Mafia 3 had an interesting launch, complete with a number of bugs, performance problems, and both heavy criticism and praise.
The game’s portrayal of a turbulent time in American history makes for an intriguing and unique setting.
Let’s see what the critics had to say about the latest release in the Mafia franchise:
IGN – 7.5/10
“Mafia 3’s strong characters and confident storytelling kept me engaged, even if the gameplay rarely delivered anything but bog-standard and repetitive open-world action.
That’s a bummer, because Lincoln is an incredible protagonist and New Bordeaux is a fantastic setting thematically, and it would’ve been great to see them put to better use.”
PC Gamer – 54/100
“Starts promisingly, but soon slips into a tiresome, repetitive grind, never doing its unique period setting justice.”
PlayStation LifeStyle – 7.5/10
“While Mafia III is not a game-changing entry, it is a genuine attempt to tell an entertaining story.
It’s too bad that technical and graphical issues get in the way of progress on occasion, and a few gameplay mechanics cause the game to quickly boil down to the same handful of mission types, which means to get to the next chapter of the main story takes some monotony.
Still, for fans of America’s deep South, the 1960’s, or good storytelling, Mafia III is worth your time and money.”
Guardian – 2/5
“Excellent script, great voice acting and convincing animations bring the game to life – but they can’t redeem the terminal repetitiveness of the gameplay.”
Hardcore Gamer – 4/5
“It wouldn’t be surprising for Mafia III to emerge as the AAA game with the best story of 2016 as Lincoln Clay’s revenge tale, and its wonderful documentary-style presentation, are engrossing from beginning to end, with a host of unique characters that make New Bordeaux feel unlike anywhere else in video games.”
CGMagazine – 6/10
“Mafia III’s ambitions are large and its narrative vital, but ultimately this satisfying revenge yarn is hampered by dated mechanics and progression systems that belong in a 2007 GTA knock-off.”
Forbes – 8.1/10
“Ever listen to a hip-hop album that is laced with incredible production, but the MC’s lyrics and delivery are hit and miss?
Mafia III is the video game equivalent to that analogy. The folks in charge of the presentation, script and story have done a bang-up job. Clay’s quest for revenge is enough to keep your attention throughout.
If you approach Mafia III as an interactive journey, then you probably won’t have any issue with it overall. If you’re looking for a fully fleshed out title akin to GTA, then Mafia III could come off as a shallow release.”
