Soldier of Fortune: Payback

 Xbox 360
Soldier of Fortune: Payback Image
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

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  • Summary: Soldier of Fortune Payback evolves the signature gameplay of its predecessors with refined controls, tension-packed warzones, and an enemy damage system that may be shocking to even experienced FPS players. Boasting more weapons options than any previous Soldier of Fortune installment,Soldier of Fortune Payback evolves the signature gameplay of its predecessors with refined controls, tension-packed warzones, and an enemy damage system that may be shocking to even experienced FPS players. Boasting more weapons options than any previous Soldier of Fortune installment, Soldier of Fortune Payback's impressive arsenal includes an array of more than 30 weapons including sub-machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, projectile explosives, weapon attachments and cutting-edge tactical weapons. The game features many of players' favorite online multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Elimination, Team Elimination, Capture the Flag, and Demolition. Additional online options include maps tuned specifically for multiplayer action, persistent stat-tracking throughout the gamer’s online career, and many server settings for custom online play. The storyline reflects the practice of "outsourcing" wars. When a routine escort mission goes horribly wrong, freelance mercenary Thomas Mason finds himself battling an insidious enemy that knows no boundaries. Traditional armies can not handle these extremists – only underground guns for hire can fight a war this dirty and get results. [Activision]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 35
  3. Negative: 10 out of 35
  1. PGNx Media
    72
    Is Soldier of Fortune: Payback a bad game? No, not really. It's a rather enjoyable (if simple) and good looking shooter. It's just that there have been so many amazing playing and looking games in the past few months, that Payback can't compare in comparison.
  2. IGN
    61
    Soldier of Fortune: Payback has one thing going for it: excessive dismemberment. Everything else is standard stuff for a shooter. Yet, I must admit, that I get a guilty pleasure playing Payback. Though it's not a good game, it's still fun to see body parts fly.
  3. Planet Xbox 360
    58
    If you are a complete demented whack job, hey, this might be the game for you but for those looking for solid gameplay via both SP and MP, Soldier of Fortune: Payback is not worthy of a rent let alone a $60 purchase.
  4. Extreme Gamer
    53
    The best thing Activision could have done is discounted the price making Payback closer to a budget title. At the current price point, I can’t recommend Solider of Fortune: Payback for anything more than a rental.
  5. GamerNode
    50
    It's very obvious Raven had nothing to do with this game, and longtime fans of the series will notice in the first 20 minutes this isn't close to what the first Soldier of Fortune was. Who knew that gratuitous violence could be made boring?
  6. GameSpot
    45
    This shooter is a painful exercise in pattern memorization plus frustrating trial-and-error gameplay.
  7. Game Revolution
    16
    The essential problem with Soldier of Fortune: Payback is that it tries very hard to appear realistic while trotting out silly gameplay mechanisms. It’s hard to tell if it’s a serious shooter covering the military side of contemporary politics, or a parody.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 5 out of 13
  1. Richdag
    Dec 3, 2022
    10
    So much fun, heads exploding makes you just feel more badass than it should
  2. Jay
    Nov 25, 2007
    8
    I think this game is great. A refreshing change to everything else thats out right now. You dont get tired of shooting enemies like you do in I think this game is great. A refreshing change to everything else thats out right now. You dont get tired of shooting enemies like you do in most other fps's. OK the framerate is a bit dodgy sometimes and you get a tad of slowdown but you forgive it. You get to choose yr weapons before each level and the enemys sneak up on you and hit hard from time to time. Gives you a feel of being a bad ass commando. Like it… Expand
  4. TimW
    Feb 21, 2008
    8
    I bought this game reading all of the bad reviews and it's not as bad as they say. The single player is pretty bad in the beginning but I bought this game reading all of the bad reviews and it's not as bad as they say. The single player is pretty bad in the beginning but as you progress it gets better. The one thing I like is the multiplayer. Its very fun and if you want to take a break from cod4 then this is a good alternative. The gore is really funny and entertaining and if you don't want it then you can turn it off in the menu. All in all the single player is mediocre but the multiplayer is good… Expand
  5. BigDaddyDavee
    May 27, 2008
    6
    This game isn't as bad as people have made it out to be. I agree that it is definately unfinished, has poor framerates at times and does This game isn't as bad as people have made it out to be. I agree that it is definately unfinished, has poor framerates at times and does nothing new at all. It is however, fun. The shooting mechanic is very tight and the graphics are good.… Expand
  6. TMind
    Oct 20, 2017
    6
    Well is the first game of the series i played. The history is rather secondary and empty in the beginning but started to get good later on.Well is the first game of the series i played. The history is rather secondary and empty in the beginning but started to get good later on. The gameplay is rather good, point and shoot and move... if you stop you die. Easy enough to understand how to play.… Expand
  7. ChadC.
    Nov 16, 2007
    4
    Pretty mediocre shooter other than the dismemberment it really doesnt have much going for it. Dont get me wrong seeing someone get there head Pretty mediocre shooter other than the dismemberment it really doesnt have much going for it. Dont get me wrong seeing someone get there head shot off by a sniper in Team Deathmatch was pretty satisfying after that youll get the feeling of claustaphobia because the levels are so tiny and theres only a select amount of weapons to choose from. I hate to say it but sierra should let this series die, theres to many great shooters out there dont buy this not so good very repetitive game im mad i did. … Expand
  8. ablindkid
    Nov 6, 2011
    2
    A sheer disappointment in comparison to Double Helix. It's generic and unpolished. To make things even worse, the developer decided to stripA sheer disappointment in comparison to Double Helix. It's generic and unpolished. To make things even worse, the developer decided to strip away the interesting and unsettling gore systems of the last two games in favor of buckets of faking looking blood and limbs that fly off and subsequently disappear.… Expand

See all 13 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
97
#97 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007