Mafia Star: Mafia 3 and MindsEye on Racism in the First and the Flop of the Second

In a conversation with VideoGamer.com, Alex Hernandez opened up about embodying the protagonist in Mafia III—a role he’d jump at the chance to revisit. He also offered his perspective on the game’s treatment of racism and the characters’ defiance against it.

“The second I get the call, I’m straight into the motion-capture suit. Playing Lincoln Clay is one of the top three experiences of my career. Bill Harms’s storyline is phenomenal.”

“What truly stood out was how the game delves into racism in America—past and present.

Countless players of color told me, ‘Man, I can’t even explain how empowering it felt to lynch a corrupt white politician.’”

Hernandez had previously spoken about MindsEye, in which he also starred as the lead, lamenting its subpar quality (development woes, critical reception). While he, as a gamer, was disappointed by the bugs, he praised the collaborative atmosphere and the chance to influence the project with his input.