Mafia (video game)

Mafia
Missing image Mafia_cover_design.jpg Mafia U.S. Gamecover
Developer:	Illusion Softworks
Publisher:	Gathering of Developers
Country:	Czech Republic
Release date:	2002
Genre:	Third-person shooter
Game modes:	Single player, multiplayer
Media:	CD, DVD
ESRB rating:	Mature (M)
Platform:	PC, PS2, Xbox

Mafia is a video game initially made for the PC released in 2002. It was later ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Microsoft Xbox in 2004. It was developed by Illusion Softworks, a.s. and published by Gathering of Developers. It has an ESRB rating of "M" (Mature) for graphic violence.

The game

Mafia is set in the 1930s, during the Prohibition era, in a fictitious large city, Lost Heaven: a city which is probably a representation of New York City, New Jersey and Chicago in the same era. The player is set in the role of cabbie Tommy Angelo. He soon begins his career in organized crime as a driver for the crime sindicate of Don Salieri. He continues to rise in the ranks of the mob, battling the competing family of Don Morello. Eventually, he becomes disillusioned with the life of crime he has chosen.

The game's plot has been inspired by movies such as Goodfellas, The Godfather and Mobsters.

Though the game is rich in graphic violence and blood, at no time is the player required or urged to harm innocent characters. But, just as in real life, players can do as they feel inclined.

The game was well received by critics and gamers upon release as a more realistic and serious GTA style game. Police would book you for minor offenses such as speeding or running a red light, car accidents caused physical harm (indeed, so much that unless a mission was timed, many found that actually obeying the road rules proved to be faster than speeding, as the latter would almost always result in an accident). Whilst Vice City users were aweing at the size of the city, Mafia had a much bigger city to explore with more forms of transport available (such as trams and monorails) plus even a countryside road.

All those who played the game will surely remember the infamous racing level, one of the hardest missions encountered early on, which indeed turned many off the game. Many fan websites even offer saved games with this level completed for download.

The PC version was noted to have a very much 'Alive' city. Unlike in GTA3 or Vice city where there would only ever be a few cars or pedestrians on screen, short view distances and 'disappearing' cars, and very short term street damage (knock over a lamppost and leave the area only to return 10 seconds later to find it fixed), Mafia featured many cars and pedestrians on screen at once, along with collateral damage lasting the length of a mission no matter how far away from the damage you were. The console ports on the other hand were noted to be very poor, suffering from control problems and severely reduced city activity (which has had to be reduced of course given the poor hardware of the consoles it was ported to).

The soundtrack to the game features Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club de France, The Mills Brothers, Louis Prima, Lonnie Johnson, and one track by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. The excellent theme to Mafia was orchestrated conducted by Adam Klemens and performed by the Bohemia Symphonic Orchestra.

Levels

1. An Offer You Can't Refuse
2. The Running Man
3. The Molotov Party
4. Ordinary Routine
5. Fair Play
6. Sarah
7. Better Get Used To It
8. The Whore/The Priest
9. A Trip To The Country
10. Omerta
11. Visiting Rich People
12. A Great Deal!
13. Bon Appétit!
14. Happy Birthday
15. You Lucky Bastard
16. Créme De La Créme
17. Election Campaign
18. Just For Relaxation
19. Moonlighting
20. The Death Of Art

External links

• Official Mafia website (http://www.mafia-game.com/)
• Mafia (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338221/) at IMDB
• The MobyGames entry on Mafia (http://www.mobygames.com/search/quick?q=mafia)fr:Mafia (jeu vidéo)