"Mafia 3" from 2K Games is being pitted against "Grand Theft Auto" by Rockstar Games. To say the least, "Mafia 3" is a current popular newsfeed feature, but not always for good reason.
The recently released "Mafia 3" from 2K Games is getting middling-good reviews on aggregate site Metacritic. Unfortunately, "Mafia 3" is also getting flak for some of its content, specifically on its key thread on race.
Had a chance to tear through the Bayou in #Mafia3 yet? What have you found? pic.twitter.com/g3fGQDK3Cj
— Mafia Game (@mafiagame) October 13, 2016
"Mafia 3" is under fire for how the Irish community has been decided to be represented and to what ends. The idea of an open-world crime game generating controversy as "Mafia 3" as accomplishing now is nothing new (here's looking at "Grand Theft Auto").
Learn more about the world of New Bordeaux in this footage recovered from a secret U.S. Senate hearing! #Mafia3https://t.co/QktSWWgZ4M — Mafia Game (@mafiagame) October 13, 2016
Critics of "Mafia 3" are particularly unhappy with its portrayal of the political situation in Northern Ireland and the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The IRA is a group that used "political violence" (a euphemism for "terrorism") to achieve the goal of unifying Ireland as a republic.
During its years, many suffered from the actions of the IRA. From the average person to members of the British government and the British Royal Family, the IRA has had its share of negative history.
The Mirror reports that the "Mafia 3" mission "IRA Don't Ask" has the player steal cars for the IRA's bombing missions. The "Mafia 3" player will work for a fictional Irish mobster named Thomas Burke.
Of the things most found offensive about this "Mafia 3" mission, are depictions of the Irish flag with the word "traitor" scrawled on it. Although there is no doubt that crime was instrumental in the IRA's clandestine operations, what is seen as particularly upsetting in "Mafia 3" is what some see as "trivialisation".
Some would argue that the evolution of games into rich story telling devices puts them in a separate category. In the said category are the early "Grand Theft Auto" games with their borderline cartoonish satire of American culture.
The "Mafia 3" mission issue is reminiscent of the film plot involving the IRA in 1997's "Devil's Own," which starred Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, received criticism from Pitt himself about its content. The protests against the "Mafia 3" mission reflects on the game's unfavorable user score on Meta Critic.
Mafia III is currently available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. 2K Games released "Mafia 3" on October 7, 2016.
