Soldier of Fortune: Payback is a first-person shooter video game and the third installment of the Soldier of Fortune franchise, following Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix. It is the first game of the series released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game was released on November 13, 2007.[1] The game involves a revenge plot against a worldwide terrorist organization.
| Soldier of Fortune: Payback | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Cauldron HQ[3] |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Producer(s) | Jozef Hudec |
| Designer(s) | Martin Hornák |
| Programmer(s) | Marián Suran |
| Artist(s) | Ľuboš Lednár |
| Composer(s) | Juraj Karkuš |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
| Release | Microsoft WindowsXbox 360PlayStation 3 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer[4] |
Unlike the previous two Soldier of Fortune games, which were developed by Raven Software using the id Tech 2 and id Tech 3 engines developed by id Software, Payback was developed by Cauldron HQ.[5][6]
The game was met with tepid, mostly negative reviews, with many saying the game looked pretty but the gameplay was uninspired. Like the other two games in the series, Payback had great character modelling and gore effects. Owing to the level of violence, the Office of Film and Literature Classification of Australia refused to classify the game. After the game was effectively banned in Australia, a modified version was released on April 23, 2008,[2] that removed radical violence and dismemberment.
Plot
editAfter freelance mercenary Thomas Mason (Kyle Herbert) is betrayed by his comrade during a mission, he swears revenge against a worldwide terrorist organization that brands all of its operatives with the same tattoo on their necks.[7][8][9][10]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 45/100[11] (PS3) 50/100[12] (X360) 50/100[13] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Eurogamer | 3/10[16] |
| GameSpot | 4.5/10[15] |
| GameSpy |    [18] |
| GamesRadar+ | [17] |
| GameZone | 6/10[19] |
| IGN | 5.9/10[14] |
The game was met with negative reviews. Most critics praised the character modelling and gore effects. Jason Ocampo of GameSpot scored it a 4.5/10. He claimed that "This shooter is a great exercise in pattern memorization and trial-and-error gameplay." He also said it "looks pretty". Jay Frechette of 1up.com scored the game a 5.5/10, saying, "Soldier of Fortune doesn't cross the line of being a bad game, but it hardly ever breaks the surface of mediocrity either."
Bans
editOn October 16, 2007, the game was refused classification by Australia's federal classification board, the Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC).[20] This effectively banned the game throughout Australia as video games which have been refused OFLC classification cannot be sold, advertised or imported. Activision modified the game to meet OFLC standards and it was re-classified with an MA15+ rating. This version does not include radical violence; dismemberment has been completely removed.[21][22] Activision released the modified game in Australia on April 23, 2008.[2]
Soldier of Fortune: Payback was banned in Germany due to its high amount of violence.
References
edit- ^ a b c d GameSpot Staff (November 8, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune, MOH: Airborne golden, dated". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
- ^ a b c Kozanecki, James (April 21, 2008). "AU Shippin' Out April 21-April 25: Mario Kart Wii". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". October 13, 2007. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback game description - PC". October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". atomicgamer.com. October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- ^ "Cauldron HQ". Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2007.
- ^ "GameSpy: Soldier of Fortune: Payback - Page 1". Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review - IGN". November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ http://www_gameanyone.com/game/PS3/803.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ Goldstein, Hillary (November 27, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review [PC]". IGN. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Ocampo, Jason (November 28, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Whitehead, Dan (January 4, 2008). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Semel, Paul (November 20, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback review". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Stratton, Bryan (November 29, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ jkdmedia, GameZone (November 27, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Soldier of Fortune Gets Refused Classification after All". Kotaku Australia, kotaku.com.au. October 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
- ^ "IGN: Soldier of Fortune: Payback Gets AU Classification". November 22, 2007. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- ^ "OFLC Happy With New 'Soldier Of Fortune: Payback'". Kotaku Australia. November 22, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.