Mafia News

Titanic mod for Mafia 1 releases after 15 years, minus the tragic part

Part one of a mod for the original Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven that's been in development for 15 years has finally been released, and it's titanic - literally. The mod replicates the entirety of the doomed HMS Titanic in the original Mafia, complete with missions based around Salieri's gang.

The catchily-titled Mafia Titanic Mod has been in development since 2006 and is finally available for release, and it's not even quite completed yet. Part one's storyline basically goes as far as boarding the infamous ocean liner, but does contain a full sandbox where players can explore the Titanic at will. The ship's interior is not yet complete, and most importantly - the actual sinking has not yet been implemented. So, this is the less-doomed version of the Titanic.

Lead developer Robin Bongaarts estimates that the final mod will encompass four parts to tell the whole story. Nevertheless, part one is available to download now and it's already very impressive, boasting a sizeable portion of the "meticulously recreated and highly populated" ship to explore.

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Take-Two Interactive has three remakes or remasters in the works

It looks like some familiar games from Take-Two Interactive's past could be coming your way with a new lick of paint. The publisher has posted its general presentation slides following its Q1 earnings call for FY2022, revealing some details on what's in the ol' pipeline.

Take-Two has three "new iterations of previously released titles" in the works, though the publisher does note that it's merely a snapshot of how things stand, meaning delays can happen (thanks, VGC). Details are currently thin on the ground, though CEO Strauss Zelnick has spoken about ports before. Zelnick explained during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, & Telecom Conference earlier thesis year that remasters have always been part of the plan, though the publisher doesn't just "port titles over".

"I'm not sure there'll be a bigger part of the strategy," he said. "Remastering has always been a part of the strategy. We've done differently than the competition - we don't just port titles over, we actually take the time to do the very best job we can making the title different for the new release, for the new technology that we're launching it on.

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Mafia modder spends 15 years filling the Titanic with mobsters

Mafia: Definitive Edition put in a lot of work to update the ageing 2002 crime story. But what it didn't do, and what it perhaps should've done, was add a fully-realised model of the H.M.S. Titanic for Tommy Angelo to explore...
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Mafia: Definitive Edition Out Now

Some 18 years after the critically acclaimed Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven first invited players to live the life of a gangster during the Prohibition Era, we're excited to announce that Mafia: Definitive Edition—a complete remake of the original game—is now available. The centerpiece of the Mafia: Trilogy bundle, Mafia: Definitive Edition tells the story of Tommy Angelo, a Lost Heaven cab driver who becomes enamored with a life in organized crime after an opportune brush with the Italian Mafia. It's the same enthralling story you might remember from the 2002 game, but fully remade from the ground-up and expanded, with beautiful presentation including stunning new visuals and an original orchestral score.

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The missions you take on after joining the ranks of a crime family at war are faithful to those that Tommy first tackled in 2002, but play quite differently courtesy of reworked vehicle handling, enhanced melee combat, a new cover system, the introduction of motorcycles, and a host of other improvements. Mafia: Definitive Edition is more accessible than the original game by design, but there are difficulty settings to suit newcomers and experienced mafiosos alike, including the most challenging Classic Difficulty setting, which incorporates a number of old-school Mafia features. In another nod to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, Mafia: Definitive Edition also includes a Free Ride mode that lets you explore the map and search for hidden collectibles and secrets at your own pace.

Mafia: Definitive Edition has been a labor of love for Hangar 13 and will continue to be even now that the game has launched. We've been paying close attention to your feedback, and we're planning to update the game with additional HUD customization options and some other cool stuff in the coming weeks. Check back for more details soon.

Whether this will be your first time experiencing Tommy Angelo's story or your fiftieth, we hope you enjoy your time with Mafia: Definitive Edition and we're excited to hear about your adventures in and around Lost Heaven.

Mafia: Definitive Edition review - streets ain't what they used to be

'Definitive Edition' is a curious, fluid term. It's been applied to everything from a game bundled with DLC, a slap of fresh paint, and a handful of tweaks, to a "built-from-the-ground-up" overhaul - like Mafia: Definitive Edition. It's a remake, effectively, and it walks the same tightrope: how do you preserve the spirit of an 18-year-old title in a modern gaming experience? At what point is a game's DNA so altered that it becomes a new thing entirely? Mafia: DE not only walks that rope with barely a wobble, it nails a few pirouettes along the way.

It's clear we're on 2002 Mafia's turf from the get-go. The same orchestral theme greets me like an old amica and the scene's set with protagonist Tommy Angelo making jaded cop Detective Norman an offer he can't refuse. The diner booth, the exchange of verbal ripostes - heck! - right down to the cup o' Joe - it's the same but just... better. Well-written and acted. Graphically gorgeous.

In the cinematics, at least - of which there are a lot - Mafia: DE is almost wholly faithful to the original. There's a nice touch early on with a near frame-for-frame replica of an original cutscene.

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