Mafia 3: Definitive Edition PS5 Review – Final Touches

I jumped at the chance to review Mafia: Definitive Edition’s current-gen upgrade when it came out; getting to see Tommy again was too good to resist. That one was an old-school take on life as a mafioso, and it’s quite interesting that a little over a month after that review, I’ve now played a sizeable portion of Lincoln Clay’s attempt to dismantle an offshoot of the organization’s network.

Mafia 3: Definitive Edition for PS5’s latest update sharpens up the visuals and brings a new layer of polish to a title where things could get quite janky.

I booted up the PS4 version just before I dove into the PS5 version, and those limitations were so easy to find. The lighting would often fail to keep up with the rendering, leaving sections of buildings noticeably darker than the rest of the structure for a couple of seconds. The grass under Lincoln’s feet would render in real time as he walked alongside it, making it look like he had some weird command over nature aside from his extensive training as a Vietnam Special Forces veteran.

Well, I’m happy to say that the PS5 version of Definitive Edition does well to iron out all those little problems, while delivering 60 fps that works wonders on the gameplay front. Speeding along a highway with Bad Moon Rising blaring on the radio brought back fond memories of my first playthrough, while the responsive driving made it just as enjoyable this time around. That many such moments were waiting for me as I played along with a story I’m quite familiar with by this point is a testament to how well the franchise has managed to withstand the test of time. The much shorter loading times are also a welcome improvement, making it quicker to get back into the action.

It does bear mentioning that the story in Mafia 3 was a heavy hitter back in the day, and is probably even more potent ten years later. Lincoln’s story isn’t afraid to dive into some dark material, and is certainly something you’re going to want to do some homework on if you’re a first-timer and are affected by violent or sensitive material.

It’s a roller-coaster, and a critique of how a life in organized crime can be hard to leave once it pulls you in, a sentiment that Lincoln echoes with grim determination and almost zealous fervor as he seeks to remove the corrupting influence of the man responsible for the deaths of his adoptive family.

It might sound like a revenge story on paper, but every examination of Lincoln and his enemies comes with so much nuance that you find yourself challenged to place anybody into a simple good-or-bad category, as the choices each character makes at any given moment are directly influenced by circumstances that make them feel like either choice is a road to further suffering for themselves or their loved ones. Everybody’s human and fallible in a story where the slightest mistake can come with serious consequences for those involved, and you feel empathy for people who make horrible decisions under the strain of the situation.

New Bordeaux’s size isn’t the limit of Hangar 13’s ambitions in Mafia 3, and the story might have had a few players who didn’t appreciate what it was trying to do back in the day thanks to the departure from the franchise’s established narrative premise, but it’s still one that showcases how it handled a shift in perspective without losing any of the narrative flair that lent it a unique identity among action games.

It helps, then, that the gameplay is well-served by that story. Lincoln’s military background immediately makes him a very believable protagonist for the kind of story this game is telling, and his proficiency in combat makes him a threat anybody should take very seriously. It’s great that his unique expertise is constantly reinforced even as he’s often faced with odds that would deter any other lone wolf. It makes his crusade to take over organized crime feel more engaging as a result.

However, the heady combination of stealth and cover-based shooting on offer has always been among the best features of this game, and that continues to be the case this time around. With that being said, your mileage with the game’s open world design is going to vary based on how much you enjoy the way its missions and side content are structured. It’s a loop that typically has you gathering information on a target, disrupting their operations, and eventually confronting them.

You assign captured rackets and districts to your underbosses, who help Lincoln maintain control over his growing criminal empire. I was personally okay with the grind thanks to how well it’s been framed and contextualized by the narrative, but I can see many of you dropping off thanks to how repetitive it becomes, especially if you’ve already played through the game before. It was a problem in the original game, and is one that’s sadly outside the scope of the current-gen update’s improvements.

"It’s a shame that, despite the narrative context and enjoyable mechanics, the underlying activities remain so repetitive, and I’d have certainly liked to see some variety on that front."

That’s because while the activities themselves are dressed up in differing contexts and situations, they largely come down to visiting a place, selecting a loadout from an Arms Dealer, and using either stealth or an all-guns-blazing approach to achieve your goals in there, rinse and repeat.

It’s a shame that, despite the narrative context and enjoyable mechanics, the underlying activities remain so repetitive, and I’d have certainly liked to see some variety on that front. However, this isn’t a remake, and that would be asking too much of an update that’s aimed at addressing other, specific issues.

Yes, you do get access to an ever-expanding set of tools, each of which can add interesting wrinkles to the existing gameplay loop, but the repetitive activities can outstay their welcome despite those additions if you’re the type who likes a bit of variety thrown into the mix. Still, it’s easy to see how the routine that Mafia 3 does place you into is a lot of fun from moment to moment.

Of course, it’s where the improved framerate shines best, as it’s made lining up headshots or manoeuvres in traffic look and feel a lot better. That’s obviously a big plus to the gameplay, and this is an excellent way to experience Mafia 3 if you’re looking to catch up on what you’ve missed from the franchise over the years. The changes also extend to the NPC AI, which is noticeably better than what was in the original release.

My time in the PS4 version had me clocking NPCs who would dive out of the way of my car even though I was nowhere near them to pose a threat, while enemies would run straight into my line of fire on the game’s easier modes.

Known issues around NPC behaviour, sometimes being the biggest obstacle in Lincoln’s way, have also been addressed in a long list of patch notes. I did find my companions were more stable in missions where they accompanied Lincoln for the most part, while NPCs on the street reacted way more believably to my speeding sports car when the situation called for it.

The result is an experience that looks and feels so smooth in action, while benefiting from the native PS5 version’s adaptive triggers on vehicle pedals and weapons, along with the hardware’s improved capabilities that see the lighting system finally feel like what it was supposed to be all those years ago. There’s tangibly different resistance on your triggers between vehicle and weapon types now, and it makes driving and combat even more immersive as a result.

"The cover-based gunplay is the best it’s ever been too, and Lincoln can seem overpowered quite quickly once you get the combat’s rhythm down."

The Definitive Edition continues to include all of the game’s DLC in one package.

The cover-based gunplay is the best it’s ever been too, and Lincoln can seem overpowered quite quickly once you get the combat’s rhythm down. That takes away a lot of the original release’s friction while improving areas of the experience that players directly interact with or look at in-game.

Reflections off the paint of your car, or from puddles on the ground in rainy weather, are excellent, moving along with the camera to make New Bordeaux a very pretty place indeed. Mafia 3 was an already stunning title even with those visual issues, and having them more or less erased makes Lincoln’s world even more alluring as a result. The grass and foliage were all ready and waiting for me in this version, while the world’s cinematic quality was brought out astoundingly well, just as it’s always been with the franchise.

Rays of light now feel authentically recreated in the game, their glow emphasizing the scene they illuminate, and the results are stunning. Exploring the city means you’re more than likely to just stop and take in the sights, and walking the streets is also viable thanks to so many well-written conversations between the city’s residents for you to listen to.

The soundtrack’s a definite highlight of the experience, and always has been. I was as annoyed about having to step out of my car right in the middle of an absolute banger on the radio in the latest version as I was in the original. Some minor issues from the original game do persist, though, such as repetitive enemy dialogue. There were instances of NPCs jaywalking right in front of the same cops who are willing to chase you down at the slightest provocation with nary a reaction from them, while I was expected to follow traffic rules lest I risk a chase or confrontation. That broke the spell for me a little, and it happened often enough for it to be an annoyance. There was also a bit of pop-in that’s going to be there for those of you looking hard enough for it. Each of these little issues reminds you that this title’s a decade old from time to time.

The mission structure also hurts the pacing. Systematically weakening each target’s operations before confronting them can stall the story’s momentum, particularly when the required activities become repetitive.

"With all of the bug fixes that the patch notes have detailed, along with the update’s polish and visual tweaks, this is the version of Mafia 3: Definitive Edition that I’d recommend without a moment’s hesitation."

It could be an obstacle to your enjoyment of a story that does well to justify the grind it demands of you, but how well you’re able to fall into that loop is a matter of personal taste.

With all of the bug fixes that the patch notes have detailed, along with the update’s polish and visual tweaks, this is the version of Mafia 3: Definitive Edition that I’d recommend without a moment’s hesitation if you’re looking to experience the game for the first time. It’s a title that feels like a current-gen version of the original game, but doesn’t iron out the fundamental issues that held it back from true greatness the first time.

Nevertheless, it’s a title that hits hard and encourages you to do the same to some very bad people. And with all its new improvements, it’s now the finest it’s ever been.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.