Mafia: The Old Countrywill mark Hangar 13’s return to theMafiafranchise after an almost decade-long hiatus, so there’s a lot riding on it. With 2016’sMafia 3garnering a lukewarm reception, especially in comparison to its cult-classic predecessors, how exactlyMafia: The Old Countrywill land is anyone’s guess, but it’s looking rather promising.
One of the most significant reasons whyMafia: The Old Countryhas gotten so much attention is its radical departure from the older games in the series. Not only willThe Old Countrybe abandoning the open-world formulaof its predecessors, instead adopting a mission-based structure with some explorable areas, but it will also be a prequel, as the name suggests. Taking place decades before the original trilogy,The Old Countrywill take players to rural Italy, exploring the roots of organized Italian crime through a cinematic narrative. In a sense, this makes it somewhat similar toYakuza 0, a prequel game in theYakuzafranchise that fleshes out the origins of its myriad characters and conflicts. With any luck,The Old Countrywill also see a similar level of critical and commercial success.
Hopefully, Mafia: The Old Country Will Be the Series' ‘Yakuza 0’ Moment
Yakuza 0 Helped Catapult Yakuza’s Western Popularity
While it always had an audience west of Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun has been whereYakuzahistorically found much of its success. This could be as simple as the setting and subject matter of the franchise appealing more to a Japanese audience than an American or European one:Yakuzais centered on Japan cultureand society, after all. But, as most active gamers are likely aware, theYakuzafranchise has exploded in overseas popularity in recent years, undoubtedly helped by its prolific release schedule.
But many fans argue thatYakuza’s overseas boom can be traced back toYakuza0.Yakuza0is a prequelto the broader series, taking place in the late 1980s—roughly six years before the prologue of the first mainlineYakuzagame—following both Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in their early days of organized crime in Kamurocho and Sotenburi. Since it’s the first canonicalYakuzastory, it’s essentially unshackled from the complicated lore of later entries, making it a lot easier for newcomers to get into. While this description doesn’t exactly apply toMafia: The Old Country, which doesn’t appear to feature any characters from previousMafiagames, it might be a good entry point for the franchise for the same reasonsYakuza 0is.
Yakuza0’s prequel storymakes it approachable for first-time players, but its novelty also helped it appeal to longtime fans, as it shows new dimensions of iconic characters, locations, and organizations.
How Mafia: The Old Country Could Help the Mafia Franchise
TheMafiafranchise is a successful one, no doubt about it, but its relevance has dwindled over the years. What was once considered something of aGTAcompetitorhas become more like a relic of the past, withMafia3’s aforementioned reception doing little to improve matters. But recently, interest in the franchise was reinvigorated by remasters of the first two games—not at all unlike the successful remasters of the first twoYakuzaentries.
So, perhapsMafiais following a similar trajectory asYakuza, withMafia: The Old Countryfilling the role ofYakuza 0: a bold, ambitious prequel that skyrockets the IP’s popularity and success; even with heavy hitters likeLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiandInfinite Wealthlaunching post-2020, many still considerYakuza 0to be thedefinitiveYakuzaexperience. Here’s hoping that the same will be true forMafia: The Old Country.
Mafia: The Old Country
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover the origins of organized crime inMafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive as Enzo Favara and prove your worth to the Cosa Nostra in this immersive third-person action-adventure set during a dangerous, unforgiving era.This thrilling narrative is brought to life by stunning visuals, cinematic storytelling, and the authentic realism that the critically acclaimedMafiaseries is known for. Enzo’s story unfolds in a time when skill with a stiletto blade was a deadly asset, aluparasawed-off shotgun was a go-to firearm, murderous vendettas raged for decades, and mafiosi patrolled their protection rackets on foot, horseback, or behind the wheel of turn-of-the-century motorcars.Through grit and determination, Enzo has survived a childhood of indentured labor in Sicily’s hellish sulfur mines. Now, through a twist of fate, he has the opportunity to join Don Torrisi’s crime family, and will do whatever it takes to carve out a better life for himself.By swearing an oath, Enzo has committed himself to the Torrisi family’s code of honor, with all the power and hardship it entails. He must never forget this simple truth:Family Takes Sacrifice.
