PAYDAY 3 Review: A Rough Draft Awaiting Finishing Touches
Exploring PAYDAY 3, an all-too-familiar heist that may have been pulled off too soon.
last updated Dec 18, 2023
Sure, there’s potential shimmering under the streetlights, but with hefty price tags on DLCs and an overarching need for a major polish, it's hard to ignore the blemishes.
Diamond in the Rough Gameplay
Diving into the world of PAYDAY 3 is like cracking a safe only to find another lock inside. Sure, the thrill of coordinating a high-stakes robbery with your crew remains intact, but the gameplay mechanics feel like they’ve been handcuffed. While the heisters among us sighed in relief that the infamous 'waiting simulator' has been given the boot, the matchmaking adjustments are like choosing between waiting in line at the bank or an appointment with the DMV – pick your poison. Attempting to tackle heists alone is akin to suggesting a solo dance routine in synchronized swimming: theoretically possible, but glaringly misguided. Starbreeze, you've made some power moves, but please, spare a thought for the lone wolves craving some quality solo heist time.
An Auditory Mixed Bag
Moving onto the beats that tickle our eardrums, PAYDAY 3 delivers a soundtrack that's as variable as the outcome of a heist with an amateur crew. While some players might nod their heads to the game's tunes, others find themselves cranking up Spotify to fill the void of mediocrity. Sounds of gunfire, alarms, and police chatter achieve adequacy but don't necessarily elevate the heart rate. It's like bringing a knife to a gunfight; it's appreciated, but you can't help but feel something bigger and louder would've been more satisfying. Hats off for the effort, but a little more bass and thematic depth wouldn't go astray in strengthening the sensory immersion of our felonious escapades.
Graphical Getaway
On the lam with the loot, players may occasionally stop to admire the game’s graphical fidelity amidst the chaos. PAYDAY 3's visuals aim to represent the gritty urban landscapes criminals call their playground. The phrase 'pleasant to the eyes' springs to mind, but occasional frame dips and performance heebie-jeebies spoil the visual feast. It’s great to see the game step up from its predecessor in the graphics department, yet the untamed aspects of performance remind you that this heist could have used some more casing. Players with older rigs have reported feeling like they're trying to haul a safe full of gold bars on a tricycle – it’s a tough ride.
The Syndicate of Server Secrecy
In a mysterious move worthy of the clandestine circles of the underworld, PAYDAY 3 demands an always-online presence. This decision cast a cloud over the community of heisters, particularly those who fondly remember the solo glories of past escapades. The constant connectivity begs the question, 'Who exactly is the fiercest adversary, the cops or the servers?' Combine this with DLC that asks for a king's ransom and you're left scratching your head, wondering if the real heist is being pulled off by Starbreeze themselves. One can only hope this choice isn’t set in stone and receives a rethink somewhere down the darkened alley of the game's lifecycle.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Starbreeze Studios
Publisher
Deep Silver
Release Date
September 21, 2023
The Verdict is In
PAYDAY 3 feels like a back-alley deal gone wrong. Sure, there’s potential shimmering under the streetlights, but with hefty price tags on DLCs and an overarching need for a major polish, it's hard to ignore the blemishes. If you’re considering this game, it might be wise to wait for a sale, or even better, further updates. The foundation for a great heist is there, but as it stands, this sequel doesn't quite hit the motherlode.
