Soldier of Fortune: Payback
| Soldier of Fortune: Payback | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Cauldron HQ[3] |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Series | Soldier of Fortune |
| Engine | CloakNT3[4] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer[5] |
Soldier of Fortune: Payback is a first-person shooter video game and the third installment of the Soldier of Fortune game series. Unlike the previous two Soldier of Fortune games, which were developed by Raven Software utilizing the Quake 2 and Quake 3 engines, Payback was developed by Cauldron HQ,[3][6] developed with Cauldron's in-house CloakNT engine, used in their previous first person shooter game, Chaser. It is the first game of the series released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game was released on 14 November 2007.[1]
Synopsis
The player no longer takes the role of John Mullins, the hero of the first two titles in the Soldier of Fortune. In fact Payback has little in common with its predecessors except for excessive gore and violence.[7]
After 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]
Bans
Australia
On October 16, 2007, the game was refused classification by Australia's federal classification board, the Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC).[11] 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.[12][13] Activision released the modified game in Australia on February 28, 2008.[2]
Germany
Soldier of Fortune: Payback was banned in Germany, due to its high amount of violence.
Multiplayer
Up to 12 players can play online for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Multiplayer has only five maps and game modes available, such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Demolition and Elimination.
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Game Informer | 4.25/10 |
| GamePro | 3.25/5 |
| GameSpot | 4.5/10 |
| IGN | 5.9/10 |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 4.5/10 |
The game was met with mixed to negative reviews. Most critics cited the great character modelling and gore effects.
Jason Ocampo of gamespot.com[14] 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[15] scored the game a 5.5/10. Frechette said "Soldier of Fortune doesn't cross the line of being a bad game, but it hardly ever breaks the surface of mediocrity either."
References
- ^ a b "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) Cite error: The named reference "xboxworld.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ a b IGN: Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back Banned in AU
- ^ a b "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-10-10. Cite error: The named reference "AtomicGamer.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Exclusive Question / Answer Session With Cauldron". 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback game description - PC". 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ Cauldron HQ
- ^ a b http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/soldier-of-fortune-pay-back/838628p1.html
- ^ http://ca.ign.com/articles/2007/11/27/soldier-of-fortune-payback-review
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/soldier-of-fortune-payback/
- ^ http://www_gameanyone.com/game/PS3/803.html
- ^ Soldier of Fortune Gets Refused Classification After All | Kotaku Australia
- ^ IGN: Soldier of Fortune: Payback Gets AU Classification
- ^ OFLC Happy With New 'Soldier Of Fortune: Payback' | Kotaku Australia
- ^ http://gamespot.com/
- ^ http://1up.com/