Mafia: Definitive Edition

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Mafia: Definitive Edition are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the engaging narrative and strong writing, with some highlighting the historical context and cinematic experience. AusGamers commends the game for its focused single-player experience and sprawling cinematic tale. GAMINGbible appreciates the story for its historical context and engaging narrative. Noisy Pixel emphasizes that the story takes center stage, with players following the protagonist's evolution and being influenced by events such as the Great Depression and prohibition. The Escapist states that the story is a strong tale of friendship, family, and loyalty, with greater nuance and stronger context for character motivations. However, there are some criticisms regarding the story of Mafia: Definitive Edition. Destructoid mentions that the story crescendos and caps off too quickly in the final act, potentially leaving some players wanting more. PC Gamer states that while the story of Tommy Angelo's rise from working stiff to mafioso is well told, it is not as good as Mafia II's and is heavily scripted and cutscene heavy. Player 2 finds the story enjoyable but somewhat cliched and underdeveloped in some areas, suggesting that more missions could have fleshed out the later story events. Video Chums notes that there are moments when the story feels disconnected and the characters are generally unlikable. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Mafia: Definitive Edition is very good. The majority of critics praised the engaging narrative, strong writing, and immersive experience. The story is commended for its historical context, character development, and themes of loyalty, family, and betrayal. Critics such as Easy Allies, Game Rant, and PlayStation LifeStyle highlight the story as a standout element of the game, ranking it among great tales of organized crime. Despite some minor criticisms regarding pacing and character likability, the positive reception of the story indicates that it successfully captivates players and delivers an engrossing experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Mafia: Definitive Edition are quite varied. Many critics praise the improvements made to the shooting and driving mechanics. AusGamers, Impulsegamer, GameWatcher, and Xbox Tavern all highlight the satisfying shooting controls, with AusGamers specifically mentioning the addition of new third-person cover-to-cover shooting. The driving mechanics are also commended by critics such as Impulsegamer, who mentions that they become easier to handle with practice. The improved shooting and driving mechanics contribute to a positive gameplay experience, as players can enjoy engaging in shootouts and driving missions. However, there are also some negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. Some critics, such as GAMINGbible and Game Rant, mention that the gunplay can feel repetitive and straightforward. Game Rant also criticizes the clunky and imprecise combat, particularly with pistols. The movement controls and cover system are described as lackluster by Game Rant and Push Square. Additionally, Game Rant and PlayStation LifeStyle mention issues with melee combat, with the latter criticizing it as mediocre. These criticisms suggest that certain aspects of the gameplay, such as combat and movement, may not meet the expectations of some players. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the gameplay of Mafia: Definitive Edition has seen improvements compared to its predecessors. The shooting and driving mechanics are generally praised, with critics like GameWatcher and Xbox Tavern highlighting the revamped controls and solid cover system. The mission variety and the combination of combat, stealth, and racing elements are also appreciated by Stevivor. However, there are criticisms regarding the repetitive gunplay, lackluster movement controls, and clunkiness in certain aspects of the gameplay. Despite these negatives, the overall sentiment suggests that Mafia: Definitive Edition offers an enjoyable and varied gameplay experience, particularly for fans of the series who appreciate the improvements made.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Mafia: Definitive Edition are generally positive. Many critics praise the stunning visuals and attention to detail in recreating the 1930s era. AusGamers, GameWatcher, Impulsegamer, Noisy Pixel, PC Gamer, Press Start Australia, Digital Spy, Easy Allies, God is a Geek, Metro GameCentral, PlayStation LifeStyle, Player 2, GameSpew, Guardian, and Xbox Achievements all commend the game's visuals, mentioning improved character models, beautifully designed cityscapes, and historically authentic details. They highlight the meticulous attention to period-specific elements such as cars, fashion, buildings, signs, and advertisements. The lighting effects, particularly during nighttime driving, are also praised by Impulsegamer. The modern lighting effects, enormous draw distances, and believable civilian activity are mentioned by Guardian as contributing to a lustrous and faithful reconstruction of the era. However, there are some criticisms regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Mafia: Definitive Edition. Some critics, such as Press Start Australia, Game Rant, Push Square, Softpedia, Stevivor, and Video Chums, mention technical issues and inconsistencies in the visuals. These include texture pop-ins, bugs/glitches, frame rate drops, and occasional character models going through solid walls. Game Rant specifically mentions that while certain locations have strikingly impressive visuals reminiscent of 1980s Mafia movies, other areas appear surprisingly lifeless. The facial animation is also criticized by Press Start Australia for being stiff at times. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Mafia: Definitive Edition has impressive and stunning visuals, with attention to detail in recreating the 1930s era. The game's visual upgrade and rebuilt technology are praised by PC Gamer and Xbox Achievements, respectively. The city of Lost Heaven is described as beautifully designed and faithful to the time period. However, there are occasional technical issues and inconsistencies that detract from the overall visual experience. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics appreciate the visual presentation of the game and consider it a significant improvement over the original 2002 version.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Mafia: Definitive Edition are generally positive. AusGamers praises the excellent sound design of the vehicles and the captivating music from the era. Impulsegamer highlights how the voice work and other sounds blend well with the visuals, creating a fantastic experience. Noisy Pixel compliments the well-done voice-over audio in the game. PC Gamer mentions the immersive setting created by the old-timey music on the radio and atmospheric sound design. Easy Allies specifically praises the radio broadcasts, which cover a wide range of topics and contribute to the memorable atmosphere of the game's locations. PlayStation LifeStyle commends the rewritten dialog and rerecorded voice cast, stating that the results are staggering and that the 1930s atmosphere is present in every syllable of the dialog. Softpedia simply describes the soundtrack as top-notch. Attack of the Fanboy mentions the effective mood-setting achieved through a combination of newly orchestrated soundtrack and licensed music from the era. Xbox Achievements and Xbox Tavern both highlight the excellent audio design, with re-recorded soundtracks, period-specific radio tunes, and uniformly excellent voice performances. While the majority of the critics have positive opinions, there are a few negative points mentioned. Press Start Australia points out that some songs from the game's score repeat too many times, which can become repetitive. Video Chums mentions audio issues during gameplay, where characters sound like they're speaking into a tin can. Guardian briefly comments on the absence of the original voiceover cast and raises concerns about the voice acting of the protagonist and a cop character's accent. However, Guardian does not provide a detailed analysis of the sound design or music. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Mafia: Definitive Edition has commendable sound design and music. The positive aspects include the excellent sound design of the vehicles, captivating music from the era, well-blended voice work and other sounds, immersive atmosphere created by old-timey music and atmospheric sound design, memorable radio broadcasts, rewritten dialog and rerecorded voice cast that oozes the 1930s atmosphere, top-notch soundtrack, and effective mood-setting through a combination of orchestrated soundtrack and licensed music. The negative points raised include repetitive songs in the game's score, audio issues during gameplay, concerns about voice acting, and the absence of the original voiceover cast. However, these negative aspects do not overshadow the overall positive reception of the Sound Design and Music in Mafia: Definitive Edition.

The voice acting in Mafia: Definitive Edition has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics. Many reviewers have praised the performances, noting that they are well-acted, authentic, and enhance the overall immersive experience of the game. Critics such as Impulsegamer, Noisy Pixel, Critical Hit, Game Rant, GameCritics, God is a Geek, PlayStation LifeStyle, Push Square, Softpedia, Stevivor, Xbox Achievements, and Xbox Tavern all express their admiration for the voice work in the game. They highlight the impressive voice acting, authentic lingo from the era, believable performances, and the high quality of the vocal performances. The Escapist specifically mentions that the performances from the entire cast are generally excellent, while Digital Spy praises the recast and re-recorded cast of characters for offering intrigue and interest. Overall, the positive opinions of these critics indicate that the voice acting in Mafia: Definitive Edition is a standout aspect of the game. However, there are a few critics who have raised some concerns about the voice acting in Mafia: Definitive Edition. The Guardian criticizes the voice acting of the protagonist, mentioning that the remastered face does not match the emotive quality and the recast voice actor sounds too grizzled for the character's arc. They also mention an issue with a cop character's accent. Video Chums points out some inconsistencies in the accents of characters who supposedly grew up together. While these criticisms highlight specific areas of improvement, they are in the minority compared to the overall positive reception of the voice acting. Taking into account the opinions of multiple critics, the overall consensus regarding the voice acting in Mafia: Definitive Edition is highly positive. The majority of critics praise the performances, authenticity, and immersive qualities brought by the voice actors. They mention the well-acted and believable performances, the use of authentic lingo from the era, and the enhancements made through new voice casts and re-recordings. The positive feedback from critics such as The Escapist, Digital Spy, Easy Allies, GameCritics, and Push Square further strengthens the overall consensus. While there are a few criticisms raised by The Guardian and Video Chums, they are outweighed by the positive opinions of the majority. In conclusion, the voice acting in Mafia: Definitive Edition is widely regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive and authentic experience.

In terms of the technical performance on PC, the majority of critics had positive opinions. GameWatcher commends the game for performing well in 4K and offering customization options for difficulty and simulation settings. PC Gamer also states that the game runs well on high-end specs, although it may require a better setup for optimal performance at 4K with ultra settings. However, Noisy Pixel mentions poor AI and occasional unresponsive controls as drawbacks on PC. Press Start Australia notes some brightness issues, but they are not overly distracting. Overall, the PC version of Mafia: Definitive Edition seems to deliver a satisfactory technical performance, with a few minor issues. On the PlayStation 4, the opinions regarding technical performance are more mixed. Easy Allies praises the solid performance and excellent visuals. However, GameCritics highlights technical issues such as crashes, audio bugs, and floating cars, which could potentially break the experience for some players. Push Square and Softpedia also mention bugs and glitches, including cars being suspended in mid-air, frame rate drops during combat sections, and technical errors that can ruin the experience. While the PS4 version of the game offers good visuals, it seems to suffer from various technical issues that may impact gameplay enjoyment. Moving on to the Xbox One, the general consensus among critics is that the technical performance of Mafia: Definitive Edition is relatively good. Attack of the Fanboy states that the game runs well with minimal bugs and no recurring issues, performing better than the port of Mafia II. GameSpew mentions encountering some bugs, crashes, and audio cutouts, but these issues were mostly resolved by reloading the last checkpoint. Stevivor notes technical foibles such as lighting effects and pop-ins, but praises the new checkpoint system for reducing frustration. Video Chums acknowledges minor technical issues but overall considers the game to perform well. Xbox Achievements mentions minor frustrations like loading times and woolly button inputs during stealth sections, but still describes the game as a masterful and streamlined remake. Xbox Tavern mentions some technical issues but states that they don't detract from the overall presentation of the game. In conclusion, the technical performance of Mafia: Definitive Edition varies across different gaming platforms. The PC version generally receives positive feedback, with commendations for 4K performance and customization options. On the PlayStation 4, there are mixed opinions, with some critics highlighting technical issues such as crashes and bugs that can impact the experience. The Xbox One version, on the other hand, seems to offer a relatively good technical performance, with minor issues mentioned by critics. Overall, while there are some technical drawbacks on all platforms, the general consensus is that Mafia: Definitive Edition delivers a satisfying technical performance, with the Xbox One version receiving the least criticism in this regard.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Mafia: Definitive Edition are mixed. Some critics highlight the positive aspects of the game's replay value. AusGamers mentions the presence of a Free Ride mode, while PC Gamer and Press Start Australia praise the inclusion of collectibles and additional exploration options. Game Rant also notes the charm and nostalgia appeal of the game. These features provide players with the opportunity to revisit the game and discover hidden content, adding to the replay value. However, there are several negatives mentioned by the critics. Destructoid, GameWatcher, Noisy Pixel, Critical Hit, Easy Allies, Game Rant, Stevivor, and Xbox Tavern all express concerns about the linear nature of the game, limiting its replayability. Impulsegamer also suggests that the collectibles and achievements may not add much value to the overall experience. Additionally, Easy Allies and GameSpew criticize the lack of side missions or activities, which they see as a missed opportunity to enhance the replay value. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Mafia: Definitive Edition has limited replay value due to its linear nature and lack of additional content. While the inclusion of a Free Ride mode and collectibles is appreciated by some critics, it is not enough to significantly enhance the replayability of the game. The Escapist and Xbox Achievements suggest that veterans of the game may find enough changes to make another visit to Lost Heaven worthwhile, but the majority of critics express reservations about the game's replay value. The richness of the story is often highlighted as the game's strongest aspect, overshadowing its limited replayability.