Payday 3

The Story of Payday 3 seems to have received mixed reviews from critics. Some reviewers, such as Press Start Australia, Screen Rant, and SpazioGames, appreciated the novel setup and engaging premise that the story provides. These critics found the backdrop of the gameplay to be solid and enjoyable, offering a good foundation for the heist simulation experience. Additionally, IGN France highlighted the familiarity of the heist simulation experience with new additions and characters, which could appeal to fans of the series. On the other hand, several critics, including God is a Geek, Metro GameCentral, and Noisy Pixel, expressed negative opinions about the story of Payday 3. They criticized the narrative for being minimal, uninspired, and lazily put-together. The use of static images, unfinished cutscenes, and obnoxious dialogue in the storytelling elements was deemed as underwhelming and lacking in depth. Game Rant and TheGamer went as far as to describe the story as bare-bones, with the latter stating that it feels pointless, indicating a lack of meaningful engagement with the narrative. Overall, the general consensus among critics is that the story of Payday 3 is not a major highlight of the game. While some appreciated the premise and backdrop it provided for the gameplay, others found it lacking in depth and creativity. Critics like Daily Star and But Why Tho? focused more on the cooperative gameplay and heist mechanics rather than the overarching story. It is evident that the storytelling aspect of Payday 3 may not be its strongest suit, with a significant portion of reviewers pointing out its shortcomings in terms of narrative depth and execution.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Payday 3 highlight several positive aspects. Critics such as Areajugones and GameSpew praise the engaging shooting mechanics and improved gunplay, making the gameplay more enjoyable when things go awry. Daily Star and Vandal appreciate the extensive customization options and notable improvements in controls, weapon mechanics, and stealth mechanics. The emphasis on cooperative gameplay with friends, various approaches to heists, and the inclusion of new mechanics like modern movements and negotiation options are also commended by critics like Jeuxvideo.com and SpazioGames. On the other hand, some critics express concerns and negatives about the gameplay of Payday 3. Gamereactor UK criticizes the AI as incompetent and mentions a miserable gameplay experience with bots, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Noisy Pixel points out the limited content at launch with only eight heists available, potentially leading to repetitiveness for players. Game Rant and But Why Tho? highlight issues such as unclear objectives, stiff movement, and lackluster enemy AI, which can impact the excitement and immersion of the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among critics is generally positive towards the gameplay of Payday 3. While there are some criticisms regarding AI behavior, content variety, and certain mechanics, the majority of reviewers appreciate the game's engaging shooting mechanics, extensive customization options, immersive cooperative gameplay, and the diverse approaches to heists. Critics like Generación Xbox and Wccftech highlight the game's ability to offer players freedom in planning and executing heists, with a mix of stealth and action approaches that require teamwork and strategic planning. Despite some minor flaws, the overall sentiment suggests that Payday 3 delivers a satisfying and enjoyable gameplay experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

In terms of positives, several critics praised the impressive visuals and diverse level design of Payday 3. Critics like Jeuxvideo.com on both PS5 and Xbox Series X highlighted the visually appealing experience delivered by Unreal Engine 4, with dynamic environments and color palettes creating an immersive atmosphere. Twinfinite also commended the revamped graphics thanks to modernized engines, noting that each location had its own unique characteristics. Press Start Australia on PC appreciated the visually dynamic heist locations that built their own atmosphere and ambience, adding to the overall experience of the game. On the negative side, some critics pointed out various issues with the graphics and visual design of Payday 3. God is a Geek on PS5 mentioned that the environments lacked detail, NPCs shared faces, and the visuals felt too clean, failing to capture the imagination. Vandal on PS5 criticized disappointing character designs, basic lighting, subpar effects, and stiff animations, although they acknowledged the well-crafted environments. Game Rant on Xbox Series X noted immersion-breaking graphical mishaps despite highly detailed maps with destructibility. GameStar on PC highlighted concerns from the community about the lack of significant differences in graphics compared to the previous game, indicating a potential lack of innovation in the visual department. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Payday 3 is mixed. While some reviewers appreciated the improvements in visuals, diverse level design, and immersive atmosphere created by Unreal Engine 4, others raised concerns about issues such as lack of detail in environments, disappointing character designs, and graphical mishaps that detracted from the overall experience. IGN France on PC praised the solid visuals and performance improvements from the predecessor, while The Games Machine on PC noted that while the visual aspect of the game is appreciable, optimization issues need to be addressed. This indicates that while Payday 3 has made strides in its visual presentation, there are still areas that could be further refined to enhance the overall graphical experience for players.

The Sound Design and Music of Payday 3 have received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Several reviewers praised the game for its impressive audio design and soundtrack. SpazioGames and Generación Xbox highlighted the epic soundtrack and recognizable weapon sounds that enhance the heist experience. The Loadout specifically mentioned Gustavo Coutinho's score, praising it for delivering rich basslines and engaging tracks. PC Invasion and Press Start Australia appreciated how the music and sound design intensified the immersive experience during intense moments, with Press Start Australia noting the thumping electronic soundtrack's contribution to the high-octane nature of shootouts. On the flip side, some critics pointed out shortcomings in the sound department of Payday 3. GameSpew and Twinfinite both mentioned issues with audio, with GameSpew noting that story scenes played without any sound, and Twinfinite experiencing a lack of audio in cutscenes. Vandal criticized the sound effects and voice acting, stating that while the soundtrack was energetic and added to the gameplay, other aspects were lacking. Wccftech's review highlighted the noticeable absence of music in certain parts of the game, with the few tracks present feeling repetitive and fading into the background, suggesting that more effort could be put into the background music to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards the positive side regarding the Sound Design and Music of Payday 3. While there were some issues highlighted by critics such as Twinfinite and Wccftech regarding audio inconsistencies and repetitive music, the majority of reviewers, including SpazioGames, The Loadout, and TRG, appreciated the immersive and tension-building qualities of the sound design and music. The general sentiment is that the audio elements, when functioning correctly, effectively enhance the gameplay experience, adding depth and excitement to the heists and shootouts in Payday 3.

The voice acting in Payday 3 received mixed reviews from critics. Some positives highlighted by reviewers include the improvement in voiceovers compared to previous entries, as mentioned by Game Informer. This suggests that there has been some effort to enhance the quality of the voice acting in the game. Additionally, the availability of English voice acting, as noted by IGN France and Vandal, is a positive aspect for players who prefer playing in English. On the negative side, several critics pointed out significant drawbacks regarding the voice acting in Payday 3. God is a Geek mentioned that the voice over in the cutscenes sounded bored, indicating a lack of enthusiasm or engagement in the performances. Noisy Pixel also highlighted issues with voiceovers in cutscenes, mentioning that they sometimes don't work due to bugs, which can disrupt the player's immersion in the game. Furthermore, the absence of in-game voice chat, as pointed out by multiple critics including Jeuxvideo.com, is a notable downside, especially for a cooperative-focused game where communication is crucial. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards a more critical view of the voice acting in Payday 3. Screen Rant's opinion of subpar voice acting compared to previous entries aligns with the sentiments of other critics who highlighted various issues such as lack of enthusiasm, bugs affecting voiceovers, and the absence of in-game voice chat. While there are some positive aspects like the availability of English voice acting and potential improvements in voiceovers, the overall sentiment suggests that the voice acting in Payday 3 falls short of expectations and may detract from the overall gaming experience for some players.

In terms of technical performance on the PS5, some critics highlighted positive aspects such as stable graphics performance. PlaySense noted stable graphics performance, while Generación Xbox praised smooth performance, 4K resolution, and 60fps gameplay on Xbox Series X. These comments suggest that the game can deliver a visually appealing experience on these platforms. However, the PS5 version of Payday 3 faced numerous technical issues according to critics. Issues included server crashes, matchmaking problems, audio problems, frame rate drops, and bugs affecting gameplay. Critics like GameSpew, Metro GameCentral, and Noisy Pixel specifically mentioned these problems, with Metro GameCentral pointing out serious frame rate issues and bugs since launch. These technical issues significantly impacted the gaming experience on the PS5. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Payday 3 suffered from a multitude of technical problems across all platforms. The game was plagued by server issues, matchmaking problems, frame rate drops, audio glitches, and bugs. Critics like GameStar highlighted catastrophic server situations on PC, while Areajugones and Twinfinite mentioned matchmaking issues and audio problems on PS5. The general sentiment is that the technical performance of Payday 3 was subpar at launch, with improvements needed to address the various issues raised by reviewers.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Payday 3 are quite varied. Several critics, such as Areajugones and The Loadout, praise the extensive customization options and the promise of ongoing updates as enhancing the replay value of the game. Additionally, critics like Generación Xbox highlight the numerous options and possibilities within the game that prevent players from getting bored quickly. Jeuxvideo.com also commends the high level of replayability due to randomized elements in each playthrough and the over 100 skills available for customization. On the other hand, criticisms from critics like GameSpew and Metro GameCentral point out the limited number of heists available, which may lead to players quickly growing tired of playing the same missions on repeat. IGN France and NME also mention concerns about the lack of substantial new content and repetitive gameplay, with NME specifically noting the game's lacking content compared to its predecessor, Payday 2. GamingTrend highlights potential repetitiveness, especially when playing with strangers, and the issues with solo play due to matchmaking problems. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the replay value of Payday 3, such as the addictive gameplay loop, deep customization, and potential for future updates as noted by critics like Wccftech and TRG, the general consensus leans towards the game having limitations in terms of content variety and depth. The mixed opinions suggest that while some players may find the game engaging and replayable due to its customization options and diverse objectives, others may feel that the lack of content, repetitive gameplay, and limited number of heists hinder its long-term appeal. As Stevivor points out, the game is seen as having the potential for future content updates, indicating that improvements could address some of the current concerns and enhance the overall replay value of Payday 3.