On September 21, a decade after the release of its predecessor, Payday 3 will finally make an appearance on our screens and in our wallets. The Abaere crew spent the last week heisting, looting, and filming in Payday 3's closed beta to get ready for its debut.
In case you are not acquainted with the series, Payday 3 is a cooperative first-person shooter whereby players collaborate with three other teammates to execute complex heists. For many heists, heisters may select between a "quiet" and "loud" approach, using tools, talents, and weapons to suit their desired playstyle and team role.
I was eager to disguise myself, get back into the action, and see what Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios had to offer ten years later since I loved Payday 2, cooperative shooters, and the heists in Grand Theft Auto V.
New Dye Pack Coat
I noted right away that Payday 3's user interface and menus are more clearer and more simple than Payday 2's structure, which was admittedly a little complicated and perplexing. It's now simpler than ever to organize your loadout and launch a game with the settings you like, which is great for novice players and enhances the console experience.
One of my favorite updates to date is the integration of Perks into the Skill system. With the ability to "Ace" skills and increase their effects, players may utilize their skill points to choose the skills that best fit their loadout. You may transfer skill points without incurring penalties, and as you advance, more skills become available.
Heisters may experiment with Skills in between games without worrying about Deck constraints or having to go through several menus, all thanks to this simplified method. With 105 Skills so far, Payday 3 offers a variety of effects to accommodate a range of playstyles, team dynamics, and heist strategies.
The Wicked Never Sleep
We were only able to access one heist during Payday 3's restricted beta:
No Rest for the Wicked Something like a classic bank heist.It is completely up to you and your team how you approach this heist. It only counts that you and the rest of the group make it to the getaway vehicle with the money that was taken out of the bank's vault.You may
survey the bank to plan your attack or covertly deactivate security systems and take the required tools from guards to enter the vault without being seen if you pose as an ordinary person, unarmed, and without a mask.When I initially started playing the Heist, I made the decision to mask up right away, arming your guns and warning everyone of the guards and citizens. While my companions collected the thermite to blow a hole through the floor and enter the vault below, I concentrated on taking out the waves of guards and police.We hurriedly disabled the dye packs and moved the bags of cash from the bank to the streets, where our car was stopped by police. My allies protected me from the escalating police onslaught as I hurried to remove the bollards. We collaborated to relocate the cash to its proper location—our bank accounts—as soon as the vehicle was able to go. He remained silent the whole time.
The Way You Do Crime
Despite having a simple concept, I kept coming back to
No Rest for the Wicked, trying out different tactics with freshly acquired weapons and equipment, and using tips I picked up from each run. There's no better feeling than collaborating with others to carry off a theft, whether it goes as planned or requires adjusting to a mishandled operation.Even though I was never able to pull off a complete No Rest for the Wicked stealth run, I really enjoyed trying. I was seeking for a security switch when I ran across a guard in Casing (civilian) mode. He led me out of the restricted area and treated me like a lost client. Naturally, when a buddy chose to pull a pistol and shoot someone in the face, I had to return and murder the kind security guard, but that's just random matchmaking for you.With the Payday gang embracing modern technology, there are plenty of thrilling methods to carry out stealthy and noisy heists using devices and equipment retrieved from the Heist. Even lockpicking is made more enjoyable by a mini-game that expedites the tedious wait.
Payday 3 features much better gunplay, now on par with comparable contemporary first-person shooters. Firearms have a pleasing feel and more precise recoil when fired. In fact, with all of Payday 3's enhancements to quality of life, it was a little difficult to go back to Payday 2 after experiencing the PD3 beta.
A Surreal Occasion
Naturally, a game's sequel would look better than its predecessor after ten years, but Payday 3's landscapes are noticeably better because of Unreal Engine 4 (goodbye, Diesel).It's not a visual masterpiece, therefore I won't call it that. A few uncanny valley NPCs, some bland, plastic-looking textures, and a dearth of engaging animations for certain interactions are present. Even so, Payday 3 has a decent visual style that serves as a strong basis for its future switch from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.A recurring theme in the Payday series, masks are more stylish than ever. More customization options are available, such as the ability to apply different colors and patterns, to completely personalize a Mask. Players may completely differentiate themselves from each other thanks to comparable personalization possibilities found in weaponry, accessories, and outfits.If It's Not BrokenThere isn't much about Payday's already tremendously successful concept that needs to be changed. Payday 3 looks to expand on the positive aspects of Payday 2 and smooth out its flaws to produce an experience that will appeal to both seasoned players and those who are new to the game, instead of alienating its devoted fan base.Payday 3 has a lot of promise, and given Starbreeze's stellar post-launch support history, I have high hopes that it will establish itself as the ultimate Payday experience. Despite the fact that Payday 3 seems to have a bright future, we still have a lot of work to do and money to earn before we can render a decision.On September 21, Payday 3 will be available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5.