Fans of the 1930s aesthetic – from the tuxedos and Tommy Guns to mafiosos – are likely to love the Mafia video game series. After all, the series let players take on the role of mobsters as they live a life within a Mafia family. Moreover, players becoming a part of their many misadventures can be extremely appealing. In the case of Mafia, players take on the role of taxi driver Tommy Angelo as he finds himself embroiled with mob affairs.
As such, these factors explain why fans have become so stoked when Hangar 13 announced remastered editions of the Mafia trilogy. However, given eight years and two games have passed since the first Mafia release, just what do fans want from the Definitive Edition? What should the remake carry over? What should it change?
10 Don’t Change: More Sandbox, Less Open
Fans may find it easy to compare Mafia and Grand Theft Auto 3. After all, both games were released just a year apart (2002 versus 2001, respectively). As such, GTA fans might feel slightly disappointed with Mafia‘s more linear approach to narrative. After all, the fictional Lost Heaven in the original Mafia felt jampacked with realistic buildings, cars, and visuals.
Interestingly, this design approach seemed intentional from Illusion Softworks and now from Hangar 13. According to an interview, game director Haden Blackman wanted the remake to “stay true” to the original Mafia. A huge appeal of Mafia had come from the city’s rather linear setup, which paved the way for wonderful backdrops and cinematic setpieces. Unlike GTA, Mafia wanted to tell a story alongside the experience.
9 Change: Not-So-Linear Approach
Alternatively, the popularity of open-world games today might make now the right time to transform the Mafia remake into a more open experience. First impressions from materials so far imply that the Mafia remake has a larger world and expanded exploration. Hopefully, the story mode and the Test Drive and Free Ride modes highlight these expanded details.
Unfortunately, it might be late to request for a more open-world encounter. However, a mod or an update may hopefully make the game feel less restrictive. Granted, the original Mafia lets players explore a bit while moving to their mission destination. As such, it makes sense for the remake to follow suit. Hopefully, the game will fully take advantage of its open-world potential.
8 Don’t Change: A Standalone Experience
Since games in the original Mafia trilogy jumped between devs, it makes sense to each game to be a “standalone” experience. For instance, Illusion Softworks handled the first Mafia game. However, 2K handled Mafia 2 while Hangar 13 developed Mafia 3. Now that Hangar 13 will develop better versions of all three games, it makes for the devs to want the games to be more connected. However, individual games should hopefully retain their standalone experience.
Hopefully, the plans for a more “interconnected” Mafia: Trilogy experience doesn’t compromise the standalone spirit of each game. True, it’s interesting to finally make a more cohesive and “living” Mafia universe. However, fans who only want to play certain titles in the Trilogy should hopefully get the signature Mafia appeal.
7 Change: Weave Into The Franchise
With 2K’s Hangar 13 developing Mafia 3, it made perfect sense for them to make Mafia: Trilogy. With this in mind, Hangar 13 will not only make a remastered version of Mafia 2 (developed by 2K), but also the aforementioned Mafia remake. As such, it also makes sense for fans to ask just how the original Mafia‘s remake will tie in with the rest of the trilogy.
Interestingly, it seems Mafia: Trilogy‘s games will make references to each other. In the case of the Mafia remake, Hangar 13 may weave more elements from Mafia 2 and even Mafia 3 throughout the game. Fans know each Mafia game ties into the story of the last game in small ways. However, it might make the Mafia: Trilogy a more cohesive experience for characters and references to persist throughout the gameplay experience.
6 Don’t Change: Lost Heaven Aesthetic
Fans praise Mafia for its realistic take on the final years of the Prohibition Era. As such, it’s easy to see why players can be enamored with the series, even with its first 2002 game. However, it also makes for Hangar 13 to boost Lost Heaven’s visuals for the Mafia remake. Interestingly, based on images from their article, the city of Lost Heaven will largely retain much of its structure for the remake.
This move to retain Lost Heaven’s original structure serves as a great nod to the allure the city had even in the 2002 game. According to the same article, memorable locations will be in the remake. These include the race track, the airport, and Clark’s Motel. The revamped visuals and an expanded (but similar) game map would hopefully spark renewed allure to the wonderful city.
5 Change: Livelier Lost Heaven
Unlike the other two renewed editions, Mafia: Definitive Edition serves as a full remake of the 2002 original. As such, Hangar 13 boasts this game has been “built from the ground up” with new visuals and an expanded story. Interestingly, “remake” doesn’t necessarily mean “retain” everything.
If Hangar 13 stays true to their word, the new Lost Heaven will serve as a much livelier setting for the remake. For instance, Central Island will apparently have more high-rise buildings akin to the 1930s’ post-war boom. Moreover, Chinatown will likely have a distinct architecture to represent the era’s growing Chinese community. These new upgrades, coupled with improved weather and vehicle system, will make Lost Heaven a great city to explore.
4 Don’t Change: Dynamic Cast
In the original story, taxi driver Tommy encounters an extensive cast of characters that share different points of view. As Tommy made his name within the Salieri Family, these characters showed him both the good and the bad of living as a mobster. These characters – such as Sarah, Paulie, Sam, and the Morellos – expand Tommy’s viewpoint as the story’s plot progressed.
Hopefully, the changes in the remake don’t compromise the original appeal the cast had in the original Mafia game. Aside from Tommy, it’s his interactions with these characters that solidify the Mafia experience.
3 Change: Add More Personality
Interestingly, while the remake retains the original Mafia story, Hangar 13 seems set to implement other changes to the characters. For instance, Hangar 13 plans on expanding more of Paulie’s story to include his personal goals and agendas. Moreover, the team wants to expand on Sarah’s role in both the story and the Salieri Family.
Hopefully, these changes push through providing more relatable and stronger characters in a narrative sense. Unlike other titles, Mafia offers an extremely realistic take on living a life of crime and the consequences that come with it. It’s interesting to see how this life catches up to the likes of Paulie and Sarah, aside from Tommy.
2 Don’t Change: Interesting Narrative
While Hangar 13 plans on elaborating on the feud between the Salieri and Morello Families, the core of their conflict will hopefully stay true to the original. After all, it’s Tommy’s ongoing interactions with the two families that solidify the actions he makes throughout the course of the story. Moreover, it’s because of the narrative that the game took on its semi-linear approach.
For instance, Mafia‘s large story missions take place in various locations in certain weather conditions, all contributing to the atmosphere and cinematic appeal of the game. However, the game still diversifies options for players to enhance their experience. As such, shootouts can be stereotypical gun-versus-gun battles, or players can opt to spice things up by making a car into a battering ram.
1 Change: Better Details, Story Hooks
If Lost Heaven will be bigger, just how explorable will it be? Hangar 13’s new rendition of Lost Heaven would hopefully be a place that further expands the overall Mafia narrative. After all, if they stick to the original Mafia‘s use of cinematic setpieces for missions, the new Lost Heaven should hopefully amplify and improve this experience.
Hopefully, Hangar 13’s expansion of Lost Heaven and character stories makes room for better details and story hooks. Perhaps aside from main missions, side quests could exist to expand on the story of the other side characters. This approach may also help players explore and appreciate more of Lost Heaven.
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