One of the top games released in 2002 was surely Mafia. It told the story of cab driver Tommy Angelo, who got embroiled with the Italian mob in Prohibition-era Illinois in a game that followed the GTA formula of driving and shooting, but had a little more depth story-wise than Rockstar’s offerings.
Actually, its sequel Mafia 2 is one of the best GTA clones made to date, even if the more recent Mafia 3 left many fans of the series disappointed due to its glitchy release and repetitive open-world activities.
Nonetheless, many are still waiting for Mafia: Definitive Edition with bated breath. This is a remake of the original 2002 Mafia game which is being worked on by developer Hangar 13 (the people behind Mafia 3), and which was scheduled to launch in August this year.
Sadly, though, in a recent statement on the game’s website (via PCGamesN), the people behind the game have announced that Mafia: Definitive Edition won’t be shipping until September 25, something which may disappoint those who were looking to dive into 1930’s Illinois in Hangar 13’s game this summer.
“Though we’d originally planned to release the game one month earlier on August 28, finalizing everything in time for that launch date has become increasingly challenging due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, and the last thing we want to do is compromise the quality of the experience”, said the developer in its statement. “All of us are committed to crafting an updated experience worthy of that timeless classic”, added Hangar 13 and publisher 2K Games.
Fans of the Mafia series and those looking to get hold of Mafia: Definitive Edition come its new release date at least got to see a gameplay reveal video this July, which showcased the game’s remade cinematic scenes and gameplay.
Some YouTube commentators couldn’t help but point out how the action looked more like the one in Mafia 3 (in which players control a Vietnam vet named Lincoln Clay) instead of that of the original game (in which the main character was a former cab driver with no military training).
Also, some noted a few graphical glitches here and there, a bad omen taking into account the game is little more than eight weeks away from release and how bad the recent remaster of Mafia 2 (which launched this May) was.
Actually, quality issues with that remaster may have prompted publisher 2K Games to delay Mafia: Definitive Edition so that it can live up to expectations and avoid further antagonizing the Mafia fanbase with another bad release, something it can ill afford taking into account how poorly received 2016’s Mafia 3 and this year’s Mafia 2 remaster have been. The Mafia 2 remaster (Mafia II: Definitive Edition) did get better reviews on PC though, echoing how the original game was better received on the PC platform too (it launched on PS2 later).
Here’s hoping, then, that Mafia: Definitive Edition is up to scratch when it launches this September, so that both newcomers and fans of the series can enjoy an enhanced edition of one of the top GTA-style games ever made.
Note: Mafia: Definitive Edition will release on September 25, 2020. Available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.