Mafia 3 was the first game in the series to go open-world, and while it aimed to expand the series' scope, it never quite captured what made the earlier titles special. Thankfully, The Old Country is going back to the old ways with a linear story. It's a step in the right direction, putting the spotlight back on what the series does best.
Mafia 1 and 2 laid the foundation for the series' linear gameplay, where the focus was solely on the protagonist's journey, leaving little room for distractions. Who needs an endless open world when the story is so captivating that you're compelled to follow it to the very end? That's what Mafia 2 did for me, my first proper introduction to the series. Watching Vito Scaletta rise through the criminal world wasn't just a story; it was an experience, deeply satisfying as power and wealth flowed with each step, making the journey all the more worthwhile. Seeing The Old Country return to that same focused style feels like the series finally correcting course after the detour that was Mafia 3.
