Welcome to the 1930s. The economy was collapsing, authoritarian regimes held power around the world, dust storms were withering crops and causing food shortages, and worse, alcohol was illegal. But for Lost Haven cab driver Tommy Angelo, the dirty thirties were a time of opportunity. This is the story of his rise from hard worker to mafioso.

But before diving headfirst into the criminal underworld, he needs to spend some time earning an honest living. One of the first missions in "Mafia" involves driving a creaky old cab, picking up snotty customers, and soaking up the atmosphere of the city. The "Mafia" series has always given us the opportunity to take our time and immerse ourselves in its exciting world, and this film, a flashy remake of the 2002 original, is no exception.

Naturally, this doesn't last long: after a fateful encounter with a pair of wiseguys, Tommy abandons his cab and joins the Salieri crime family. At first, the job was easy. Extract protection money from local business owners and drive people around town. But thanks to a lively, fast-paced storyline, it doesn't take long to become engrossed in the hilarious activities of the hard-working mafia, including car chases, shootouts, and heists.

Mafia has a large city to explore, but it is not an open-world game. This is a completely linear experience, divided into tightly designed missions, so don't expect a GTA-style playground. There are long drives and slow scene-setting interspersed throughout to allow you to get a feel for the atmosphere before the bullets start flying.

The balance is perfect. You rarely feel overloaded with combat, and there are plenty of breaks in between to wander around, talk to people, and drive. The gunfights are ultimately fairly basic, but are leisurely and satisfying (the shotgun is great). However, the slow movement of the characters makes sprinting and jumping between cover, especially in tight corridors, feel clumsier than it should.

To be honest, this is a very ordinary, old-fashioned shooter. However, with the set pieces, world building, and storytelling, I often found myself having too much fun to care. In particular, the missions that take place at night during an apocalyptic thunderstorm are brilliantly crafted, thrillingly tense, and very atmospheric. You just drive and shoot, but the packaging is brilliant.

Of course, it's all smoke and mirrors. But if it's this much fun, don't be fooled; just sit back and accept the fact that Mafia is a heavily scripted, fully linear, story-driven shooter. While the story isn't as good as the best of the series, "Mafia II," the story of Tommy Angelo's development as a criminal is well told, albeit with a few cutscenes.

But it is important to remember that the bones of "Mafia: Definitive Edition" are nearly 20 years old. The game has been restructured with new technology, streamlined and tweaked in many ways, with more forgiving checkpoints and wider city streets. At heart, however, it is the same game and remains faithful to the cult original, especially in the structure and pacing of the missions.

Of course, it looks much better. Lost Haven is a bit empty compared to modern video game cities, but at times, especially on rainy nights, it is stunning. The period-inspired signs, fashions, and vehicles make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. Also great is the old-fashioned music playing on the radio.

And if you really want to immerse yourself in the setting, you can set it up so that driving over the speed limit, ignoring red lights, or hitting another car will result in police action. If you get caught, you get a chase and a ticket. This adds a nice layer of simulation to the city, but can be disabled if you want to gun it to the next location without worrying about being bothered by the law.

In addition to this, there are a variety of difficulty options, including a punishing "classic" mode for those who find the remake too easy, allowing the game to be customized well. There is also a free-roam mode that allows players to explore the city without being tied to a mission, fun collectibles in the form of old pulp magazine covers, and a car encyclopedia where players can test drive unlocked cars.

Whether you are familiar with "Mafia" or are playing it for the first time, this is a solid remake well worth playing. New technology doesn't hide the fact that the game is built on an 18-year-old foundation, but it's a fun, fast-paced gangster epic with great set pieces and a rich setting. There are better shooters out there, but "Mafia" does the action in style.