Grand Theft Auto V is an excellent game. It’s sold millions of copies. People are still playing it months and years after its release. Content-wise, it’s unquestionably substantial. But, with Mafia III , 2K Games could have a game that might end up being more deep and substantial than Rockstar Games’ latest gem.
This may be difficult to understand, especially since Mafia III was really only just announced and information isn’t flowing. But some of the things already shown suggest an experience that could end up offering more richness to gamers than GTA V .
The character of Lincoln Clay is a good example. African American protagonists have become more common in the world of gaming, but Mafia III may make him more relevant due to his background, the game’s time period, and its location. Lincoln is an African American Vietnam veteran in the 1960’s, a time when both things would have been serious strikes against him. Add to that him being an upcomer in the underworld community, and we have someone who will face all sorts of prejudices and trials.
GTA V ‘s Franklin doesn’t really compare. While he does face some hardships due to his race, which is enlightening, Lincoln’s situation provides an opportunity to educate people about the past. Perhaps people will even be able to draw parallels by playing as Lincoln and learning about things that might not have grabbed them in school. He has the opportunity to perhaps be a more complex character than the norm.
The setting also holds a lot of potential. GTA V is set in Los Santos, a fictional version of Los Angeles. That’s fun and great, but it doesn’t offer the depth and distinction a real-world location does. With Mafia III ‘s New Orleans backdrop, 2K Games has a chance to draw people in by including famous tourist spots and drawing upon the area’s history to make the environment feel more alive.
There’s the idea of choice in Mafia III too, which was touched upon in the Gamescom demo. There were multiple ways of completing the club mission that was showcased, as well as side events like dealing with a racist cop that could have altered the flow of the mission. Circumstances can change on the fly in GTA V too, since people have options, but the sampling of Mafia III makes it seem like the actual missions will be more responsive to moral decisions.
GTA V is great, but it’s looking like Mafia III could be equally great in a different way. Both games have all kinds of potential, but time could show Mafia III as offering an experience that could perhaps be deeper and more educational.