Retro Review- Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (PC)
- DORK KNIGHT 86
- Mar 12, 2018
- 5 min read
An offer you can't refuse.
A small Czech company, Illusion Softworks released Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven in 2002.
The year is 1930.
Step into the shoes of Tommy Angelo, a cab driver. One night, Tommy is taking a break when he is startled by a nearby car crash.
Two well-dressed men round the corner.
One is shot and bleeding out.
The other suit pulls a gun on Tommy and orders him to drive as fast as he can.
Losing your attackers won't be easy.
Once you do, Tommy's new customers will tell you to head to a local business: Salieri's Bar.
One of the gangsters returns to the cab with an envelope full of cash and tells Tommy that there may be more work if he's interested.
Tommy says he'll consider it, and heads home. He is shocked by how much he was paid for the job, but isn't quite comfortable with working on the other side of the law.
The next day, he's back to driving a cab.
After a few fares, Tommy stops for a smoke. That's when rival Don Morello's men (the thugs who chased you the night before) show up.
Luckily, Tommy is only a couple blocks from Salieri's Bar and runs straight there, narrowly dodging gunfire the whole way.
Hunted by the Morello family and no longer welcome at the cab company, Tommy decides to give organized crime a shot.
That's when things get interesting.
Don Salieri welcomes Tommy into the family, and gives him a speech about how the Morello clan doesn't follow the same moral code. Salieri tells Tommy that Morello is an unhinged maniac with very little self-control and a violent temper.
The Don then gives Tommy his first assignment-getting back at Morello's goons who attacked him earlier.
Tommy is introduced to the rest of the team: Vincenzo, the Don's go-to for anything weapons-related, and Ralphie, the stuttering-but-talented mechanic.
There are a ton of memorable characters and events. Mafia really succeeds at immersing the player in the lore of 1930's organized crime and Cosa Nostra.
You'll spend your time engaging in a number of activities, from collecting protection money to running booze.
Running red lights and speeding will gain attention from the cops, but they are happy to accept a bribe-as long as Tommy pulls over quickly and doesn't draw a gun.
Unlike GTA, if you kill a cop and no one is around to see it, it never happened. Tiny details like that are what make this game so captivating.
Mafia is also incredibly authentic.
Turn signals actually work, tires can be shot out, rain splashes on surfaces and gunfights leave bullet holes, blood, and spent casings behind.
Cars eventually run out of gas if you don't refill at a service station.
Automobile gas tanks leak fuel if hit by gunfire, and wheels can be shot off.
Reloading your current weapon prior to running out of ammo will cause you to discard any remaining live rounds, thereby wasting them.
If you are hit, your player becomes temporarily disabled and jerks about for a second before recovering.
There are trams/trains running throughout the city, and these can actually be used by the player to get around if desired.
The cars and environments were extremely detailed for their time, and even though the graphics are underwhelming by today's standards, Mafia's look still holds up well and provides an effective backdrop for its gritty story.
The feud between the Morello and Salieri clans is epic, the story/tone being right up there with classics like the Godfather and Goodfellas.
I have seen a ton of comparisons made between Grand Theft Auto III and Mafia. However, the only real similarities I have noticed are a focus on driving and mob-related violence.
GTA III is an amusing satire, while Mafia's focus is on realism. (I recently bought GTA III on PC to replay and compare) Mafia is a much more detailed experience overall.
Grand Theft Auto III: 2001
Furthermore, Mafia does not endeavor to be a Grand Theft Auto clone. It is a story-heavy mob simulator more than a traditional game. For instance, you'll need to try not to hit anything with your vehicle on your way to a mission, as damage to your health/vehicle will actually carry over.
Automobiles feel authentic, and shootouts feel frantic and real. First Aid is only available once in a while, and unlike most other games, a stray bullet will do a ton of damage.
You can only take a few bullets before dying, (health does not regenerate) so you'll need to use your environment to your advantage and be as accurate as possible.
The levels are well-designed, and there is actually one mission in particular that felt like a tribute to the Hitman series. (which I am a huge fan of)
The story is well written, acted, and executed. The gameplay is extremely unforgiving, but this generally lends itself to further immersion.
I never felt the urge to murder civilians or speed down sidewalks. Instead, I was focused on trying to get the most accurate shots possible and staying alive.
The downside to combat-enemies are bullet sponges. Unless you're getting headshots, you can usually bet on shooting them 3-5 times before they drop for good.
Because of this, a great deal of the scenarios you find yourself in are nearly suicide missions from the outset. For instance, in the mission "The Whore" Tommy is expected to walk into a swanky hotel loaded with armed guards and shoot the manager in front of everyone.
Immediately, the player is swarmed by shotgun-toting assholes who will bumrush you as you frantically switch weapons, reload, and run for cover.
I do wish there was an easy mode or checkpoint system to counter the difficulty, but it's just one of those things where there are multiple ways to approach a level-and to complete it.
It's up to you to figure it out. Mafia doesn't hold your hand. It kicks you out of the nest and expects you to learn quickly.
Illusion Softworks/Czech 2K unfortunately dissolved last year, and reformed as Hangar 13.
Due to copyright laws, the original game music is not included, though this is easily remedied.
Mafia has a loyal fanbase-there is a quick way to restore the original music via the GOG support page. (Click Here)
Make no mistake, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven is one of the toughest games out there.
However, the attention to detail and overall amazing presentation/story make it a must-play for fans of classic mob tales.
Rating: 8.5/10
Coming Soon: Retro Review- Mafia II
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