A bigger, open and lively city that we can explore freely. Our Mafia III wishlist

Whether You like it or not, that sandbox formula is here to stay. Freedom granted by such a form of gameplay not only enlengthens our playthrough significantly, but also gives the gamer a chance to immerse oneself better and get to know the gameworld, in which dozens of hours will be spent. While not all games benefit from being modeled as sandbox titles, Mafia II has proved us that gangster escapades can work in such a convention. Unfortunately, instead of going through with it, bizarre restrictions were made, as to confine the player within the bounds of a single mission. Driving through the town was still possible though, but the divergence between the open world style, and the elements of the first Mafia didn’t do much good for Mafia II, and it was hard not to get an impression, that something possibly magnificent has been squandered. In the next game the developers should let go of all limitations, and let us freely explore the open world. Obviously, an additional few square kilometers never hurt nobody.

A city full of life not only looks good, but it also helps us immerse ourselves better.

What’s more, the city shouldn’t consist of beautiful sights alone. Driving by nice neighborhood’s, and visiting nice shops surely has its’ merits, but the new release presents a perfect opportunity to increase the character’s interaction with the environment. Let the city live its’ own life! Random events have been done in video games before. Why not experiment with that? The developers should implement, let’s say, random car accidents that cause traffic jams, or heists done by other crime organizations. It would also be a welcome addition if the city folk responded to our actions – a radio transmission commenting on a politician’s assassination for which we would be responsible would certainly intensify the mood.