Payday 3, developed by Overkill software and Starbreeze Studios, the latest installment in the popular shooter series that puts players in the role of bank robbers. But how does the third installment compare to its predecessors and fans’ expectations?
We kindly provided a Steam key for testing.
Unfathomable story
The story of Payday 3 begins after the events in Washington DC. The team, made up of familiar faces, find themselves in a new situation. An unknown force has destroyed their hard earned money. Now revenge and of course renewal of wealth is the main drive of heroes. The plot, though not particularly deep, tries to draw the player into a world full of intrigue and danger. It’s reminiscent of typical Hollywood heist films, where the narrative is conveyed primarily through still images and brief dialogue, which some players may find frustrating. Because the whole story is actually rather incoherent and run of the mill, that was never the strength of the paid parts.
small change
Payday 3 is all about heists. The game features eight different heists, each with four levels of difficulty. Each heist has its own challenges and specialties. The method can be covert or violent. Stealthy methods involve going undetected, hacking cameras, taking out guards and disabling security systems. If discovered, the player has a choice: either run away and not trigger an alarm or face the nearby police force if discovered. Just as we have known from our predecessors. The gunplay mechanics in Payday 3 have improved significantly. The weapons feel heavy and there is a satisfying response when firing. There’s a certain excitement to the actions, whether it’s disabling stacks of cash, throwing bags of money into getaway cars or frantically reloading during intense firefights. However, so far these are the small things that set Payday 3 apart from its predecessors.
Stir until reduced
Payday 3 features an impressive selection of weapons, from handguns to heavy machine guns. Each weapon can be modified and customized to suit the player’s play style. Apart from weapons, there are also various tools and gadgets that can be used in heists. The game’s skill system allows players to customize their character according to their wishes. There are different skill trees that support different playstyles, be it stealth, direct combat or support. The concept of skill trees and different weapons is a nice idea, but it quickly turns into a grind to unlock everything. Instead of progressing by completing heists, players must complete specific challenges. Unfortunately, these challenges are often not very creative. Kill X people with weapon X or use object X at least X times. Unfortunately, it seems very repetitive; There are “only” 8 scenarios available, which makes things even more monotonous. A rogue who feels evil of opportunity, adding additional content via paid DLC to milk the cash cow as effectively as possible?
Unfortunately not the state of the art
Graphically, Payday 3 represents a slight improvement over its predecessors. While the environments are more detailed and vibrant, the graphics don’t seem completely up to date. While Payday 3 has a few strengths compared to its predecessors, there are all kinds of weaknesses that let Payday 3 down. There were technical issues with the release, especially with the servers. This is especially frustrating because the game requires a constant online connection, even when playing alone. An offline mode is not available This situation angered many players soon after release. The NPCs’ artificial intelligence isn’t the best, which makes solo play a challenge. You can rarely command NPCs, money bags are not picked up independently, etc. NPCs act more as firefighting support as the situation escalates. Unfortunately we imagined it better. The matchmaking system, although it allows you to play together with other players, is not always reliable, often you find yourself in empty lobbies and have to deal with weak NPC AI.
Conclusion
Payday 3 is a game that promised great potential and was supposed to follow it up in big steps, but unfortunately it’s currently more of a crash landing. Technical issues, design decisions, a weak progression system, and non-existent AI hold it back. The whole game seems unfinished in its current state; The 8 heists are attractively designed, but they quickly become boring due to the lack of variety. It remains to be seen how the developers will further develop the game in the coming months. At this point, it offers both satisfying and frustrating moments. Hopefully, future updates will make the game what it can be: an outstanding co-op shooter.
