Mafia 3 Review

I feel the need to say that Mafia 3 is different. When I say different, I mean if you had an expectation based off previous games or what's on the market, then you will be disappointed.  In Mafia 3, developers did not shy away from controversy of Post Vietnam 1968 such as resentment for war veterans, communism, and racism.

Story
The story centers around Lincoln Clay a former decorated black ops soldier.   The story isn't full of revenge like some game reviewers mentioned.  Mafia 3's story is more about social commentary that you can see in the main campaign or overhear from NPCs roaming the streets and forest of New Bordeaux.  One thing I like about each mission is before you wack a captain, Capo or General, you can overhear conversations about world events such as Dr. Martin Luther King or President Kennedy's assassination, slice of life events NPC share with their gang, or even stories about your reputation among the syndicates and crime lords. There is a sense of connection and how everyone or thing has a place in this world.

Family
Make no mistake this is not a kids game! Mafia 3 earned its Mature 18 rating.  There are graphic sex scenes, prostitution, racketeering, drug use, human trafficking, collectible playboys and nude paintings that capture all that we image on what being part of a crime family is like.  Playing off how everything is connected, I wanted to touch base with how you build a crime family in the game. There is a familiar open-world free roaming and consequence of choices gameplay that Grand Thief Auto fans will appreciate.

Once the act of betrayal was committed in the first mission of the game, Lincoln Clay is hell bent on revenge and taking over the southern Mafia of Louisiana.  In Lincoln's quest to make a wrong a right, he has an ally in a high place known as John Donovan.  John is CIA agent that worked with the J. Edgar Hoover administration to create a lot of chaos domestic and internationally.  John helps Lincoln by supplying him with information on who is on the hit list as well as allies that are needed to maintain control of New Bordeaux.

As Lincoln dives into the crime world, he makes a three powerful friends, Cassandra, Burke, and Vito that will aid him.  His 3 friends later become his lieutenants that help Lincoln run the territory he seizes as he takes over the city.  Each lieutenant has a perk that you can use to help in your journey to take over the family.

Calling in favors
As you build your crime empire, you can gain perks from each Capo you are on good terms with known as calling in favors.  Favors vary from:
Tapping phones lines to know who rats on you
Backup in a gunfight
Deliver and deposit cash
Refills or order new weapons
Reduce police rating/heat

Don't Betray Your Allies
Some sub-bosses perks/favors are better than others such as calling off the heat or calling for a crew to help you in a fight, so stacking those perks will be beneficial but have the cost of losing allies. There is a way to keep everyone happy and territory assigned fairly, but when you get greedy or snub your nose at one sub-boss problems will happen.  If you streamline your workflow with perks and territory assignments to one lieutenants, then your other two sub-bosses/lieutenants will get mad and try to put a hit out on you. Once you go to war with a sub-boss you lose all the perks you had and you're on your own with who you picked.

Graphics
Developers really checked all the boxes that GTA created with an open world infrastructure. Driving around and exploring New Bourdeaux took me to places I never seen in video games such as diverse downtown bathing houses, swamps filled with gators and river boat casinos.  Being from that areas myself, I thought developers were spot on with the local color.

Combat
If you're a high volume gun battle Call of Duty player, then Mafia 3 is not the game for you.  There is a standard array weapons such as high powered rifles and ammo, but the most useful strategy is drawing from Lincoln's black ops background and being stealthy.  Sometimes you can save yourself a long battle by scouting the area, whistling when enemies are close and stabbing them.  The cover system is familiar but functional.  When the cover system doesn't glitch out it is perfect for achieving objectives.  That being said, sometimes you will experience oops moments that will you exposed and vulnerable.  Luckily, the AI in the game lack a sense of self preservation or team work, so you can think on your feet and get the job done.

Overall
Like I said early, Mafia 3 is its own game and it's not like anything else on the market.  I will give the game some props for addressing social injustice issues from 1968 that were left unresolved and escalated into 2016.  The game went there, and it made you look at America for the first time as a developing nation that gets more done when we diversify and work together.  I give Mafia 3 a 9/10.  It's not perfect, but I feel it is a step in the right direction for story, combat, and graphics.

Is Beyonce's New Video "Formation" too Politically Charge? - See for Yourself

With an expected stellar appearance at Super Bowl 50 from the world's best living performer, Beyonce, she has taken an opportunity use her celebrity to address America's social injusitice and hate made towards her family.

Beyonce's new video Formation alludes to the city of New Orlean's history—from visuals that conjure the free Creole women to Hurricane Katrina and her daughter.  The video opens with the clip features shots of Queen B lying on top of a sinking New Orleans police cruiser as well as a graffiti’d wall that says, “Stop shooting us.”

There’s also a scene of a black child in a hoodie dancing in front of a line of police officers in riot gear. At one point a man holds up a newspaper called “The Truth” with an image of Martin Luther King Jr. on the front page captioned, “More than a dreamer.” Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce’s daughter, also appears in the video.

The video is viewable for now. so click on it below.  You know the tidal and Youtube war will have the video gone in a minute.  I never understand why you have to pay for what used to be free?  To me the social media is free advertising by fans that help drive demand for consumers to make purchase.

Beyonce on September Issue of Vogue

For the highly sought after September Issue cover of Vogue, Beyonce Knowles-Carter takes the fashion world by storm. In this month's issue, Beyonce captured a little of her Sasha Fierce take charge personality revealing a firm body with a mix of flirty sexy, sophistication and beauty.

In order to capture the beauty that is Beyonce, Vogue contracted the famous fashion photographer, Mario Testino.  Testino mentioned, "my inspiration for the shoot was to capture the innocence and romanticism that is Beyonce."

For the photo shoot, Vogue spared no expense.  On the issue, Beyonce wore a $12,000 embellished gown by Marc Jacobs with a $4800 sequined coat.

There is a rumor that she is juggling a few secret projects that may involve a new album, movie role or even a baby.  Either way I feel this is one of the best covers I have ever seen for Vogue.

As usual, critics are questioning why a pop-star is on the cover of a fashion magazine?  To answer your question, Beyonce is influential and has the most pull/power in the entertainment industry. Beyonce won over 20 Grammys, net worth is over $400 million and a cultural icon.  There should not be a question of why Beyonce is on this month's cover. The question is why she hasn't earned the job like Lauren Hutton who has appeared on Vogue's cover over 20 times.

A Lesson in Why Women Love Power, Leaders and Control

Some say you can't learn anything from a video game world that is filled with fantasy, but the Witcher 3's writing had a lot more on life lessons then few thought.  My favorite scene from the Witcher 3 was when the Emperor asked Geralt the status of the one task he gave him to complete. Geralt's answered sarcastically that no he hadn't gotten to it. The Emperor said Geralt's assignment was important, but he had real problems like ruling a nation, waging war, and controlling the economy/trade to manage.  

The scene that followed was Geralt asking Yennifer, his kindred, why didn't she stand up for him since she had the Emperor's ear as his sorceress.  Yennifer replied "I won't indulge your pride for the price of insulting a rich and powerful man". The Emperor is kind and merciful b/c he wants to be liked by his people, but he doesn't have to be either kind or merciful.  Yennifer knows the Emperor is being kind to Geralt out of respect to her. Yennifer struggles to keep Geralt in the royal court because Geralt doesn't know the etiquette of the political world nor understands the ramifications of conflicting with powerful people.  Geralt is a wild man with rare powers that citizens find useful, but he doesn't understand society or social structure.  With one word from the Emperor, Geralt's life and career can be ended.  Yennifer's conflicting interest in both men leave her in a difficult position.

Geralt sees that Yennifer views the Emperor's power and value higher than him, and treats the two men in her life very differently as a result. Yennifer's perspective on the importance for both men is not about wealth and class, it's solely about maturity. Geralt is hot-headed, runs his mouth when insulted, and overall immature and lacks respect for authority.  The Emperor is educated on socializing, articulate his ideas without causing arguments in a debate, mature and respectful b/c Yennifer views Geralt's magical skills as valuable to her objectives. She is using both men, but both men use her as well for their objectives. It's a powerful story. Geralt sees that Yennifer knows the Emperor controls a lot of the world and is influential to the events that will transpire by his orders and leadership of the new world after the war. As a journeyman, Geralt understands that he can only control and influence himself.  For the first time in Geralt's 200+ years on Earth, he learns his place. 

Geralt is aware that Yennifer is trying navigate through society and put herself in a better position to have a better life.  Yennifer spent the first centuries of her life in the woods as an outcast, now she wants to be in the royal court as an respected lady of the court.  Yennifer cares about the way people view her, and she wants to use her connections to gain power and leverage.  She cares about Geralt as a friend and values his friendship, but at the same time she doesn't want to let Geralt's lack of maturity and refinement be the reasons she is held back in society.