https://wccftech.com/mafia-definitive-edition-classic-difficulty/

Most open-world games don’t tend to be particularly difficult, but the original Mafia was definitely an exception. The rules governing the game’s world were more grounded than something like Grand Theft Auto, with the police getting on your case for the slightest infraction. Developer Hangar 13 is toning that challenge down for Mafia: Definitive Edition, but they’re still looking out for old-school fans with “Classic” difficulty. While Classic difficulty won’t be quite as tough as the original Mafia, it will offer a more old-school feel, with relentless cops, fewer driving assists, and other early-2000s vintage touches.

Here’s a few more details about Mafia: Definitive Edition’s Classic difficulty: