Why Mafia Series' Gripping Narratives Deserves Attention? – VeryAli Gaming

The Mafia franchise comprises action-adventure games centered on the Mafia and organized crime. Developed by various studios, the Series has garnered critical acclaim and commercial success. The games also offer various side activities, even though they are more linear than other open-world Series like Grand Theft Auto.

The Mafia series is a game with thrilling action backed up by a fantastic story and amazing graphics, especially if we are talking about the Mafia Definitive Edition, which, in my eyes, is a masterpiece that is a remake of the original game. The game mainly focuses on the story and world-building.

Despite being such an incredible series, it is underrated for some reasons, so it did not become a mainstream game RPG like GTA or God Of War. The Mafia series was originally created and developed by 2K Czech (formerly Illusion Softworks) and later by Hangar 13, with publishing by 2K Games.

The games have been well-received by critics, praised for their narratives, open-world environments, and realism. However, Mafia III received criticism for its repetitive gameplay structure.

Perceived As GTA Clone

One of the reasons I believe came on top after playing the game is that it is perceived as a clone of GTA due to its similar theme of gangster-style criminal activities and open-world gameplay. However, unlike GTA’s sandbox gameplay with various minigames and side-missions, the Mafia series differs from GTA’s focus on a more cinematic and story-driven experience.

This comparison fails to consider the distinctive emphasis of the Mafia series on a more compact, cinematic narrative that caters to a specific group of viewers who value its sophisticated storytelling.

From my point of view, comparing these two-game Series in terms of gameplay style, narrative focus, and the player experience is wrong because both games give different experiences in terms of gameplay mechanics and thematics.

Lack Of Open-World Activities

Some players criticize the Mafia series for its more linear gameplay and lack of extensive open-world activities commonly found in other popular games. While this approach enhances the storytelling and fascination of dedicated fans, it may deter those seeking a more open-ended and freeform gaming experience.

In the Mafia series, the gameplay is structured around a more linear storyline, where players progress through a series of missions that follow a predetermined path.

This design choice is intentional, as the developers prioritize the story and world-building aspects of the game over the inclusion of extensive open-world activities and minigames commonly found in other titles.

From my experience, the linear gameplay experience allows for a more focused and immersive narrative, where the player is guided through a well-crafted story with carefully crafted pacing and set pieces.

This approach can create a more engaging and emotionally thrilling experience for players who appreciate the story-driven gameplay.

Control Scheme and Minor Annoyances

The Series has faced criticism for issues like control scheme complexities and minor gameplay annoyances, which have impacted some players’ overall gaming experience. These technical shortcomings, although minor, contribute to the perception of thSerieses as less polished compared to other mainstream titles

For example, in Mafia III, players have reported minor annoyances with the game’s controls, such as skipping cutscenes by accident due to unintuitive button mapping. 

In Mafia Definitive Edition, players have experienced issues with performance, such as stuttering and inconsistent draw distances.

These technical issues can frustrate players and may restrain them from fully appreciating the game’s story and gameplay. While the story may be compelling, minor annoyances and technical issues can contribute to perceiving the Mafia series as less polished than other games, leading to its underrated status.

Unfulfilled Potential and Mixed Reviews

The mixed reviews and disappointment that some fans and critics have experienced with the Mafia series, particularly with the latest entries, Mafia III and Mafia Definitive Edition.

These latest game releases tried to fix the problems that previous versions had, but unfortunately, they didn’t quite succeed. This left many fans and critics feeling disappointed with the result.

In Mafia III, the developers aimed to address criticisms of the previous games by introducing a more open-world gameplay experience and a more diverse cast of characters. However, the game faced mixed reviews due to its ambitious design, which led to new issues such as a lack of polish and unfulfilled potential.

Similarly, the Mafia Definitive Edition, a remake of the original game, was disappointing due to its lack of polish and unfulfilled potential. Despite the potential of a remake, the game did not meet the expectations of fans and critics alike, further contributing to the perception of the Mafia series as underrated.

These mixed reviews and disappointment can be attributed to the developers’ attempts to address criticisms of previous games, sometimes leading to new issues and unfulfilled expectations.

The Mafia series is considered underrated due to its perceived similarity to Grand Theft Auto, its more linear gameplay experience, minor annoyances and technical issues, and the mixed reviews and disappointment surrounding its latest entries.

Farrukh Jafri

Farrukh has been covering Souls like games for years now. Having an extensive experience in Dark Soul 3 and Elden Ring he critically judges these games and writes his unbiased thoughts on them after spending hundreds of hours grinding. Farrukh has also worked with Game Rant, MP1st and The Nerd Stash on a variety of gaming guides making him an expert to share his opinions. When not writing he probably be clearing another dungeon. You can also join Farrukh on his Steam.