Man of Honor is a new story expansion for Mafia: The Old Country that builds on the original game’s strengths while introducing new narrative elements. It is not a new story chapter per se, but something that takes place between Chapters 5 and 6 of Mafia: The Old Country. It mainly consists of a set of missions that follow the protagonist Enzo Favara and his companion Cesare as they assist Ennio Salieri.
For those who have played the entire Mafia series, or mainly the first game, there is some good fan service with the introduction of Salieri, who is the crime boss from the original Mafia game. Meeting a younger version of the Don was a refreshing surprise. While the narrative itself is not that long, this short story is pretty sweet for longtime fans, as they finally get to see the narrative connect to the original Mafia game as a prequel. The appeal here lies in the writing and dialogue, which retain the quality and trademark excellence that we have come to expect from Mafia: The Old Country.
There are no major core gameplay changes or additions in this expansion, and based on the price alone, it appears to be a modestly priced expansion. The combat revolves around firearms and melee attacks, with encounters built around taking cover, while stealth segments are also included. Checkpoints ensure that players do not have to repeat entire missions. I was not a fan of the stealth in the base game, but I feel like it fits naturally here with the narrative. The checkpoints are not too bad either, although some sections do test your patience, as there are not many ways to approach them.
New weapons are available with this DLC, including a pump-action shotgun, which is my favourite, and a Precision Special Rifle, among others. Most of the missions are set around the Sicilian countryside, and the expansion retains the open-world driving and traversal from the base game. The developers have also expanded the Free Ride mode with new content for those who have enjoyed the game so far. The new content is not that expansive, but it provides a nice distraction from the story by offering criminal contracts, races, and other side activities.
If we count the replay value, the main story might be short, but it offers a nice throwback to the original Mafia. On the other hand, the newly added content to free roam really expands the overall appeal of the game. I liked the races and stunt jumps scattered throughout the Sicilian countryside, as they make exploration feel meaningful and add a lot to the world. So, even if the narrative works mostly for longtime fans, the new free roam additions are definitely welcome for those who enjoy the base game’s gameplay and exploration.
The story, while short, is written well, and there is strong chemistry between the various cast members. Even though the missions are few and far between, they are quite well designed, save for the stealth, which is still horrible. The final mission brings the story to a nice conclusion, offering a satisfying wrap-up to the story arc introduced in Man of Honor. For the asking price, I would say this is a DLC worth getting for fans of Mafia, and even for those who are experiencing Mafia: The Old Country as their first game in the series.
Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor Game Information
- Price: $9.99
- Publisher: 2K
- Developer: Hangar 13
- Platform: PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher
