Opinion: Games and Literature – Part 1: Mafia II

 

Unless a videogame is based on an already existing franchise, or a specific portion of such, we automatically assume that its story has been crafted in its entirety by the developer. Titles such as Max Payne 3 or Mafia II have been praised for their ingenious storytelling and character development by numerous members of the games media as well as other industry professionals. However, while elaborating on specific characters and their actions, many have neglected to evaluate these stories in their entirety. And by doing so, many have also failed to realise that both Max Payne 3, and Mafia II, are in fact adaptations of stories that have been familiar to the human race for hundreds of years.

The reasons for such maybe numerous, as many who are in charge of critical dissection of videogames simply overlook such notions due to rushing, which comes with strict deadlines, or simply lack the knowledge outside of the gaming medium in order to make such connections. Either way, they’re not to blame, as nobody is perfect. However, even now, years after the initial release of both titles, it is important to showcase that even the most thrilling and captivating stories presented by videogames, might have a much more daedalian origin that one may assume.

Mafia II and How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy

As of today, Mafia II is over five years old, and most are already looking forwards to the recently announced sequel, Mafia III. In fact, some already consider it to be gaming’s antique, as its sole existence on the last-generation of consoles (and PCs) makes it inaccessible to some. However, rewind the time by five years, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by masses of people who are raving maniacally about the main-plot of the title. Mafia II was an instant hit, because it portrayed a story of Vito, a small time gangster who was just a pawn in hands of his betters. It was an alternative to other representations of the La Cosa Nostra, as it concentrated on an individual who was pursuing this type of illicit employment to get by, rather to gain an unimaginable amount of power over the criminal underworld.

When in control of Vito, players were able to experience the life of a Mafiosi who unlike The Godfather’s Michael Corleone, lived just above the poverty line, breaking into jewellery stores and slinging cigarettes of the back of a truck. And giving the player the ability to experience the life of a criminal who doesn’t bathe in the light of financial and social splendour allowed Mafia II to excel to heights which were deemed unreachable by others. But if you look past the frontal facade of the title, you’ll see that Mafia II tells an extremely simple story about greed, and human need of materialistic expansion, a story that Leo Tolstoy has told in 1886.

Leo Tolstoy is mostly known for extensive and profound works such as War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. However, in his time he has also written a number of short stories which today are considered by many to be literary classics. One of his works, How Much Land Does a Man Need?, while not being as popular as the others, was definitely experienced by a much wider audience. And this is because, Mafia II is simply an adaptation of this particular work of Tolstoy.

 

How Much Land Does a Man Need?, tells a story of a farmer named Pahom, who spends entirety of his short life in pursuit of a financial nirvana. Step by step he amasses, to some, unimaginable fortune through luck and seemingly bulletproof investments. But while his wallet is flourishing, he himself is steadily running his life into ruin. The rat race which he enters with the help of the devil himself, turns him into the antagonist of his own life, as everyone except for a single employee turns his/hers back on him. And after reading this, you might think that you’ve seen a story like this before, and you’re not wrong, as the main themes of How Much Land Does a Man Need?, and Mafia II are unsurprisingly alike.

When you first gain control of Vito in Mafia II (past the prologue), you’ll instantly experience the poverty which surrounds both him and his family. And similarly to Pahom, Vito, is persecuted by the local gangster, who is endlessly pressuring him into making payments which does not seem to have an end. And the only way in which he’ll ever be able to pay off the ‘enforcer’, is by accepting the help of the devil himself, which in Mafia II is depicted by the La Cosa Nostra. Yes – Mafia II, unlike How Much Land Does a Man Need? doesn’t feature supernatural elements, however, The Devil and La Cosa Nostra present both protagonists with the same opportunities which ultimately lead them down the spiral of suffering and despair, which itself is camouflaged with financial gain and social superiority.

While in pursuit of immense wealth, both protagonists hit a proverbial brick wall which temporarily stagnates their progress. In Mafia II, Vito is sent to prison for the crimes he has committed, whereas Pahom becomes  a victim of endless harassment and victimisation from fellow farmers, which in a way is a punishment for the crimes he has committed against them. However, both protagonists quickly recover, and are instantly back on track towards their ultimate goal, which in both instances is financial superiority.  Actions which both men take are increasingly extravagant, as they both want recuperate the losses caused by the previous events.

Pahom makes increasingly risky decisions, which see him migrate around the entirety of Russia in  pursuit of a more lucrative farming investment, whereas Vito moves from small time hustling, onto racketeering, and enforcement. But ultimately both men are faced with an optimal ‘business‘ opportunity which can allow them to amass a fortune big enough, to finally end their financial worries. However, the perfect investment that seemed to be a dream come true, have led both men to their demise. Greed which guided them for such an extraordinary amount of time has finally taken its toll, and  engulfed everything they held dearly. Their friends and families abandoned them, their fortune disappeared within a blink of an eye, and the only thing that was left, was The Devil (La Cosa Nostra) himself.

The use of How Much Land Does a Man Need? by 2K Czech, whether purposeful or  accidental, shows us that it’s not necessary to spend countless hours trying to craft an original story as human history is full of inspirational works, fictional and otherwise, which can allow developers to craft powerful and captivating experiences. However, while adapting a work of another, it is also necessary to remember that the adaptation itself doesn’t need to follow the original work in every possible way, and that there is enough room for writers to include their own spins, and turns in order to make the story of the game truly unique. And second part of this series will discuss how Rockstar Games, have done just that with Max Payne 3, back in 2012.