Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven - Revisiting the Hit Crime Drama Video Game 15 Years Later
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven is an open world, third-person action-adventure video game. Developed by Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering of Developers, it was released for Microsoft Windows in 2002 and later ported to the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox in 2004. The game is set in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s, and follows the story of a cab driver-turned-mobster, Tommy Angelo. It is a crime drama video game centered around the illegal activities of the mob, and features a combination of shootouts, car chases, and gangster-style negotiations.
Since its release, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven has become a cult classic, with many fans praising its story, atmosphere, and overall gameplay. Nearly fifteen years after it first graced our consoles, it's time to take a look at one of the most underrated games in history, and see why it still holds up as a classic today.
The storyline of Mafia is the game's strongest point. It revolves around our protagonist, Tommy Angelo, who is a simple Italian-American cab driver living in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the Prohibition era. After a chance encounter with two gangsters, Salieri and Morello, Tommy gets involved with the mob and finds himself rising up in the ranks as he becomes an integral part of their criminal operations. Throughout the course of the game he faces danger, both from rival mobsters and the police, and his loyalties are tested as he finds himself having to make difficult decisions. Despite the rather linear nature of the plot, the game is surprisingly engaging and is full of unexpected plot twists.
The game's atmosphere is also something to behold. The 1930s setting was lovingly recreated and the city of Lost Heaven is full of life, with bustling streets, honking car horns, and the general ambiance of gangsters and hoodlums. The sound effects and music also do a great job of evoking the atmosphere and adding to the overall experience.
The core gameplay of Mafia consists of two main aspects: missions and exploration. Missions involve shooting, driving, and fighting your way through a set of objectives, while exploration involves discovering and experiencing the city. The mission variety is ample and most of them are quite intense, making them all the more satisfying. Exploration is also great and allows you to see the city in a different light and uncover its hidden secrets. You can also take side missions, which often involve chasing, car chases, and other daring feats.
The game also has an impressive arsenal of weapons, vehicles, and characters. The weaponry range from the usual machine guns and sawed-off shotguns, to more unique and vintage pieces like the stylish tommy gun. The cars are just as impressive, with a fleet of stylish 30s vehicles to choose from. As for characters, there's an interesting assortment of mobsters and uncouth characters that are all very memorable in their own way.
What makes Mafia unique compared to other games of its kind is its mission structure. Instead of following a linear storyline, the missions are tied together by specific objectives which can be completed in any order. This allows the player to tackle the game on their own terms and make the experience as focused or as open-ended as they please.
In terms of longevity, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven stands up to the test of time with its impressive 16-mission campaign and well-crafted side missions. It also offers plenty of replay value with its enjoyable driving segments and well-crafted driving mechanics.
Looking back at Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven 15 years later, it still holds up as an impressive title. With its engaging story, atmospheric soundtrack, and open ended mission structure, the game still has plenty to offer, even to this day. It's a worthy classic that deserves more attention from today's gamers, as it still stands firmly in the pantheon of crime drama gaming.
