Battling the Backlog 2025 Brief Thoughts - A Stellar Filled Mafia January
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Games Mentioned:
Stellar Blade
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Mafia II
1. Stellar Blade - PlayStation 5
Completed 13th January
I was surprised just how much I enjoyed this game, but if I had completed it last year I would have definitely included it in my favourite games of 2024.
Stellar Blade looked like a resemblance to the 360/PS3 era Hack en Slash Bayonetta games combined with the classic God of War games that released on the PlayStation 2 and 3.
I was surprised that it was not completely linear and it had some areas that were semi open world with a number of interesting side missions to complete. I spent more time than I would like to admit completing side missions earning SP where I could upgrade the character's skills.
Overall, Stellar Blade is like a hack en slash game from the 360/PS3 era combined with some semi open world exploration and the combat style seems to have some resemblance to Dark Souls fighting, although it is probably not quite as unforgiving as Dark Souls combat from what I have heard from those who have experience of Soul-like games. Also the developer added a dash of Nier Automata to the formula making an incredible action adventure and one of my favourite games that I have played in a while.
Stellar Blade was a fantastic way to start 2025.
Score 9/10
Highlighted Track - Oasis
2. Mafia - PlayStation 4
Completed 24th January
Mafia is a remake of a game that was released on various platforms during the PlayStation 2 era. I have only played a little of the original game - I played the beginning of the original on both the PlayStation 2 and I bought it for cheap on a Steam sale on the PC.
I could not really get into the original game as I had some frustrations, but it also felt like the original game was ahead of its time and could see what it was trying to achieve. I decided to try out the remake to see what it was like on the PlayStation 4.
Mafia is an open world game, but does not seem to have any side missions (although, there is a Free Ride mode separate from the main game where they are a handful of missions hidden throughout the world). I do prefer linear games, so I did not find the lack of side missions a disappointment in my enjoyment of the game. The main missions and compelling story was enough to keep me invested in the world.
I would say the lack of side missions, for me, was probably a plus as I could just concentrate on the main campaign. After completing the main story I played a little of the Free Ride mode and I found it rather relaxing just driving around the 1930s setting and exploring the city and surrounding countryside areas.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and gameplay. It was very cutscene heavy, but the characters and story was compelling enough to make me want to finish the story. It did feel like it wanted to be a linear game, despite the open world setting.
After completing the Mafia remake I am excited to start Mafia II, which just so happens to be in my backlog!
Score 8/10
Mafia Main Theme - Orchestral Live Concert
3. Mafia II - Xbox 360
Completed 31st January
When I bought Mafia The Definitive Edition on the PS4 I saw it's sequel Mafia II on the Xbox 360 for only £4.00 at my local CEX store so I thought I would pick it up while it was still in stock - and I am glad I did!
The remake of Mafia 1 was the last game I completed in my backlog and I very much enjoyed it, so I immediately wanted to delve into the sequel. The second game in the series was actually released a few years before the remake of the first game was made.
Mafia II does not feel quite as polished as the remake of the first game, but that is to be expected as the sequel was released on the generation before the PS4. Mafia II when it was first released must have felt like a step up at the time as the original Mafia was made during the PS2 era.
The original game (and the remake) took place during the 1930s prohibition era America, but the sequel takes place in the 1940s and in the 1950s which I found to be quite interesting. I like the details of the time periods - it really does feel like a generation difference between the 40s and the 50s as the music on the radio stations change, many cars (such as the police vehicles), and the advertising around the city really captures the period well.
