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The Mafia franchise already has a loyal and dedicated fan base, but 2016 could be the year it explodes fully into the mainstream.
Mafia III will launch later this year and publisher 2K Games has placed the sequel front and centre of their stand at E3.
A lot of what makes Mafia III exciting is the setting and atmosphere the game is built around. Set in a re-imagined New Orleans (named New Bordeaux) in the 1960s, the game focuses on the political strife that gripped the country at the time, as well as the fierce criminal underworld.
You play as Lincoln Clay, a man who sets out to take down the Italian mob after he is targeted by them and left for dead.
The soundtrack of this game is glorious too – full of jazz and soul – completely off-set against the violence that fills much of the actual gameplay.
But there’s much more to the game as well, with the different districts of New Bordeaux each presenting their own unique characteristics and challenges – something 2K said they put real effort into, aiming to make the city a “character” alongside Lincoln and co.
Not only that, but as Lincoln and his three lieutenants take various areas of the city, these need to be managed accordingly. This is done by handing responsibility to one of his allies, with each of your decisions on who Lincoln should trust with a region having an impact on the game.
Multi-directional storylines are central to Mafia III, with a handful of options offered to complete each mission and disrupt the mob.
This is one of several big open-world releases in 2016, but Mafia III is doing the right things to ensure it comes out on top.
