Payday 3 Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been itching to rob a vault for the best part of a decade or so now. Because let’s face it, Payday 2 doesn’t quite itch those same scratches like it used to, and I’d only be fooling myself if I said I had plenty of enthusiasm left in the tank to rerun those same old maps for the millionth time. No, that ship had sailed a long time ago, and I for one knew that it was time for something fresh—a new bank to hustle my way into; a new series of heists to undertake with a fresh-faced crew of mask-loving bandits. And thankfully, that’s when Starbreeze Studios rolled up to introduce Payday 3. Finally.

It’s been a long time coming, a third installment in the Payday series, and I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who’s been on the edge of my seat ever since Starbreeze made the initial announcement a little ways back. But alas, it’s here, and sure enough, the time has come to throw ourselves into yet another series of unlawful events. Let’s talk Payday 3, fledgling thieves.

Back in the Saddle

Returning to the core of the iconic training room in Payday 3 was like coming home after a decade-long hiatus — nothing was particularly out of the ordinary, and most things, bar a couple of trinkets, were in the exact same place I had left them back in 2013. Did this come as a slight surprise? Sure. Did it also spark a sudden sense of deja vu? Absolutely. But then, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed in the fact that, you know, nothing really felt all that different.

Payday 3 is broken down into scenarios, with each one possessing some form of team objective that needs completing in order to move on to the next. But of course, while the secondary objectives remain mostly the same in each level, the main goal is pretty much the same as it always has been: loot the vault, and make way for the exit. This is the bread and butter that the latest chapter in the series adheres to like glue, so again, there’s nothing particularly different as far as gameplay goes. But then, that isn’t to say that it’s an exact replica of the first or second—or even a Payday 2.5, even. Truth be told, it does have its own identity, even if it does take several hours of running the same old motions to unmask it.

It is worth pointing out here that, while Payday 3 does indeed have its few wild cards, visually, not a whole lot has changed. In fact, if I had to compare it to anything, then I’d say that the thing that comes closest, really, is Payday 2. And that’s a ten-year gap, too, so there’s definitely reason to feel a little shortchanged here.

Gearing Up

As it stands, there are eight stages to sift through in the Payday 3 campaign, all of which can be tackled in any order you see fit. Well, technically, you can tackle them in any order, but the cutscenes between each level only unlock by completing the appropriate heist. So, while you can jump right to the end, it isn’t to say that you should, as you’ll essentially miss out on the entire story. But more on that later.

Starting out in Payday 3 isn’t all that different this time around, as it goes, so those who’ve slugged through the first two chapters will likely feel right at home with this one. There’s a loadout screen, a vendor, and a series of challenges — and that’s about it. Simply put, your goal is to earn IP by completing heists, and then using your accrued cash to purchase better weapons, cosmetics, and equipment. Surprise surprise, if you’re able to acquire more bags of cash in a match, then you’ll ultimately have more freedom to flesh out your inventory before the next round begins.

After dealing with the Matchmaking system—an obstacle unto itself that likes to play hooky with the average player, you’re immediately thrown into the outskirts of the joint in question. Your goal, really, is to decide whether or not to take the stealthy road, or throw caution to the wind and go in all guns blazing. Either way, the goal still very much remains the same: make your way to the vault, and whittle down any feds you spot along the way. Sounds easy on paper, for sure — but try telling that to the other players on the team. Sheesh.

When the Going Gets Tough

Don’t get me wrong, I honestly believe that the lion’s share of the actual gameplay is a great deal of fun. But boy, after you’ve successfully managed to loot the vaults and make way for the exit, that, my friends, is when things start to get brutally tough. And when I say tough, I’m mostly referring to the Sam Fisher imposter who has the power to fly kick you into oblivion and deplete your entire health bar in a single swipe. Oh, and then continue to stomp on your soon-to-be corpse for the sake of, I don’t know, sowing its sadistic oats. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said this didn’t bother me in any way shape, or form.

As it turns out, Payday 3 likes to unload its big guns right at the end, just as you’ve managed to load up on cash and paint the bank crimson red in hostages’ guts. It’s within this final section, unfortunately, that you’re pretty much told to nut up or shut up, and then booted out of the door to an ocean of bullets and haze. Entertaining, in ways, but surprisingly difficult—even at the lowest difficulty. Who knows — maybe I’m just not cut out to be a bank robber. Either that, or I’m just no match for the roundhouse-kicking ninja who patrols the borders at the worst…possible…moments.

Having said all that, there is something awfully satisfying about actually scooting into the sunset with a bag loaded to the brim with diamonds and cash. It doesn’t happen very often (cheers, Sam Fisher), but when it does, it somehow makes all of that failure all the less painful and even, weirdly enough, tolerable. For this reason alone, I always felt the urge to go back; I wanted that high.

Cooperation Is Everything

Like a lot of multiplayer games, there’s always a chance that you’ll wind up with that one player who’s frustratingly greedy, and is, annoyingly, often hell-bent on biting off more than they can chew. Unfortunately, as Payday 3 is in fact a team game, this does mean even a single player can compromise the mission or impede your progress. It doesn’t help, either, that you also need to have your entire team at the extraction point to be able to escape and complete the level. This, for me at least, meant having to withstand a wildfire of oncoming bullets while one player often chose to run amok in search of the final bag. Again, frustrating—more so when three other players are pulling their weight and ready to progress further into the campaign. But you know — swings and roundabouts, I guess.

Of course, it’s all fun and games, being able to run the same motions thrice over until you’ve finally managed to secure a team that’s capable enough of pulling off a smooth heist. But then, there really are so many times you can put down the same thermite and loot the same vault before things start to become a little, well, monotonous. It’s a learning curve for everyone, though, so I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Verdict

I won’t beat around the bush here, but waltzing back to the deadlocked doors of a security-riddled bank felt good. Sure it might’ve been ten or so years since I last had the opportunity to feel that same sense of excitement, but boy, it was certainly worth the wait. And yeah, it may not look as aesthetically pleasing as it probably could’ve been, but that isn’t to say it’s a bad game. It’s a little dated, sure, but there’s definitely a lot to love here — and that counts for something.

Positives set aside, there is something that lets Payday 3 down — and that’s the Matchmaking issues. Truth is, the devs put up one too many roadblocks in front of the actual game; having to create a Nebula account, and having to wait for certain issues to fix themselves before giving you the freedom to just play the darn thing. Admittedly, this did dampen the mood ever so slightly, and often left me wondering whether I should have been spending my time and money elsewhere, and not, for example, perched over a broken lobby waiting for something—anything to happen.

Of course, it’s still early days yet, so I’m willing to give Starbreeze Studio the benefit of the doubt, if only for a couple of weeks or so. But as for whether or not I’ll be coming back to experience those same eight levels again, well — I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on the fence.