Mafia: Definitive Edition is a remake of the Czech action-adventure game of the same title released eighteen years earlier. This definite edition has been recreated entirely with new graphics, new soundtrack and new voice actors. It has been created by American developer Hangar 13 and released by American publisher 2K Games for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.
The characters, locations and story are exactly the same as in the original game. The players incarnate young cab driver Thomas Angelo who is strong-armed by two members of the Salieri family into helping them escape an ambush by the rival Morello family in 1930. Thomas Angelo initially doesn't want to join the Salieri family but changes his mind when members of the Morello family ambush him and destroy his cab. He wants to get his revenge and earn some money during the Great Depression. Thanks to his loyalty and dedication, Thomas Angelo slowly climbs the career ladder and gets more and more important missions done such as competing in a car racing competition and assassinating a corrupt politician. The made man also begins a relationship with the daughter of Salieri's bartender and has finally found a place he likes to call home. Cracks start to show when Thomas Angelo starts questioning some of his missions and realizes that Don Salieri is hiding something from the rest of the family. The conflicted rising start must now choose between loyalty and convictions in the best interest of his family, friends and himself.
This new definitive edition convinces on numerous levels. The graphics are absolutely stunning and bring the era of the Great Depression in the United States of America to life in a realistic way. The soundtrack is immersive, diversified and cinematic and especially the two radio channels one can listen to while driving a car are particularly entertaining. The controls are much more fluid than in the original game and certainly increase the enjoyment of playing this game.
The only negative element is that the story of this game is exactly the same as in the original game. It would have been great to add some side missions or perhaps to offer an alternative ending. Those who have played the original game will play this one for nostalgic reasons but won't get any innovation or even surprises here.
Despite that one particular flaw, Mafia: Definitive Edition is the best organized crime game you could possibly imagine. Anyone who likes action, crime and stealth games should definitely enjoy this release. It's much more concise than numerous contemporary open-world video games and convinces with immersive atmosphere, fascinating characters and a gripping story line. This approach isn't old-fashioned but very focused instead which is an element I am missing in franchises like Grand Theft Auto for instance. Sometimes, a little bit less can be so much more and this is precisely the case here.
