Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review for PC

System: X360, PS3	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Cauldron	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Activision	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 14, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Mature	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Weapons are powerful and plentiful. The game features just about any kind of gun you can imagine with the exception of a water pistol. Shotguns, assault rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers come standard in this game. Ammo isn't unlimited, and when it's not easy to find, it's impossible. That means you'll come across some really interesting weapons only to find that you can't use them to your heart's content simply because you'll have nothing to shoot out of them. Not to worry.

Soldier of Fortune: Payback screenshot

You won't find yourself without some kind of weapon since you can always scavenge them from the fallen A.I. All of the weapons that I tried were responsive and accurate. Position the reticle, and fire away.

Online multiplayer mode accommodates up to 12 players, though you can play it with as few as two people. It features the run-of-the-mill fare such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag. We've all been there and done that. These online modes are typical and don't even incorporate the single-player's mode most prominent feature. There is a total lack of gore, the one outstanding characteristic of the single-player mode. Further to my picky, precious tirade, I did experience some latency. It didn't make the modes unplayable, but it was annoying nonetheless.

Stock animation generates the same A.I. moves over and over again. This redundant theme is further exacerbated by the gameplay which, despite changing environments, doesn't differ from mission to mission. It's a matter of taking out the bad guys and moving on. The entire game can be played in a day. I don't recommend this game for the multiplayer component, but simply for the fun of the tasteless violence. To that end, I can only recommend Payback as a rental.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

Features:

Built to harness the power of next generation- Featuring an incredibly realistic modeling system allowing for accurate hit detection and detailed damage modeling.

Enemies will not only react to the specific area they've been hit but also to the power of the weapon they've been hit with.

One of the most lethal collections of weapons ever assembled - Over 30 of the baddest weapons including sub-machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, projectile explosives, weapons attachments, and futuristic prototype weapons.

The world's most dangerous hotspots- Players will find themselves thrown into authentic mercenary situations in real world hotspots around the globe. Survive and ambush and rescue a diplomat, infiltrate a terrorist organization, go on a search and destroy mission, and much more.

Enemies around every corner- High intensity combat situations where players will need to take down over 15 unique enemies including terrorists, mobsters, insurgents, enemy soldiers and more.

Online multiplayer- Play your favorite individual and team based online modes including death match, team death match, elimination, team elimination, capture the flag, and demolition. Additional online options include maps tuned specifically for multiplayer action, (no comma) and persistent stat tracking.

Compelling new storyline- When a routine escort mission goes horribly wrong, players find themselves battling an insidious enemy that knows no boundaries. As mercenary Thomas Mason, players will need to uncover and terminate an extremist plot aimed at throwing the world into global chaos.

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

Graphics
The environments are good, but the stock animation is repeated often.

4.8

Control
Solid control system. Some latency online and invisible barriers stop your projectiles.

3.2

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Average in every way. After a while the gunfire just becomes a drone.

2.2

Play Value
Generic online modes. Nothing special. Short single-player mode.

2.6

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.