After years of waiting, the Mafia franchise returns with The Old Country, taking players back to 1900s Sicily in what might be the series’ most focused entry yet. This prequel ditches the open-world approach of Mafia III and goes back to the linear, story-driven formula that made the first two games so memorable. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it promises a cinematic crime drama experience. In our Mafia: The Old Country review, we’ll dive into the story, gameplay mechanics, world design, and technical performance to see if this return to form hits the mark for both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.

Story That Takes Its Time

The game follows Enzo, a young man sold into brutal labor at a sulfur mine controlled by the Spadaro family when he was just five years old. After 12 years of trying to save money to escape, a mining disaster gives him the chance to break free. When he confronts Il Merlo, a member of the Spadaro family, the situation escalates into violence. Enzo’s escape leads him to the protection of Don Bernardo Torrisi, a powerful landowner who takes him in.

Under the guidance of Luca, one of Don Torrisi’s trusted men, Enzo slowly climbs the ranks and learns the real business of the family. The story introduces memorable characters like Cesare, Don Torrisi’s annoying but loyal nephew, and Isabella, the don’s captivating daughter who catches Enzo’s eye.

The game captures the feel of classic mafia family dynamics well, showing how different families interact, compete, and maintain their territories. Each chapter feels like an episode of a TV series, with good use of time jumps and strong character development. The facial animations and expressions are detailed, making conversations feel real and immersive.

However, the pacing is quite slow. The first five chapters still feel like setup, and the real mafia story doesn’t kick in until around the midpoint. While this gradual rise makes sense for Enzo’s character development, some players might find it too slow-paced.

Varied Gameplay with Strong Combat

The mission structure is linear, taking players from chapter to chapter without breaks, similar to the first two Mafia games. After completing certain chapters, an Explore Mode becomes available, letting players roam the world of San Celeste to find collectibles like photographs, saint’s cards, and newspapers, plus upgrade gear and earn money.

The gameplay offers both stealth and action options. Stealth sections provide multiple approaches – players can use knife takedowns (which wear down the blade’s durability), choke enemies, throw objects for distraction, or sneak past entirely. The stealth mechanics feel satisfying and well-designed.

Shootouts use classic early 1900s weapons that handle well. The enemy AI is decent – they’re not just standing targets, though they’re not overly challenging either. Enemies will flank and throw grenades if given the chance, adding some tactical thinking to firefights.

The game also features knife duels with slashing, stabbing, dodging, blocking, and parrying. These duels add cinematic intensity to key confrontations and feel appropriately aggressive and important.

For progression, players can acquire new knives and weapons with different stats and abilities. There’s also a charm system where medallions and beads can be equipped for various buffs. Cosmetic customization lets players change Enzo’s outfits, headwear, and facial hair, though these are purely visual. Transportation includes both horses and early automobiles. The handling feels solid, especially for the cars, and their old-school designs fit the period perfectly.

Beautiful 1900s Sicily

The 1900s Sicily setting makes this game stand out from previous Mafia entries set in America. The Italian atmosphere combined with the historical period creates a unique feel. The cities and landscapes of San Celeste are visually striking, with active NPCs and ambient sounds like bird chirping, horse steps, and car engines making the world feel alive.

NPCs often discuss current events as players pass by, which helps sell whatever’s happening in the story at that moment. The open landscapes are impressive, with clear weather showing off vineyards and mountains in the distance, creating a sense of scale and beauty.

Unreal Engine 5 delivers excellent visuals, with beautiful lighting in both cutscenes and gameplay. The building designs feel artistic and detailed. Unfortunately, there’s no dedicated photo mode to capture these scenic moments.

Technical Performance

Testing on PC with an Intel Core i5-13500, Nvidia RTX 4070 SUPER, and 32GB RAM at 1440p, the game runs at high settings with an average of 60 FPS. However, there are noticeable drops to 30 FPS during crowded scenes or when traveling through long stretches from cities to open fields. DLSS Super Resolution and Frame Generation help with performance, and DLSS Balance mode still looks nearly as good as native resolution.

One notable issue is that most cutscenes run at 30 FPS with motion blur enabled, with no option to change this. While this creates a cinematic feel, some players might prefer the choice to disable these effects.

Bugs are rare, with only occasional issues like items not being pickable or subtitles not changing. Overall, the game feels polished, though PC optimization could use improvement. It’s worth noting that these performance issues might not exist on console platforms, and hopefully they’ll be addressed in a day-one patch or future updates.

Verdict

Mafia: The Old Country successfully returns the series to its cinematic, story-focused roots. Enzo’s journey from mine worker to family member feels earned, supported by memorable characters and solid voice acting. The mix of stealth, gunplay, and knife duels keeps gameplay interesting, while the 1900s Sicily setting provides a fresh backdrop that feels authentic and immersive.

The slow pacing in the first half might not appeal to everyone, and the PC performance has room for improvement. However, the game delivers what longtime Mafia fans have been asking for – a tight, character-driven crime drama that focuses on family loyalty and power struggles rather than open-world busywork.

For newcomers, this prequel serves as a good entry point to understand what makes the Mafia series special. For returning fans, it’s a reminder of why the series’ cinematic approach works so well when executed properly.

Reviewed on PC