E3 2016: 3 Things We Learned About Mafia III

Story Recap

Mafia III follows the story of Lincoln Clay, a member of the Black Mob who is returning from the Vietnam war only to come back to a war zone. The Black Mob is betrayed by the Marcano Family run by Sal Marcano. Instead of laying down and letting the mafia have its way, Clay plans on rebuilding the Black Mob to be even bigger than it was before. Tired of oppression in the city of New Bordeaux, the new Black Mob will take down every single crime family and corrupt politician plaguing the people.

To help him, Clay has recruited three Underbosses including Vito Scaletta who fans will remember as the protagonist from the second Mafia game. He’s also trying to get back at the Marcano family who has been seizing too much territory and leaving him in the shadows. Clay and his Underbosses will stop at nothing until all organized crime in New Bordeaux belongs to them. 

New Bordeaux

New Bordeaux is Mafia III’s fictional version of a 1960’s New Orleans. It is more than just a backdrop though, as the developers have ensured that it is an important character in the story. It is a living component of Mafia III that embodies the beauty of the bayou and the ugliness of humanity during one of the worst times in American history. Everything you do in this city will have an effect on the story.

During E3 2016 we were given some details about the different areas of New Bordeaux:

• The different areas in the city are called Districts and there are 10 of them, each with their own flair and hidden secrets. While not all were detailed, some received a few important details.
• Delway Hollow – This is where the Black Mob used to run their rackets out of. After they were wiped out by the Marcano family, the Dixie Mob moved in and began slinging heroin while providing kickbacks to Sal Marcano.
• French Ward – This is where Uncle Lou (Sal’s brother) reigns. It’s one large party with brothels and drugs running rampant.
• Frisco Fields – The affluent District of New Bordeaux where lavish mansions and sprawling fields are all around. This also happens to be the heart of the racism and corruption plaguing the city.

Players will be able to discover even more Districts and new crime syndicates as they explore the sprawling open world. 

Tearing Down the Mob

A major part of Mafia is taking the fight to the various mob bosses. This can be done in a number of ways. When you first enter a district you will gain access to several objectives that you are free to clear as you see fit. These range from eliminating certain mafia officers to taking out entire businesses. Doing so weakens your enemy’s hold on the District making it much easier for you to seize control and grow your empire.

Each of the activities is open, allowing for multiple different methods to complete an objective.  You can interrogate workers, torch properties, seize control of businesses, assassinate powerful soldiers, and more. You can also rely on a more stealthy approach if you don’t want to subject the people of New Bordeaux to more violence. The choice is yours, and the city is ripe for the taking. 

Underbosses

Mafia III provides Lincoln Clay with three allies who serve as his underbosses. You have Cassandra, Burke, and Vito Scalleta who returns to the series from the second game. Each one brings something different to the organization in the form of perks, access to new weapons, skills, and associates. Associates are other NPCs from whom you can request favors whenever you want. They are valuable assets that are part of the foundation of any good crime organization.

Underbosses aren’t simply a resource you can tap into, though. Like everything else in Mafia III, you ‘ll have to manage your relationship with each of these allies, toeing the line between keeping them happy and offending them. During Sitdowns, players will have to allocate their turf and resources between their three underbosses and this can disrupt the balance in your organization. Show one a little too much attention and the others may grow jealous. If that disappointment increases you’ll find yourself at war with one of your very own, and it won’t be a matter of simply killing them. You’ll be going against a very strong individual on their own turf.

The wait for Mafia III is growing shorter every day. You will be able to step into the shoes of Lincoln Clay on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC when the game releases on Oct. 7. New Bordeaux will open its gates to you and the Districts will try to beat you down, but you must overcome, even if it means fighting fire with fire.

Are you excited for Mafia III? Been a fan since the first entry? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.