The Mafia games have always been at their best when they focus on the people rather than the playground of the world, and the Man of Honor DLC understands this perfectly. It delivers a short but enjoyable return to the world of Mafia: The Old Country.

The DLC slots neatly into Enzo’s story during his early days as a “made man”. This time around, Enzo is sent to assist a recently released Ennio Salieri, who is looking to settle a few old scores and gather the funds he needs to head to America.

It’s a nice connection for fans of the series, and Salieri is easily the star of the show. He has the charm, menace, and general bastardry you’d expect from the future Don. The voice acting and writing do a cracking job of showing us a younger version of a character we already know.

So much so, in fact, that Enzo and company feel like they take a back seat. This is very much the Salieri show. It’s not a bad thing, but it would have been nice to see the cast a bit more involved.

Mafia Old Country Man of Honor horse racing

The two new chapters follow the same formula as the main game. They mix driving, shooting, stealth, and good old-fashioned criminal activities into a tightly scripted story.

Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time

None of it feels particularly revolutionary, but that isn’t really the point. Like the base game, Man of Honor is here to tell a story. Thankfully, it doesn’t pad things out just for the sake of it. This brings up its biggest problem: it is very short.

The main story can be finished in around two hours. The new Free Ride additions give you more things to do, including jobs, challenges, collectibles, races, and some new vehicles and weapons, but there simply isn’t a huge amount of content here.

That said, I would much rather have two enjoyable hours than six hours of filler, and Man of Honor never outstays its welcome.

Gameplay remains mostly unchanged. The shooting feels solid enough, stealth does the job, and driving is once again more about getting you between the good bits than being the main attraction.

Visually, it retains the impressive look of Mafia:The Old Country. The Sicilian countryside continues to provide some stunning backdrops, while the soundtrack and voice work remain top tier.

Man of Honor isn’t going to redefine the Mafia formula. It’s a compact side story that gives Enzo another adventure, introduces a younger Salieri, and adds a few extra toys and activities to the game. It also links The Old Country to the main series with a stronger thread.

For £8.99/€9.99, it’s difficult to complain too much, but I definitely came away wanting more. For Mafia fans, it’s well worth jumping back in. For everyone else, you aren’t missing a huge amount by giving it a pass.