didn’t know too much except that it is set in Italy at the turn of the century, making it a prequel to the first game. Well, thanks to two awesome new videos, we have a much clearer idea.
The first trailer is perhaps the trailer I have been really waiting for, the gameplay one. This trailer highlights how the action and stealth have evolved since the last game, as well as giving players a really good look at just how the gameplay works in this 1900s setting.
“Mafia: The Old Country is a focused, linear experience that combines quality storytelling, authentic era immersion and a refined take on the familiar Mafia gameplay,” said Hangar 13 President Nick Baynes in a recent press release. “That focus allows us to deliver a story that’s gritty, grounded, brutal and emotional. Embracing early 1900s era Sicily, this is a mafia origin story that follows our protagonist, Enzo Favara, as he takes the oath and works his way up Don Torrisi’s crime family.”
The first trailer might have been the one I was looking forward to, but the second trailer is the one I found most interesting. This is a developer insights trailer that gives a great look at the nuts and bolts that go into the new game. It looks at everything from the setting, to the music, to the action and how it is all being crafted to stay true to the setting. These sorts of Dev insights are always fascinating to me and it is clear the team at Hangar 13 are pouring themselves into this game.
The final bit of exciting news is we have both a release date and a price.
The first is August 8 and it is coming to PS5, Xbox Series and PC in two editions. The Standard edition will retail for $90 AUD while the Deluxe will be $110. In regards to the slightly lower-than-normal pricing along with the type of game Mafia: The Old Country is, 2K Preisdent David Ismailer had this to say.
“We think there’s a large audience for compelling stories that don’t require massive time commitments, We’re excited to offer a game like Mafia: The Old Country in our portfolio, and to provide a linear highly-polished narrative experience that can easily complement the other more persistent games our players also love and engage with on a more consistent basis.”
I don’t know about you, but I will sure be asking for a favour from the Don when August 8 rolls around, so stay tuned to Player 2 for more Mafia: The Old Country coverage as it comes to hand.
