With “Mafia: The Old Country,” developer Hangar 13 ventures a look back at the beginnings of the legendary game series. The prequel will be released on August 8 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series—and even before its launch, opinions are already divided. Because even though the visuals sparkle with nostalgia and the cutscenes look like something out of a movie, the impression remains mixed.
Mafia: Big name, divided opinions and ratings
On Metacritic, the average rating is currently 76 points – based on 56 reviews. Striking: Almost all reviews are from PC versions. On console? Nothing – only one review each for PS5 and Xbox Series has been submitted. This is an unusually small amount of data for a game that is being released on multiple platforms.
While portals such as Impulsgamer give it an almost effusive 98 points, there are also more skeptical voices at the lower end of the scale. Game Rant, for example, awards it just 50 points and describes the game as “lukewarm.” The gameplay is too unimaginative, the story predictable, and the world atmospherically weak. A harsh verdict for a game from an established series.
For him, the game is not a blockbuster, but a successful contribution to the genre for anyone who likes classic mafia stories without open-world ballast.
Mafia, backdrops, and criticism – what’s behind the hype?
The controversy surrounding Mafia: The Old Country shows how different a game can be, depending on expectations, prior knowledge, and playing style. Some love the focus on narrative and atmosphere, while others miss more depth in the gameplay. The fact that the console versions have hardly been tested so far adds to the uncertainty.
One thing is clear: the game is not intended to be a huge sandbox epic, but focuses on a linear story with dense backdrops. The playing time of around 12 hours is more reminiscent of the narrative pace of a film than an open-world experience. Those looking for exactly that should find what they are looking for here.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the ratings will change after release, especially when more reviews of the PS5 and Xbox versions follow. Until then, Mafia: The Old Country remains a game that won’t appeal to everyone, but certainly has its charms for fans of the genre.
