Mafia: Definitive Edition may look like a contemporary video game, but it doesn't exactly play like one. This shouldn't be too surprising considering it's a remake of the classic 2002 mobster epic, but it also doesn't play like that game either. This is a remake that's been built entirely from the ground up, with a stunning visual overhaul, expanded story, and greater sense of place. Yet its gameplay systems have only been modernised to a limited extent. As a result, Mafia: Definitive Edition feels archaic as it covers the well-trodden ground of its contemporaries, hindered by many of the same ailments that held back Mafia III, despite that game's strong narrative.

The same is true here, as Mafia: Definitive Edition's story is far and away the best part of this remake. You play as Tommy Angelo, a timid cab driver who gradually turns to a life of crime in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s. Tommy's an interesting and often conflicted protagonist, and a few new scenes have been added to the original story to flesh out the rest of the cast and inject some levity into Tommy's tale. Characters like Don Salieri have been given more ambiguous motivations, while weapons supplier Vincenzo is now a point of comic relief instead of the self-serious tough guy he was before.

Dialogue has also been reworked and sharpened throughout, although the main story beats of the original game are still present. It's clichéd at times, and sometimes relies on homages to classic gangster cinema, but it's easy to become attached to its relatively small cast of characters, particularly now that each one has been enhanced with new voice work and facial capture from its accomplished cast. Aside from looking a whole lot better, these new performances allow for more subtlety in each scene, as facial expressions are able to express more than words often can.

Mafia: Definitive Edition may look like a contemporary video game, but it doesn't exactly play like one. This shouldn't be too surprising considering it's a remake of the classic 2002 mobster epic, but it also doesn't play like that game either. This is a remake that's been built entirely from the ground up, with a stunning visual overhaul, expanded story, and greater sense of place. Yet its gameplay systems have only been modernised to a limited extent. As a result, Mafia: Definitive Edition feels archaic as it covers the well-trodden ground of its contemporaries, hindered by many of the same ailments that held back Mafia III, despite that game's strong narrative.

The same is true here, as Mafia: Definitive Edition's story is far and away the best part of this remake. You play as Tommy Angelo, a timid cab driver who gradually turns to a life of crime in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s. Tommy's an interesting and often conflicted protagonist, and a few new scenes have been added to the original story to flesh out the rest of the cast and inject some levity into Tommy's tale. Characters like Don Salieri have been given more ambiguous motivations, while weapons supplier Vincenzo is now a point of comic relief instead of the self-serious tough guy he was before.

Dialogue has also been reworked and sharpened throughout, although the main story beats of the original game are still present. It's clichéd at times, and sometimes relies on homages to classic gangster cinema, but it's easy to become attached to its relatively small cast of characters, particularly now that each one has been enhanced with new voice work and facial capture from its accomplished cast. Aside from looking a whole lot better, these new performances allow for more subtlety in each scene, as facial expressions are able to express more than words often can.

• Nia DaCosta, director of the upcoming Candyman

• Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man, The Lion King, and more

• Bing Gordon, EA co-founder

• Geoff Keighley, The Game Awards producer

• Hideo Kojima, Kojima Productions head, creator of Death Stranding

• Sam Lake, creative director of Control studio Remedy Games

• Kiki Wolfkill, head of Halo Transmedia & Entertainment

Now, IGN has an exclusive 17-minute gameplay video showing the new character in action in five matches, along with recently unveiled new monster Skorak and stages including Sibera, Hawaii and Tokyo. Check it out below:

The Siberia map is a snow-covered industrial complex of factory buildings, most of which are destructible. The gigantic statue of a pickaxe-wielding worker at its center can be toppled during play, to launch a missile from the silo hidden within and damage your foes.

Developed by Malaysia’s Passion Republic Game, GigaBash will feature 1-vs-all battles as well as team battles among other modes when it is released on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2021. For more information, check out GigaBash’s website, Twitter account or Discord server.

Daniel Robson is Chief Editor at IGN Japan. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on life and games in Tokyo.

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