Dive deeper into Mafia: The Old Country gameplay ahead launch on August 8

Hey everyone, Game Director Alex Cox here again to break down another look at Mafia: The Old Country, following the Gameplay Trailer breakdown back in May. As with every Mafia title, the team at Hangar 13 has been hard at work ensuring that this all-new entry set in 1900s Sicily elevates and honors the classic gameplay pillars fans know and love. 

In this video series (stay tuned for more updates soon), we’re showing off several key aspects of this updated gameplay through the lens of Enzo’s experience as a newly enlisted member of the Mafia. Each entry will be narrated by a different figure in the Torrisi crime family, beginning with the Don himself.

Vehicles & Villas Gameplay:

Working for the Family may demand grit and mercilessness from Enzo, but there’s no denying that life on the Torrisi villa has fleeting moments of beauty. In this last video, Cesare describes some aspects that don’t involve bloodshed, like partaking in bottles of the family vintage, racing cars through ancient ruins, or exploring the breathtaking vistas with new companions on horseback.

Whichever sights in the Sicilian countryside you enjoy taking in most, we wanted Mafia: The Old Country to illustrate why many made men in American mob movies speak so fondly of their homeland.

That reputation extends to the pleasures of San Celeste as well, with Cesare boasting of his willingness to kill in order to protect Torrisi territory. He’s right to stay vigilant, telling of the “wolves” lurking in the hills, many of whom covet the Don’s power and lavish comforts. Enzo must be ready to do anything to defend the Don’s enterprises in exchange for the new life he’s provided him.

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Combat Gameplay:

The Don’s protection comes with a price, and as his newest recruit, Enzo will be entrusted with collecting such tributes. In this video, we’ll get a lesson from Luca about doing “whatever it takes” to support the Torrisi business and reputation.

Though Luca wisely reminds us that “discretion is good for business,” a mafioso won’t always have the luxury of operating calmly or quietly. Following some rapid-fire examples of Enzo risking his life for the Family in shootouts, he boldly draws his knife to challenge foes up close. We then see the freeform melee attacks you can employ in any combat encounter, tense one-on-one knife duels that define some of the most dramatic moments of Mafia: The Old Country, and glimpses of the different types of knives Enzo can wield throughout the game.

Even in all-out firefights, Enzo will need to stay observant and creative to efficiently take down the Don’s enemies. For instance, be sure to stay on the lookout for lanterns that can set enemies aflame after you lob them from cover or shatter them from a distance. Staying constantly aware of your surroundings will be key to surviving this criminal underworld.

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Family responsibilities 

Being part of the Torrisi crime family comes with certain obligations. In this video, you’ll get a taste of what’s expected from those who join, especially new soldatos who have yet to prove themselves. We begin with the Don asking Enzo to “send a message” that says “Torrisi takes care of his family and affairs.” How you carry out duties like these will vary throughout the story, as next we see Enzo collecting a protection payment at gunpoint before fearlessly enacting the Don’s will in a bloody knife duel. 

Each task Enzo undertakes on behalf of the Family will show off his unflinching tenacity and the range of his abilities, whether he’s leaping across rooftops on foot, pursuing cars through the country on horseback, or skulking into hostile territory to dispatch enemies silently or guns-blazing.

We then glimpse Enzo openly strolling through a bustling San Celeste and striking at enemies from the shadows underground; this section also gives you a look at Instinct mode, which lets you detect foes through environmental obstacles. Cut to Enzo continuing to lethally stalk and doggedly pursue enemies across the Valle Dorate, giving us a sense of the many high-stakes jobs he’ll undertake for the Family. 

I’ll have to stop there to avoid giving too much away, but as always, it’s a thrill to unveil more of this gripping Sicilian crime drama as the team refines all the finishing touches. Stay tuned for more deep dives into the game soon.

We can’t wait for Mafia: The Old Country to be in your hands soon when it launches on August 8. The game is available for pre-order now on PlayStation 5.