Tired of being the hero? Want to unleash your inner criminal? Now you can with Payday 2. Sporting customizable masks and the original Payday gang, Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains, players conduct a rampage of crimes across Washington D.C. under the guidance of the mysterious organisation Crimenet. From heists to smuggling drugs, burning meth labs and stealing weapons, jewelry, gold and cash, you must work together to fulfil your lucrative contracts and earn the ultimate payday.
Is Payday 2 worth your payday? It depends what you’re expecting. For comparison, a casual gamer will find it quite similar to Left 4 Dead: unpolished, a little buggy, limited in content, ridiculous in replayability, and arguably a work in progress. It won’t be perfect, but it’ll definitely be a bit of fun. There isn’t really a single-player storyline, in fact the offline elements are lacking, and while Overkill added some decent live-action web episodes for background, you may wish there were more depth to the story. Keep in mind, though, this is meant to be a co-operative multiplayer experience, not a mind-blowing story arc.
Payday 2 is heavily dependent on co-op. Four players connected online to plan a heist can range from rewarding and fun to utter, complete frustration, but that’s to be expected. Every heist holds a multitude of possibilities: the escape van could pull up on one side of the bank, then next time show up in an alley down the street; getaway drivers can be shot, building layouts changed, mission objectives and guards relocated. No matter how much you plan, you’ll always have to improvise. This is where Payday 2 really kicks into gear. The dynamic levels and enemy tactics allow for immense replayability, and thrown in alongside a leveling-up mechanic, strong weaponry and customizable characters, it makes for one hell of a ride with friends. I never thought three minutes could feel so long until I was trapped in the middle of a bank fighting off fully armoured SWAT teams, screaming at hostages to get down as the rooms filled with tear gas.
I bought this new for $40, preordered for shits and giggles, and I’m relatively pleased. It may be clunky at first, with a few flaws and a lack of content, but I have complete faith in Overkill: the features, changes and additions players are asking for are being given to them free of charge. In an interview with Polygon, a developer said the studio will add missing features once they’re comfortable with the quality, which is exactly the kind of long-haul support that has since made the game a fixture.
So, is Payday 2 worth your payday? As of now, it certainly could be, and given the developers some time, it certainly will be. It’s a fun, action-packed experience I’d advise to anyone looking for a bit of co-operative play, just go in for the heists with friends rather than a polished solo campaign, and you’ll have a blast. A strong 8 out of 10.
