1. A Welcome to the Old Country: A Guide to Mastering Enzo’s Journey 👋🤠
Hey there! Welcome to our all-in-one guide for Mafia: The Old Country 🇮🇹. This awesome narrative-driven action-adventure game drops you right into 1900s Sicily. ☀️ It’s a prequel to the Mafia series you know and love, brought to you by Hangar 13 and 2K. The game is seriously beautiful, with characters that feel real and a story that’ll pull you right in. Critics have loved the story but some have found the gameplay a bit “stale.” That’s where we come in! 😎 This guide is here to help you crush the tricky gameplay mechanics so you can focus on the amazing cinematic story.
You’ll be playing as Enzo Favara, a Sicilian dude who gets mixed up with the Torrisi crime family. 🕴️ Some people say Enzo has “zero personality,” but we think that’s actually one of the game’s coolest features! He’s a blank slate 🎭, which means YOU get to decide who he becomes. He starts out as a decent marksman 🎯, a good fighter 👊, and can handle a horse 🐎. But his real personality comes from how you play him. The Charms you equip, the fighting style you pick, and the choices you make on missions—that’s what defines Enzo. Your decisions shape his journey, making this guide your best friend for personalizing the whole experience. ✨
2. The Family’s Secrets: A Deep Dive into the Charm Progression System 🤫📿
Beyond the Skill Tree: The Rosary and Charm System Explained
Alright, so Mafia: The Old Country does something super different from other games. It throws out the traditional skill tree and leveling system completely! 🤯 Instead, your character progression is all about a super cool and strategic system using Charms and a rosary. You’ll start with a basic rosary with a few slots for Charms, which are basically passive buffs that make Enzo better at stuff. You can find these Charms hidden in the world or buy ’em from vendors. This is how you’ll customize Enzo to fit your unique playstyle. 🎨
This Charm system is awesome because it gives you control in a story-heavy game. Since there are no experience points, every single Charm you find or buy is a big deal. It’s a permanent choice that affects how Enzo handles combat and stealth. You can create some seriously powerful “builds” by mixing and matching Charms. 🛠️
- Want to be a stealthy ghost? 🥷 Equip a Charm that makes your footsteps silent and another that makes your takedowns faster.
- More of a combat powerhouse? 💥 Combine Charms that boost your health and reduce weapon recoil.
You start with just a few Charm slots, so buying more slots for your rosary is one of the smartest things you can do early in the game. 💰 It makes every Dinari you spend and every Charm you find feel super rewarding. You’re not just following a script; you’re building your own legend. 💪
3. The Art of the Duel: Combat and Ranged Engagements ⚔️🔫
Gunsmoke and Guts: Winning a Firefight 🔥
Combat in this game is designed to feel super tense and dangerous. 😬 Ammo is hard to come by, so you’ve gotta be smart and tactical. Cover-based shooting is your best friend! 🙏 Always use the environment to your advantage, moving from cover to cover 🧱 to stay safe while you pick off enemies. Don’t just rush your shots—you’ll waste precious ammo. Firearms in the game have a “reach full aim” timer, so be patient. A well-aimed shot is always better than spraying and praying. Of course, there are Charms to make you better at shooting from the hip if that’s your style! 😉 The lack of ammo is there to push you to try stealth and melee, so managing your resources is key. If you’re finding it tough, you can turn on Aim Assist in the settings (even on Hard!) to make things a little easier. 👍
The Sicilian Kiss: Your Guide to Knife Duels 🔪💋
Get ready for the up-close-and-personal knife duels! These one-on-one fights are a huge new feature and they’re not about mashing buttons. Think of ’em more like a rhythm game. 🎶 You’ve gotta watch your opponent’s moves to see what they’ll do next.
- Light attacks? ➡️ You can parry those with a well-timed button press to open ’em up for a counter-attack. 🛡️
- See a “red glint” or “red glow”? 🚨🔴 That’s an unblockable power attack! You HAVE to dodge it. 🏃
- Listen up! 👂 Audio cues will often play right before these big attacks.
The secret is to find a rhythm of parrying, dodging, and striking. Don’t just spam attacks, or you’ll get wrecked. Wear your enemy down until you can pull off a brutal finishing move. And hey, if you’re finding it frustrating, there’s a “Simplified Struggle” option in the Accessibility menu that makes these duels way easier. No judgment here! 🙌
4. The Silent Vendetta: Stealth and Evasion Techniques 🥷🤫
Stealth is an amazing alternative to going in guns blazing. It saves you a ton of ammo for when things get really intense. 🔥 A smart player can clear out a whole area without firing a single shot. The most important tool for any stealth mission is “Instinct Mode.” 👀 This lets you see enemies through walls, kinda like “Listen Mode” in The Last of Us. Use it all the time to scout areas and plan your route.
When you’re taking enemies down, you’ve got two choices:
- Non-Lethal Chokehold 😴: This is totally silent and doesn’t use up any of your knife’s durability. It’s the perfect choice for stealth players trying to save resources.
- Lethal Takedown 🔪: This is for a more aggressive approach. You can even throw the Scannaturi knife for a ranged stealth kill! 🎯
A common problem in past Mafia games was accidentally punching an enemy when you meant to do a stealth kill. 😅 To avoid that, just approach your target slowly and hold the takedown button until the animation is complete. Once they’re down, make sure to hide the body somewhere! 🗑️ If a patrol finds it, the alarm will be raised. You can also use things like coins 🪙 or bottles 🍾 to create distractions and pull guards away from their posts.
5. The Arsenal: Recommendations for Weapons, Gear, and Charms 🛠️✨
Choosing Your Blade: An Overview of Knife Types 🔪
Your knife isn’t just for show! Each of the three types has its own stats, so picking the right one is a big strategic choice.
| Knife Type | Primary Function | Durability | Key Perks | Recommended Use 👍 |
| Scannaturi | Throwable Knife | Low to Medium | Vital, Aerodynamic, Honed | Perfect for stealth kills from a distance 🎯 or taking out one enemy to start a fight. |
| Rasolu | Combat Knife | Low to Medium | Vital, Honed, Light-Fingered | Awesome for melee-focused players and one-on-one fights 💥, plus a chance for instant takedowns. |
| Stiletto | High Durability Knife | High | Resourceful, Light-Fingered, Honed | Great for all-around use, silent takedowns 🤫, and opening locked loot boxes 🔓. |
We recommend the Stiletto for general use, especially if you love stealth takedowns and looting. The Rasolu is for you aggressive players who love melee, but watch out for its low durability! The Scannaturi is super versatile since you can throw it. 🎯
The Right Tools for the Job: Recommended Firearms 🔫
Knives are great, but you’ll need guns for big fights. For a trusty sidearm, the Vendetti pistol is a beast. It’s a high-caliber hand cannon that can drop enemies in just a couple of shots. For close-quarters combat, nothing beats the Lupara sawed-off shotgun. 💥 And for picking off enemies from a distance, you can’t go wrong with rifles like the Gewehr 98 or the Carcano.
Strategic Investments: Charms and Gear 💰📈
Your journey to becoming a legend is all about making smart investments. The very first thing you should buy are more Charm slots from vendors like Pasquale. They’re the foundation for every powerful build! Once you have plenty of slots, you can start collecting Charms to match your playstyle.
- For a Stealth Build 🥷:
- Fantasma: Makes your footsteps quieter. 🤫
- Abile: Makes you better at throwing knives. 💪
- Your go-to knife is the Stiletto for its high durability.
- For a Combat Build 💥:
- Brutale: Boosts your ranged weapon damage. 🔫
- Destrezza: Speeds up your weapon reloads. 🏃♂️
- The Rasolu knife is perfect for getting up close and personal.
- For a Survival Build ❤️🩹:
- Medicale: Lets you apply bandages faster. 🩹
- Perseveranza or Resistenza: Help you recover health faster, especially when you’re almost down.
- Sant’Agata: Grants you a short period of invincibility. ✨
Finally, don’t forget about whetstones! 💎 They sharpen your knives and restore their durability. They’re a limited resource, so use them wisely, especially if you rely on your blade a lot.
6. Mastering the Old Country: Advanced Strategies and Secrets 🧠🔑
The Free-Roam Advantage: A Game-Changing Trick 🤯
So, Mafia: The Old Country is a linear game, which can make it tough to buy gear during missions. But don’t worry, we’ve got a game-changing trick for you! 😉 If you’re stuck on a mission and need better gear, just exit to the main menu and select “Explore Mode” or “Chapter Replay.” From there, you can travel anywhere, like to Pasquale’s store, and buy whatever you want. Any weapons, Charms, or upgrades you buy will automatically carry over to your main story save! 🛍️➡️💪 This lets you prepare for any mission ahead of time, turning a frustrating part of the game into a fun, player-friendly experience.
Hunting for Riches: Your Guide to Valuable Collectibles 🗺️💎
Collectibles in this game aren’t just for achievements—they’re a huge part of powering up Enzo! Many of the best Charms are found as collectibles hidden in story chapters. This table will help you find them so you can always be at your strongest.
| Charm Name | Effect ✨ | Location (Chapter) 🗺️ |
| Fantasma | Dampens the sound of your footsteps. 🤫 | Chapter 4, entrance to the bandit camp |
| Caricato | Grants a greater capacity of rifle ammo. ⬆️ | Chapter 5, Ludovici’s villa |
| Abile | Strengthens your arm when throwing a knife. 💪 | Chapter 6, Giuseppe’s cell |
| Acuto | Reduces the time needed to reach full accuracy when aiming. 🎯 | Chapter 6, D’Amico’s office next to the safe |
| Medicale | Helps you apply bandages more quickly. 🩹 | Chapter 7, on a crate in a house when getting a better view of the Marquis |
| Pragmatico | Improves accuracy when blind firing or shooting from the hip. 😎 | Chapter 9, on a table in the corner of the burning factory |
| Fortunato | Guarantees more Dinari when looting. 💰 | Chapter 2, on the stairs of the wooden podium near the Torrisi tent |
Hunting for these Charms isn’t a chore; it’s a core part of your progression. By finding these, you’re directly making Enzo more powerful and ready for whatever comes next. Happy hunting! 🎉
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan work, all trademarks and copyrights for Mafia: The Old Country belong to the developer Hangar 13.
Find the game here! Official Homepage | Mafia Games
