Mafia: The Old Country vs Mafia III Difference & What’s New ?

The Mafia game series has always been known for its deep storytelling, dramatic characters and realistic worlds. With the release of Mafia: The Old Country the developers at Hangar 13 have made some big changes from the last main game Mafia III. We’ll explore the biggest differences between Mafia: The Old Country vs Mafia III games, including story, theme, gameplay, visuals and more.

Story: Shorter and More Focused

Mafia III had a large open world and a long story that took about 22 to 25 hours to finish. The game focused on revenge with the main character Lincoln Clay trying to take down the people who betrayed him.

Mafia: The Old Country takes a different approach. The story is shorter lasting around 10 to 14 hours and is more focused. It’s a linear game meaning there’s a set path for the player to follow. This allows the story to be more emotional and direct.

New Setting and Time Period

Mafia III was set in 1960s America in a fictional city called New Bordeaux. It showed a world full of crime, racism and war veterans trying to survive.

Mafia: The Old Country goes much further back in time to early 1900s Sicily Italy. The game explores a more traditional and secretive version of the Mafia where loyalty and honor are more important than money or power.

Different Main Characters and Goals

In Mafia III Lincoln Clay wants revenge. He’s angry and wants to destroy the criminal empires that wronged him. He’s building his own empire from the ground up.

In The Old Country Enzo Favara is very different. He’s not trying to take over. Instead he’s trying to belong. His journey is about finding a family building trust and understanding his role in the Mafia world.

No Background Needed

Mafia: The Old Country is a starting point for the series. You don’t need to play any other Mafia games to understand what’s going on. It’s a standalone story that anyone can enjoy, even if it’s their first time playing a Mafia game.

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Big Gameplay Changes

Mafia III had open-world gameplay, with side missions, empire-building features, and underboss management.

Mafia: The Old Country removes all of that. There are no side missions, no empire management and no open world systems. The game is focused only on the main story which makes it tighter and easier to follow.

New Style of Combat

In the early 1900s guns weren’t easy to find in Sicily. Because of this The Old Country focuses on knife combat. The game is inspired by real fighting styles from that time and place. You’ll have to think carefully during fights since bullets and weapons are limited.

Language and Immersion

One of the most unique features of Mafia: The Old Country is its use of the Sicilian language. The game was written in Sicilian and uses native Sicilian voice actors. There are subtitles and dubs in other languages including English but Sicilian is considered the main version. This decision adds a lot of realism and helps the player feel truly part of that world.

New Game Engine and Visuals

Mafia III used an upgraded version of an older game engine. It looked good for its time but The Old Country uses the latest Unreal Engine 5. This means better lighting more detailed characters and smoother animations.

The environments look more realistic than ever and the cutscenes blend naturally into the gameplay.

Music and Atmosphere

Mafia III had a great soundtrack filled with licensed music from the 1960s. It helped set the mood and place.

Mafia: The Old Country takes a different path. It uses an original score created using old folk instruments to match the time period. The music is soft and emotional helping tell the story without needing big action scenes.

Film Like Experience

The developers say that playing Mafia: The Old Country is like watching a classic mafia movie. The story flows smoothly without jumping around in time. Scenes are directed like a film with slow pacing and dramatic lighting.

Price and Value

Unlike many modern games that cost $70 or more Mafia: The Old Country will be released at a lower price. Hangar 13 understands that this is a shorter and more focused game and they’ve priced it fairly. It’s a great deal for players looking for a high quality experience without the extra cost. Mafia: The Old Country and Mafia III are two very different games. One is loud, fast and filled with chaos. The other is slow, thoughtful and emotional. Both offer great stories but The Old Country is shaping up to be a turning point for the series one that respects tradition while pushing the series forward in new ways. Whether you’re a long time fan or new to the Mafia world Mafia: The Old Country is worth keeping an eye on.

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