Year Released : 2002
System Requirements: 500Mhz, 96MB RAM, 3D Graphics Accelerator
Rating : ***1/2
Mafia is a game where you are working for the Italian crime family. You play Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver trying to make ends meet until he bumps into Salieri's men and agrees to join them. Expect all the action found in gangster movies : car chases, fights and assasinations.
But is this just Grand Theft Auto III set in the 1930's ? PC gamers will definitely compare this game with Grand Theft Auto III since both of these games were released just a few months apart, which is quite unfortunate.
The main difference between GTA III and Mafia is that Mafia has a fixed storyline which you must follow in order to progress. Whereas in GTA III, you can choose which missions you want to take, thus sacrificing a consistent plot in the process. In Mafia however, the story is so absorbing and together with the well-made voice acting and cutscenes makes you want to continue playing just to see what your character is up to next.
However, this game has its problems. One of which is the gameplay itself. Almost in every mission, you have to drive to the destination. This won't be my complaint if not for a few reasons :The cars that you drive are too slow. Furthermore, you will be caught by policemen for speeding if you drive at the maximum speed (which is still slow ! ). Fortunately, you can still continue your journey after receiving the summons. But the cutscene is too time-consuming and if you do not stop for them, they will eventually caught up with you and arrest you, then you would have to restart the mission. Also, from what I have read from other reviews for this game, many reviewers complained that the racing part of the game is too difficult and unnecessary. But I encountered no problems in that mission.
Finally, is it worth your time to play this game ? At 3 CD's, it is a tough decision. But if you have played GTA III and enjoyed it, then you will enjoy Mafia not only for its action, but also for its storyline and the twist at the end.
Pros : Good story, nice soundtrack, interesting missions
Cons : Slow vehicles, tedious driving
If you like this game, try : Grand Theft Auto III
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