The Besties Mafia Is One of the Strangest, Messiest AAA Games Ever Released
Aug 15, 2025
Dive into the chaotic world of Mafia: The Old Country, where stunning visuals collide with a disjointed narrative. The discussion navigates the franchise's troubled past and its struggle against giants like Grand Theft Auto. Explore the nostalgia of the original game versus its action-packed sequels, and laugh at the absurdities of Sicilian accents and quirky gameplay mechanics. The conversation lightens up with a review of whimsical titles like Dog Walk and a look at the evolution of handheld gaming, blending fun with thoughtful insights.
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Franchise Keeps A Linear, Cinematic Core
- The Mafia series keeps using the same linear, cinematic structure despite being packaged as open-world games.
- That design choice produces beautiful presentation but limits player agency and interactivity.
Enzo's Escape Replaces One Chore With Another
- Russ sets the game's early scene: Enzo escapes a sulfur mine and is taken in by a mafia family on a Sicilian estate.
- The estate simply swaps one set of chores for another, keeping the player stuck in repetitive labor tasks.
Box Of Wine Moment Broke Immersion
- Justin recounts a moment hauling a box of wine so long that he valued the box more than the ensuing fight.
- That personal reaction highlights how banal chores broke his immersion and investment in the narrative.
