One of the major concerns of Mafia 3 is its inherent theme of racism that was widely criticized by many at first. But after several weeks after its official debut, it appears that fans are now raving the game as it brings cathartic delight over racism especially with the use of violence. Now, fans are at a dilemma as to how they should feel about the game entirely.
Mafia 3 Racism and Violence
Several hours into Mafia 3 and you'll notice that racism is rife throughout the entire game as it takes you into a perspective of a black person back in the early 60s. As you look through the eyes of Lincoln Clay, you'll ponder upon the suffering of black people way back in the past which somehow reverberates up to the present.
For a person that had experienced racism before, one can easily get emotional and attached to the main protagonist as he struggles to fight for survival in a world full of inequalities and biased judgments. In the game, you'll notice how color separates you from the society which basically leads to your vehement desire to fight with violence.
Mafia 3 gives you the freedom to fight racism and oppression with violence which, a lot of people find cathartic. One critic, Terence Wiggins, even blatantly said: "unlike real people, Lincoln handles racism with force... I'm not going to say it's not cathartic. Having an NPC say to me 'What are you going to do, nigger?' and Lincoln slitting his throat, stabbing him in the chest, and throwing aside his body as if it was trash is extremely cathartic."
Although most people would find relief over resolving oppression with violence and force, not everyone agrees so. Chris Plante from The Verge expressed his opinion about the game. He said: "Mafia III isn't, on its purest level, a game about race, it's a game about killing and controlling people." He pointed out that although the game's main points are to fight against discrimination and inequality, the character is still responsible for mayhem that affects innocents as well.
Conclusion
It's true that Mafia 3 is surrounded by mix reviews and criticisms over its plot and storyline but the bottom line is that, racism still and will continue throughout generations. It doesn't stop simply because the law says no. It persisted because it's cultivated within the minds of the people. Apparently, some people still create diversity through their eyes.
Mafia 3 simply emphasizes the inequality between colors and how an ordinary black person is treated by the society in the past. Although racism has somehow diminished over time, it's undeniably clear that it still exists today and the game simply gives us something to ponder upon - albeit the resolution mostly ends with violence.
