Payday 3 vs Payday 2 | Direct Comparison

Payday 3 vs. Payday 2: A Visual and Gameplay Comparison

Introduction to the Comparison

• The episode focuses on comparing the newly released cooperative shooter game, Payday 3, with its predecessor, Payday 2.

• Both games are played on PC at native 4K resolution with high graphic settings; upscaling solutions like DLSS and certain post-processing effects are disabled for a fair comparison.

Character Models and Design

• Payday 2 features outdated character models that appear expressionless and lack distinct personality, resembling random NPCs rather than playable characters.

• In contrast, Payday 3 showcases improved character models that exhibit more personality; for example, Wolff's disheveled appearance adds depth to his character design.

• Enhanced technical aspects in Payday 3 include higher resolution textures, subsurface scattering for skin details, and better hair rendering through hair cards compared to previous baked-in textures.

Environment and Aesthetic Improvements

• The environments in Payday 3 show significant advancements over those in Payday 2, featuring superior normal maps that provide clearer dimensions to surfaces like pavement and bricks.

• Vehicles in the game are rendered with individual components (wheels, doors), enhancing realism compared to the low-poly models of Payday 2.

Mission Complexity and Replayability

• While Payday 2 has expanded its content over ten years to include around 70 heists, it initially launched with only twelve simple missions.

• Conversely, Payday 3 starts with eight complex missions representing various heist styles but offers greater replayability due to their intricacy despite having fewer total missions.

Lighting Design Enhancements

• The lighting system in Payday 2 is criticized for its unappealing baked look; it lacks ambient occlusion and has overly aggressive shadowing that detracts from visual quality.

Visual and Design Elements in Payday 3

Graphics and Lighting

• The game features a persistent washed-out green hue, giving New York a matrix-like appearance, which affects the overall immersion.

• NPCs exhibit unnatural glowing due to limitations in baked lighting; however, some volumetric effects enhance nighttime scenes like those at the shipping yard or nightclub.

• Improved visual effects include shattering glass and debris during firefights, with new explosion effects adding to the chaotic atmosphere of gameplay.

• While there are elements of micro-destruction, such as chipping away at surfaces, more realistic destructible environments would enhance gameplay variety.

• Despite improvements over its predecessor, Payday 2's visuals have not significantly advanced since its release ten years ago.

Game Design Changes in Payday 3

User Interface Overhaul

• The user interface has been revamped from the convoluted design of Payday 2 to a more streamlined approach that sacrifices some immersion for convenience.

• Players can select missions from a list based on various crimes primarily set in Washington DC, ranging from small jewelry store heists to large bank robberies.

• A unique mechanic allows players to pay fees using their offshore account cache to access specific contracts they enjoy; these fees serve narrative purposes rather than being punitive.

• Planning menus enable players to customize loadouts and review notes but lack interactive maps or detailed mission write-ups found in previous iterations.

• Unlike Payday 2’s robust pre-planning setup, Payday 3 opts for simplicity with chronological mission selection and limited planning options.

Gameplay Mechanics Revamp

• The matchmaking process can be slow even when playing privately; players can only add one favor from their inventory per mission selected.

• In-game mechanics have been refined for tighter controls and enhanced movement abilities like vaulting and sliding compared to earlier versions of the game.

• Interaction with objects is now more immersive through mini-games for tasks like lockpicking instead of long circular prompts seen previously.

• Stealth gameplay has been improved by incorporating security tiers within environments that affect player detection based on location (public vs. private vs. secure areas).

Gameplay Mechanics in Payday 3

Stealth and Security Features

• Players have more flexibility when caught by guards; instead of an automatic alarm, guards will escort players back to public areas.

• If a player fails to respond to a guard's radio call, a new search phase begins with another guard investigating the disturbance.

• The game introduces various security barriers like QR locked doors, key cards, door codes, and power nodes that require players to engage in mini-games for access.

• Solutions for stealth challenges are randomized each playthrough, preventing memorization of item locations or codes.

• New options for dealing with NPCs include distractions and a human shield ability for easier takedowns.

Alarm System and Assault Phase

• The pager system returns from Payday 2 but now indicates how many calls can be made before triggering an alarm.

• Once the alarm is raised, the game transitions into an assault phase where police and SWAT teams attempt to thwart the heist.

• A hostage negotiation phase allows players to trade hostages for time to prepare defenses, improving upon previous mechanics.

Combat Enhancements

• Gunplay feels more polished in Payday 3; however, there is less enemy variety compared to its predecessor.

• Enemies exhibit more realistic behavior by moving in units and having specific weak spots that players can exploit during combat.

Loadout and Progression System

• Weapon progression has shifted from random unlock systems to traditional leveling up based on usage; this reduces RNG elements significantly.

• Players earn weapon modifications through gameplay rather than random draws at the end of heists.

• While unlocking attachments still requires grinding XP levels, it eliminates randomness from the process.

Infamy Level Design Choices

• The infamy level system rewards players based solely on completing challenges rather than performance during heists.

• Challenges escalate quickly in difficulty, leading to grindy milestones that may detract from mastering specific heists effectively.

Payday 3: A Comparative Analysis

Gameplay Mechanics and Skill System

• The transition from Payday 2 to Payday 3 has simplified the perk decks and skill system, resulting in a reduced number of weapons and gadgets. This change makes the current skill set feel less robust compared to its predecessor.

Audio Quality Comparison

• A brief discussion on audio quality highlights the immersive sound design present in both games, with an emphasis on how it enhances gameplay experience during heists.

Heist Dynamics and Player Experience

• The intensity of heists is underscored by player commands directed at civilians during robberies, showcasing the game's focus on maintaining control over chaotic situations.

• Players must remain vigilant as they track enemy movements and manage assaults, emphasizing teamwork and strategy in executing successful heists.

Overall Game Assessment

• The review concludes that while Payday 3 is a decent game, it suffers from significant technical issues. It faces high expectations due to its predecessor's legacy but does not fully meet them.

• Key criticisms include reduced enemy variety, a weaker weapon selection, diminished player customization options, and scaled-down immersion elements compared to Payday 2.

Final Recommendations

• Despite enjoying the eight heists available in Payday 3, server stability issues at launch detracted from the overall experience.