The first gameplay of Mafia: Definitive Edition, released yesterday (you can find it here), has pleasantly convinced many of the potential of this nostalgia operation, but looking at it remains a basic curiosity: what will we face? How the development team wanted to rework one of the founding titles of the open-world, especially after the success of blockbusters like GTA V or Red Dead Redemption II?
A long interview with Haden Blackman, director of the gioco, has shed light on some fundamental aspects.
name="a-faithful-remake---or-almost">A faithful remake ... or almost
First of all, let's start with a fact that has now become clear: when in September we find this resurrection of the Mafia in our hands, this it won't be a timid remastered game from 2002.
According to the interview, the remake of Hangar 13 touched both graphics and writing, with the addition of different characterizations of the characters. Now, for the younger ones, know that at the time of its release Mafia represented a little gem in terms of storytelling, with a brilliant revival of the clichés of the most important gangster movies, from The Godfather onwards, but of course for a 2002 game today many characters or situations would seem stereotyped or in depth.
It is therefore interesting to find out, from Blackman's words, how some of the most important characters in the game, such as Sarah (the protagonist's girlfriend) or Paulie (among our supporting gangsters) will have much more in-depth storylines and full of details.
The implications of this are many and would allow even those who played Mafia years ago savor it as if it were a new title, also as regards missions and gameplay. Stando anchors the director, it doesn't look like we should expect anything revolutionary as more freedom of approach, but Blackman hinted that some quests were reworked and expanded to provide a more modern experience, and that the city of Lost Heaven has also been retouched to match contemporary gameplay.
Yet, having arrived here, the question remains: is that all there is to it? Will the Mafia that we touch firsthand be so faithful to the original and will it add nothing else to the level of experience?
name="a-great-tribute">A great tribute
The answer, apparently, is yes. In fact, it is Blackman himself who says that the team wanted to remain faithful to spirit of the original game, without upsetting the basic structure (a huge sandbox whose narrative development consisted of our activating different missions through scattered points of interest).
At the most according to Blackman we will be able to findand numerous collectible content and alternative challenges but, if someone expected the inclusion of real side quests or new parts of the game alternatives to the quests, perhaps he will have to revise some of his expectations.
name="-rifondando-a-saga">"Rifondando" a saga
Last but not the least element of interest of Mafia: Definitive Edition is a matter of lore. How could one expect from the remake of a game, the progenitor of a trilogy, according to the interview the game will have the task of creating stronger "links" between its story (set in the roaring 20s) and the events of the two sequels.
Black assured us that in the course of the game we will come across in elements that will strengthen the link between the three episodes, a feature deployed thanks to the fact of being able to count on an overview of the narrative of the entire trilogy.
So, fans of the saga, be warned: if you are looking for a definitive and well-finished tribute to one of the most famous crime sagas of the video game you know how to spend part of your budget, but don't expect a revolutione.
Mafia Definitive Edition will be able to be "modern" enough to break into the hearts of young players by becoming a small phenomenon or will remain confined within the fences of the great tribute to a glorious past?
