The gritty mafia-themed video game, “Mafia: The Old Country,” is swiftly emerging as one of this year’s most rewarding games due to its captivating narrative, music, and high-quality graphics. As players immerse themselves in the gripping mafia plot, they encounter a meticulously polished experience with subtle features that other games often neglect. One such feature, reminiscent of “Red Dead Redemption 2,” serves to bridge the gap between the gameplay and story elements, making them feel more cohesive.
On social media platform X, user @videotechuk shared a gameplay clip praising the unique feature of the game “Mafia: The Old Country” and lamenting that not more games incorporate this straightforward improvement from “Red Dead Redemption 2”, which significantly enhances the gaming experience.
User Videotechuk commented that the “Mafia” game, similar to “RDR2”, smoothly transitions from gameplay to cinematic cutscenes using borders. They expressed a desire for more games to integrate gameplay and cutscenes in a more seamless manner.
Many games could benefit from a smooth integration of gameplay and cutscenes, similar to how Mafia TOC transitions between them using border effects, reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption 2.
— ben (@videotechuk_) August 9, 2025
13 Hanger and 2K’s game, “Mafia: The Old Country,” emphasizes its immersive storyline in advertising, so it’s logical that it takes cues from “Red Dead Redemption 2,” a game renowned for its immersive gameplay and narrative. A letterbox display during cutscenes signals to the player they are in “watch mode.” Unlike many games that abruptly shift into cutscenes, this transition feels less disruptive here. By smoothing out the tension between gameplay and storytelling, players can better avoid the detachment often felt when sudden transitions remind them they’re playing a game, thereby enhancing their overall experience.
Some players appreciated how smoothly Mafia: The Old Country transitions into cutscenes, while others found the abrupt emergence of black bars on the screen to be disconcerting.
User Optimus_Bull expressed dislike for black bars in cutscenes, stating that using a mod to remove them in the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2 significantly improved their experience. They believe such customization options should be entirely optional rather than mandated by developers.
Regardless of some opposing views, the strategy of providing immersive experiences, resulting in letterboxing, has significantly contributed to the modest triumph of Mafia: The Old Country. Since its launch on August 7th, it’s garnered a 76 rating on Metacritic and a 75% Mostly Positive rating on Steam. As per SteamDB, the game has maintained a steady number of concurrent players since its release. Additionally, it’s been listed among the top recent sellers on Steam.
What do you think about the use of letterboxing in game cutscenes? Is it effective in creating a more engaging and cinematic atmosphere, or does it negatively impact the gaming experience?
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2025-08-11 22:26