And in combat, they generally grab cover and stay put, periodically popping up to fire off a few shots. Enemies, for example, generally stand in place or pace on short, predictable loops outside of combat. I developed a better feel for both over time, but many of the mechanics remain disappointingly simplistic. Similarly, I found the aiming slow and unresponsive even when I attempted to increase the analog stick's sensitivity. At first, I found Lincoln's basic movements to be relatively clunky and imprecise. As with most third-person open-world games, much of the action consists of running, shooting, and driving. Unfortunately, I was less impressed with Mafia III's gameplay, which is mostly unremarkable-at least during the game's very earliest portions. After a few hours in that world, I'm not just intrigued, I'm invested. His story's a compelling one, and it happens to be set against a distressing but historically significant backdrop. Protagonist Lincoln Clay's tale consistently felt human rather political, even when he was gunning down apparent white supremacists. The historical context colors the events and informs certain aspects of the characters, though the campaign's primary focus remains squarely on Lincoln's deeply personal quest for revenge.ĭuring the sections I've seen so far, racism was primarily depicted as a fact of life. But the setting is handled deftly, and it genuinely adds to the story being told. Its story follows a mixed-raced war hero working for the black mob in the American South in 1968, so as you can imagine, grotesque and abhorrent discrimination is pretty much the norm.Ĭertain players will undoubtedly recoil when confronted with the harsh, shameful realities of America's past, especially since Mafia doesn't sugarcoat any of it. And that's not the only bold choice Mafia III makes. Players looking to dive straight into the action will likely grow impatient waiting to be let loose in the world, but that just makes Mafia's admirable insistence on worldbuilding that much bolder. Rather than rush you through some hackneyed set up so you can skip straight to the carjacking and cover-based shooting, the narrative takes its time, lingering on scenes that make all the action that comes afterwards feel far more meaningful. Unlike many sandbox shooters, Mafia III takes great pains to introduce its major players and flesh out their motivations.

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