PAYDAY 2 GAME REVIEW

Overkill Software knows what they are doing when it comes to making millions in in-game cash by way of armed robbery, they showed us this with Payday: The Heist, and even more so recently with Payday 2. The incredible sequel takes everything you loved from the first entry and raises the bar to an eleven, maybe even twelve. New heists, new weapons, new masks, and new stories to tell your friends.

Dallas, Chains, Hoxton, and Wolf return once again at the reigns of Bain as they sweep across the city, robbing and stealing anything that isn’t bolted down to the floor. Payday is the type of series that doesn’t need an incredible story to keep you attached, this is a game all about the moments you create with your friends and the heists you’re involved in. We are introduced to a little back-story here and there however in the forms of nefarious characters to work with, such as Hector, Vlad, and The Elephant. Hector is a seedy businessman mostly dealing in cocaine and large quantities of money. Vlad is the petty gangster whose jobs more often than not turn dangerous. And The Elephant is a corrupt politician who thinks he can manipulate Bain and Crime.net.

"Payday 2","Overkill Software","505 Games"

Skill trees return once again as well with players having the option of spending cash and skill points into one of four different professions. Mastermind is the leader of the group, he specialized in group bonuses and the overseeing of the heist. The Ghost will be your ninja; this player will sneak into a heist silently, clean the place out and be gone before anyone knows you were there. The Technician is a master of electronic warfare, hacking into security and cameras to ensure the other members of the team are not caught. And finally the Enforcer, the brute of the group, this is the man you call in when you need to get loud and cause a scene. Players will find their favorite quickly, and some will mix and match skills to create their perfect armed robber. Each class will come with a unique piece of equipment to help themselves and the group out. These include the Ammo Bag, Doctor Bag, ECM Jammer, Sentry Gun, and the Trip Mines. A combination of these will be necessary to pull off a successful job.

And you can’t be an armed robber without some form of weaponry swinging at your side, right? Payday 2ups the ante this time around with more weapons to choose from and attachments galore to pimp out your gun. Everything from assault rifles and shotguns to hand cannons and sub-machine guns. Each of this has varied stats which makes the player want to choose the strongest instead of their favorite most of the time. But with a huge supply of attachments such as scopes, new barrels, and laser sights, you can make that gun truly unique and your own.

"Payday 2","Overkill Software","505 Games"

As in like the rest of Payday 2 the heists are varied. You will have the option of elaborate multi-day heists where stealth may just be your best option to make it out with the most cash. Or you can go traditional and rob a bank of its vault contents, these vaults can hold gold, money, or jewelry within the safety deposit boxes. Better bring along someone who has the saw however, picking the lock on a safety deposit box is a good way to get yourself killed. But the chance to score big is always there and always one that is nagging at the back of your mind, grab that big payday or the whole job is pointless. Many players will end up in massive firefights for that last bag.

Stealth heists are where the real money is at, but they are the most difficult. Anyone can walk into a building and force everyone to the ground as they rob everything, but it takes an artist to make it through a level without anyone spotting them, this includes the ever-watchful eye of the cameras. But after stealthily making your way through a heist where you’ve failed multiple times, some times you just want that jewelry store robbery as a vacation.

"Payday 2","Overkill Software","505 Games"

Graphically Payday 2 is a great looking game, Overkill paid attention to detail with just about everything in the game. The massive metal door to the bank vault has rivets and curves, the AI look like people and not just copy and pasted pieces of filler. Weapons are one of the most detailed things you will feast your eyes on in Payday 2. This is mostly due to the gun being the largest thing on your screen most of the time, but that isn’t bad, they all look beautiful. Attachments fit on nicely as well, keeping the sleek professional look of the weapon without making it feel or look awkward or clunky.

Payday 2 is a loud game to say the least. Gunfire blares from every direction when things get heavy in a heist and police sirens can be heard racing down the street when you set off the alarm, which is also quite loud. Being loud is not necessarily a bad thing however. It gives you a sense of urgency as you feel everything looming down upon you.

"Payday 2","Overkill Software","505 Games"

Sadly Payday 2 is not without its downside. Albeit the downside is rather small compared to the large amount of incredible and fun features and gameplay within. All too often I have failed heist because a camera or enemy guard could see through objects. I have had a guard stop midway up a staircase and look up through the wall to the floor I was on and spot me, the spotted bar goes up without any chance of returning to a stealthily hidden area. This is frustrating to say the very least, especially after trying the same level many times beforehand. Besides that one bug, I have only come across one other in the bank heist level, where a player on my team was sucked inside a wall. This caused us to fail, as we could not get him out, meaning we could not run to the escape van and complete the mission.

Payday 2 is the kind of game you pick up and never put down for weeks. Find yourself a good group to play with and you will be on it every night of the week making yourself richer and richer. I am 20 hours in in three days time with no end in sight; this is a game I will continue playing for some time, even after the upcoming major releases. Pick this up, I beg you.