Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country whisks you back to 1930s Sicily for an intimate, story-driven prequel that swaps Empire Bay’s smoky jazz halls for sun-baked vineyards and secret family rites. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it delivers photo-realistic villages, deliberate stealth mechanics, and tightly choreographed gunfights. In this review, we’ll break down the narrative arc, visual and audio design, driving and stealth systems, mission pacing, performance across PC and consoles, and who will fall under its Sicilian spell—or who should stay away.
Crashing a Sicilian Family Reunion
Jumping into Mafia: The Old Country felt like sneaking into a storied Sicilian reunion—you’ve heard the whispers but never received the invite. Expecting urban grit and V8 engines, I was instead greeted by glaring Mediterranean sunlight. Following Enzo Scaletta from vineyard laborer to Torrisi enforcer across four pivotal years, the game blends nostalgia with fresh intrigue. But can this sunlit saga match the gritty legacy of its predecessors?
The Unreal Engine 5 Factor
Unreal Engine 5 is more than eye candy here. Nanite geometry and Lumen lighting bring every cobblestone, terracotta roof tile, and drifting dust mote to life. In “Blood on the Vine,” volumetric fog seeps through sulphur shafts while rainstorms send torrents over marble floors. Rather than sprawling endlessly, the engine spotlights period detail—narrow alleys bursting with ambient life, market stalls fluttering in the breeze, and dynamic weather that underscores each mission’s mood.
Visuals & Atmosphere: Sunlit Sicily in Living Color
The Sicilian setting shines with authenticity. Town squares teem with vendors selling citrus and olives, vintage Fiats rattle along dusty lanes, and frescoed villas glow under brass chandeliers. Ambient chatter in Sicilian dialect (with a dedicated dub track) and a score that fuses mandolins with orchestral stings make every stroll feel cinematic. Exploration rewards are sparse, but every main path is meticulously crafted.
Driving & Traversal: Rustic Roads and Horseback Freedom
High-speed police pursuits give way to measured cruises in open convertibles and brief, immersive horseback escapes. Vehicles handle with period realism—uneven terrain shakes your ride, and tight corners demand careful braking. Horseback sequences, though limited, capture the tension of a midnight flight under low-hanging branches. Both modes enrich the era’s cinematic vision.
Combat & Stealth: Methodical Over Mayhem
This is a stealth-first affair. Bullets are precious, so every revolver shot counts and knives become your silent best friend. Early missions teach you to use cover, study guard routines, and decide: will you storm in with gunfire or slip by unseen? Gunfights reverberate with realistic recoil and echoing walls—take cover behind crates or overturned carts to survive. Standout moments like the opera-house duel feel like a bullet ballet, though once you’ve seen each cue, replay value dips.
Mission Variety & Pacing
Spanning four transformative years, missions range from blood oaths in dusty cellars (“Initiation at Sunset”) to coastal smuggling runs under moonlight (“Smuggling Run”). Set-pieces sparkle—a barroom brawl that spills onto rooftops, a tense rescue defined by timing rather than trigger pulls—but shorter objectives like interrogation scenes sometimes underdeliver. With most missions clocking in at 20–30 minutes, the pace remains brisk, even when the plot turns feel familiar.
Narrative & Characters: Intimate Power Plays
Eschewing expansive sagas, this prequel focuses on close-knit drama. Enzo’s banter with Cesare crackles with bravado; Isabella tests his loyalty and honor with playful but pointed challenges; Don Torrisi looms as both mentor and threat. MetaHuman facial capture highlights micro-expressions—raised eyebrows, fleeting doubt—making each conversation feel alive. Dialogue choices appear, but the story marches toward its scripted finale. While the script leans on mafia clichés—oaths, betrayals, family politics—there’s comfort in its refined execution.
Audio & Score: The Soundtrack of Sicilian Streets
From muted footsteps on cobblestone to roaring vintage engines, the audio design crafts a living soundscape. Church bells toll, dogs bark, and merchants hawk their wares. The original score blends mournful mandolins with sweeping strings, capturing both the region’s beauty and its brutality.
Performance & Requirements
PC Benchmarks
On an Intel Core i9-12900K, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3080 at 1440p/Ultra with DLSS Quality, frame rates hold between 70–90 fps. NVMe SSD load times hover around 10 seconds. Mid-range GPUs (RTX 2060–class) deliver 40–60 fps at high settings, with occasional dips in dense crowds.
Console Experience
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S users enjoy variable refresh-rate support, sharp textures, and quick load times. Occasional frame drops can occur during major set-pieces but rarely disrupt the cinematic flow.
Who Should Play—and Who Might Skip It
If you crave:
- A curated, story-first crime saga
- Intimate character drama over sandbox chaos
- Meticulous period detail and cinematic flair
- Methodical stealth and tactical gunplay
…this Sicilian reunion is your ticket. But if you hunger for:
- Endless side quests and open-world freedom
- High-octane power-fantasy shootouts
- Branching narratives with sweeping player choice
…you may find its linear design too restrictive.
Conclusion
Mafia: The Old Country is a well-crafted return to the series’ core strengths. Its sunlit Sicilian vistas, intimate family drama, and deliberate stealth-gunplay blend into a focused, cinematic experience. While it won’t satisfy sandbox aficionados or those seeking unpredictable narratives, its refined storytelling and authentic period atmosphere make it a must-play for fans of polished, linear crime dramas.
TL;DR & Key Takeaways
- Stunning 1930s Sicily realized with Unreal Engine 5.
- Four-year, character-driven narrative honoring Mafia roots.
- Methodical stealth and tactical gunfights reward planning.
- Cinematic set-pieces shine, though plot beats feel familiar.
- Linear design sharpens focus but limits exploration.
- High-end PC/console performance excels; mid-range rigs may dip.
- Score: 7.5/10 – A sunlit, story-first feast with Sicilian flair.