It’s time to head back to Italy with the launch of Mafia The Old Country: Man Of Honor. Can this DLC make a memorable impression? Or should this idea have stayed sleeping with the fishes?
Hello, Old Friend
My love affair with the Mafia franchise goes back to 2010 with the release of Mafia 2. From then, I fell in love with the way these games focus on the characters and how joining organised crime affects them. From Tommy to Vito to Lincoln and then Enzo, these wonderfully flawed characters are the bedrock of what makes these games so special. Last year’s release of Mafia: The Old Country only cemented its place in my heart and mind as an all time classic series. Needless to say, you can imagine my excitement when developers Hangar 13 announced a DLC expansion to The Old Country, Man Of Honor. Whilst there are disappointing aspects, for the most part this is another stellar addition to the family.
Man Of Honor adds two brand new chapters to The Old Country’s story. They take place during the early days of protagonist Enzo’s rise to soldato in the Torrisi crime family. This DLC brings back a familiar face for fans of the series as Enzo and Cesare are tasked with helping old family friend, Ennio Salieri. If you have played the other titles, you will recognise Salieri as the primary antagonist in Mafia and its remake Definitive Edition. Seeing how a young Salieri moves and operates in his homeland was a joy to unfold over these two chapters. He is rash and not the feared crime boss you meet in the original title. In many ways he represents Enzo, young and hungry, desperate for money as he attempts to realise his dream of moving to America.
A Short But Sweet Stay
As mentioned, the Man Of Honor DLC takes place over two chapters during the winter of 1905. These two chapters are packed full of everything that made The Old Country so wonderful. The choice in placing these chapters during winter also proves inspired. Seeing previous locations that I scoured for hours as Enzo now changed to a different season, was particularly enjoyable. The developers have stayed true to the vision of the base game with missions focusing on linear and narrative driven sequences as you help Salieri exact revenge on people who have betrayed him. Everything in this expansion is tailored to crafting more cinematic moments for the narrative at play. Salieri is a magnetic presence which contrasts well with the still young and naïve Enzo.
I’m glad that there are numerous memorable moments and action sequences. They soften the blow of the expansion being so damn short. These two chapters will only take you around 2-3 hours to complete. I longed for more when credits rolled. Hangar 13’s commitment to this comprehensive storytelling has left me needing a follow up title. Paid DLC’s in a narrative title like this should be full of story content and up against the likes of The Witcher 3 meaty expansions. However, this one falls short in story content. Still, if you loved the tale of The Old Country, Man Of Honor is a great complementary tale.
Crime Pays
I am disappointed in the amount of story content involved in Man Of Honor, but I am delighted with the content added to Free Ride, the game’s open world mode. Free Ride was added post launch last year to allow players to explore the world of Sicily. However, players were aghast at the lack of content on offer in this mode.
Thankfully, Man Of Honor beefs up this mode significantly. After completing the two new chapters, players are able to tackle a series of jobs for Salieri in Free Ride. These are a varied set of missions in the open world, allowing you to decide how to approach each one. I loved planning my movements for each job; the way in which you choose to achieve your goal is entirely up to you. These jobs feel organic and exactly what Enzo would be doing as he works his way into the family.
Alongside these new missions are Salieri’s challenges. These range from different races, assassinations and combat encounters. These challenges are similar to the previous updates and serve as the ultimate tests for experienced players. Stunt jumps and new collectibles have also been added for completionists like myself. Along with these gameplay additions, there are cosmetic and weapons updates. New knives, charms, outfits and vehicles are on offer for the player to unlock. A great effort in adding content to a game in which the main criticism was its lack of replay ability after the credits had rolled.
Stupendous Sicily
Mafia: The Old Country blew me away last year with its visuals, animations and presentation. The world of turn of the century Sicily is still breath-taking every time you load up the game. Man Of Honor seeks to add to the beauty of the original title, but sadly, there are some hiccups. For the most part, the game continues to be one of the most graphically impressive titles in recent memory. The valleys and hills Enzo drives around are still gorgeous and dripping with detail. Character models and animations are still top notch, with the introduction of Salieri the obvious highlight.
My problem lies with the expansions performance. Unfortunately I dealt with some bugs in cutscenes that took me slightly out of the moment and some gameplay glitches that ruined the cinematic sequences. Hopefully, these can be swiftly ironed out.
Thankfully, the sound design and soundtrack remain absolutely impeccable. Composer BT (Brian Transeau) and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra have only added to the hauntingly beautiful score. A soundtrack that will stay with me forever.
Verdict
Mafia: The Old Country Man Of Honor DLC is a great addition to the beloved crime series. Whilst the story content is too short for my liking, the narrative in these chapters is still soaked in classic Mafia storytelling. Memorable moments, propelled by a brilliant returning character, make this expansion worth the risk. Add in some great new and compelling side content, and you have more than enough to sink your teeth into. There are some minor performance issues but this is still a beautiful game to behold alongside an unforgettable soundtrack. I cannot wait for Hangar 13 and the next iteration of the Mafia series. The family lives on!
