Lost Heaven

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lost Heaven is ruled by two major mafia families—the Salieri family and the Morello family—who fight for control over the city's rackets in the wake of the demise of a third mafia family. Alongside these groups, the city features a variety of smaller street gangs. The story follows taxi driver-turned-mobster Tommy Angelo as he rises and falls within the Salieri crime family. Key locations include Don Salieri's bar, the city's airport, a museum, a church, a hotel, an abandoned prison, and restaurants. The police department enforces laws, booking players for minor offenses like speeding or running a red light, and serious offenses like physical assault or visible display of a weapon. Four successive minor offenses qualify as a serious offense. Police force increases with the severity of the player's disregard of the law, eventually forming blockades with tire spike strips. Weather changes and day/night cycles are in use, though missions take place at a set time with fixed weather.

In Their Own Story

In 1930, taxi driver Tommy Angelo is forced by Paulie and Sam, two members of the Salieri crime family, into helping them escape an ambush by the rival Morello family. Tommy is compensated and offered a position in Don Salieri's organization. He initially refuses, but when the Morello family puts a hit out on him, Tommy joins Salieri's crew. In 1932, Tommy enters a relationship with Sarah, the daughter of Salieri's bartender, after protecting her from street thugs. On Salieri's orders, Tommy and Paulie retaliate against the gang, but learn their leader was the son of a powerful, corrupt politician. Tommy later bombs a brothel for switching loyalties to Morello and lets an informant—Sarah's friend Michelle—go free. In 1933, after surviving a police raid on their bootlegging operation, Tommy discovers Frank has turned over evidence of money laundering. Tommy allows Frank to leave the country with his family and retrieves the evidence. In 1935, after Tommy saves Salieri from an assassination attempt, open war is declared on Morello. Tommy assassinates the politician and Morello's brother Sergio, then guns down Morello as he tries to flee the city. By 1938, Tommy, Paulie, and Sam discover a shipment of diamonds Salieri was hiding. Tommy and Paulie rob a bank without telling Salieri. Paulie is murdered, and Tommy kills Sam after learning Salieri ordered their deaths. Tommy goes into hiding, contacts Detective Norman, and testifies against the Salieri family in exchange for a reduced prison sentence and protection for his family. After serving eight years in prison, Tommy is reunited with his family under witness protection. Years later, Tommy is killed on his front lawn by two hitmen on Salieri's behalf.

Reader's Guide

Mafia is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering of Developers. It was released for Microsoft Windows in August 2002, and later ported to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004. The Windows version received critical acclaim for its complex narrative and realism, while the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions received mixed reviews. Gameplay consists of driving—including city cruises, chases, and races—and third-person on-foot navigation and shooting, all interconnected with cutscenes. Detailed interiors include the city's airport, a museum, a church, a hotel, an abandoned prison, restaurants, and Don Salieri's bar. 51 cars around the city can be driven, plus nineteen bonus cars (five racing models) unlockable after the main mode. Cars are based on real-world cars from the era, renamed and redesigned due to trademark issues. The game features comprehensive damage physics on nearly all vehicles, including real-time deformation, the ability to puncture the fuel tank, overheat the engine, and break transmission gears. Exterior components like windows, tires, headlights, and bumpers can be removed. Finishing the main storyline unlocks 'Freeride Extreme' mode, which includes stunt jumps, side quests, and no police patrols. Side missions range from carrying packages or killing gangsters to chasing an alien spaceship or driving an explosive-rigged truck at a certain speed. The game launched the Mafia series, beginning with Mafia II (developed by 2K Czech, released August 2010). Hangar 13 developed Mafia III (October 2016), Mafia: Definitive Edition (September 2020), and Mafia: The Old Country (August 2025).

Did You Know?

• The overall size of Lost Heaven encompasses around 4.63 square miles (12.0 km²).
• 51 cars around the city can be driven in Mafia, plus nineteen bonus cars (five of which are racing models) unlockable after the main mode.
• The city's design is inspired from real-life American cities of the period, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
• Police book players for minor offenses such as speeding or running a red light, and four successive minor offenses qualify as a 'serious' offense.
• Freeride Extreme mode includes side missions like chasing an alien spaceship or driving an explosive-rigged truck at a certain speed.