Summary
- Payday 3 improves on its predecessor with smoother movement and greater player mobility, including the ability to vault, mantle, and slide.
- The gunplay in Payday 3 feels better and more responsive, with a revised selection of weapons that have a satisfying kick and the addition of hitmarkers.
- The stealth mechanics in Payday 3 have been overhauled, allowing players to use gadgets, carry and push civilians and guards, and remain undetected even with loot bags, making for more professional heists. The AI for both civilians and enemies has also been improved, with more realistic and responsive behaviors.
With Payday 3 finally hitting the hands of players, comparisons can be made to Payday 2, and whether the game commits itself to an evolution of one of the best heist games of all time. Payday 3 has done so many things right in comparison to Payday 2, and the game really can be seen as a product of modern growth, development, and care, Payday 2 veterans will really be able to see the difference.
Thanks to the revised systems and the years of development from Payday 2, there are plenty of things that Payday 3 does better than the previous games, for solo players or otherwise. Not only are the graphics far smoother and stylized, but the gameplay and the mechanics within are in top form thanks to the change from the Diesel game engine to Unreal Engine 4.
5 Player Mobility
Movement feels a lot less stiff in Payday 3, and players have greater freedom of mobility. When it came to Payday 2, players were very limited in terms of movement. They could sprint and walk around, but that was pretty much it. Players could easily fall to great heights or find themselves stuck with an inability to climb.
With Payday 3, the sprinting feels faster and smoother, and players can now vault and mantle. The movement and mobility are far greater in Payday 3, especially the grand act of sliding. Players can move around through combat and stealth to a far greater effect.
4 Better Gunplay
The movement of the player goes hand-in-hand with the gunplay. Players have a much greater sense of action thanks to the revised mechanics and balancing of the weapons in Payday 3. Although the selection of guns may be more limited than the arsenal of weapons available in Payday 2, that just means each gun is personal, and packs the kick that players need to face off against police assaults and special enemy types.
Guns feel a lot better and more responsive. Not only are the hitmarkers a satisfying addition to Payday 3, but the added layer of armor to the enemies makes for a greater experience. Firing guns feel great in Payday 3, and it’s noticeable when players are wielding a kicking shotgun or a rapid SMG. Guns feel different, and players can no longer use shotguns like sniper rifles like they did in Payday 2.
3 Smoother Stealth
The stealth in Payday 3 is far more revised and beneficial to players. Stealth feels great in Payday 3, and when players exit Casing Mode and mask up, they will find great pleasure in heisting with silence on their side. Players can use their gadgets to place tiny cameras on guards and walls to watch out for targets. They can also explore vents and close doors.
The best part about this new level of stealth in Payday 3 comes from the fact that players can now carry and push civilians and guards. Instead of relying on body bags, players can carry their victims somewhere safe from prying eyes, where they will not be seen.
2 Casing Mode Mechanics
Stealth is certainly a superior product in Payday 3, and part of that comes from the new mechanics that players can partake in with Casing Mode. In Casing Mode, Payday 2 players were limited to simply walking around and tagging guards and cameras if they had the right skills. Now with Payday 3, players can do far more than just that in Casing Mode, and no longer have to restrict themselves to a walking spectator of crime until things go loud, and then it's time to get the best assault rifles.
In Casing Mode, players can open doors, lockpick, use gadgets, and even pick up loot bags. This means that players can remain undetected, even with a bag of stolen cash on their backs whilst in Casing Mode, making for some more professional and casual heists. However, players can still be spotted in Casing Mode when they are committing some illegal or suspicious activity, so it’s not all smooth sailing for players.
1 Civilian And Enemy AI
The AI is far more responsive in Payday 3. Players can expect a better level of intellect from both the civilian characters and the enemies that they fight against. When it comes to civilians, they are far more scared of the Payday crew, and they won’t just stand there as if they are pondering their next course of action. They will react accordingly and will put their hands up if the player aims a gun at them, or they will flinch and get to their knees so that players can tie them up without worrying about them calling the police or running for the hills.
Even better than the civilian AI is the enemy one, in which a variety of police and specialized enemies will be responsive to the actions of the player. They will get to cover, attempt to flank, and generally go above and beyond to try and take the player out. The revised special enemy types make for a more challenging experience when it comes to combat, and they will focus on hostages, loot bags, and controlling the situation to prevent the player from winning.
Payday 3 is out now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.