Mafia 3

Pros

• Great story
• Interesting protagonists
• Beautiful setting

Cons

• Isn't quite sure what it wants to be
• Too many pointless side quests
• Empty experience

Mafia 3 is a 2016 open-world action/adventure video game that places players in the shoes of Lincoln Clay, a recently returned soldier from Vietnam who's out to avenge his family and take over the city of New Bordeaux.

Mafia 3 represents both a logical extension of the franchise and a strong break with the older games. While organized crime is still the name of the game, Mafia III embraces an opportunity to discuss race, culture, and corruption in the post-Vietnam era. Eschewing the mob movie cliches of the rest of the series, Mafia 3 instead turns towards true crime genre films and grindhouse revenge flicks for inspiration. What follows is a gripping narrative that overreaches from time to time, but that ultimately creates a fantastic experience.

The game is not, however, without its flaws. Mafia III suffers from the same kind of aimless wandering that most open-world games have, filling up extra hours with sidequests and collectibles. While the world itself is rendered quite well and playing around in the sandbox can be fun, the gleeful destruction that you can rain down on the city can tend to undercut the deadly serious tale of revenge the game seeks to tell.

Mafia 3 is a game that tries to do more than it can. It has a vibrant setting and a great story, but it's ultimately an empty experience. It provides fantastic entertainment in the moment, but it's probably not going to stick with you much longer. If you're looking for a well-made diversion that will spark a few conversations, this is probably the game for you. If you need something that's going to go on the list of all-time greats, though, look elsewhere.

Pros

• Great story
• Interesting protagonists
• Beautiful setting

Cons

• Isn't quite sure what it wants to be
• Too many pointless side quests
• Empty experience