Soldier of Fortune: Payback

 Xbox 360
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 35
  3. Negative: 10 out of 35
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  1. GameSpot
    45
    This shooter is a painful exercise in pattern memorization plus frustrating trial-and-error gameplay.
  2. Official Xbox Magazine
    45
    At a full $60, there's absolutely no reason to touch this with a ten-foot-pole, especially with so many other, better shooters on the market in this record-settingly awesome holiday season. [Jan 2008, p.62]
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  3. Game Informer
    43
    Activision is far too good of a publisher to unleash a game this poor onto the unsuspecting public. Fans of the series should skip this horrid excuse for a shooter and keep their glowing memories of previous Soldier of Fortune battles intact.
  5. Armchair Empire
    40
    Instead of concentrating on a single-player and at least making it competent, the team had to split resources and make a haphazard multiplayer feature as well.
  6. X-ONE Magazine UK
    40
    A contender for one of the dirtiest games of the year, Payback is two parts uninspired garbage and three parts loading screen. [Issue 28, p.98]
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  7. GamingTrend
    40
    If a quick and dirty deathmatch is something that appeals to you, go for it, but be warned. Soldier of Fortune: Payback is very shallow and at best is a budget game, and there are far more compelling shooters out there.
  8. Edge Magazine
    40
    Soldier of Fortune’s damage model is probably its major selling point and, lamentably, the only thing that makes its combat entertaining. [Feb 2008, p.96]
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  9. GameSpy
    30
    A thoroughly uninspired piece of hack work that gives you plenty of reasons not to buy it. Pick any one you like and save yourself the sixty bucks.
  10. GameShark
    16
    A hackneyed premise that flirts with the same issues of terrorism examined in scores of other shooters hardly makes an impact here.
  11. 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.

Awards & Rankings

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

User Reviews

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User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 24
  3. Negative: 11 out of 24
  1. 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.… Full Review »
  2. FuzY
    Dec 17, 2007
    6
    I've always been a fan of the SoF series for it's 'mindless' gameplay. By that I mean it's like those movies that I've always been a fan of the SoF series for it's 'mindless' gameplay. By that I mean it's like those movies that you just switch off and enjoy. If you've been playing some story heavy games recently like I have then Soldier of Fortune is a good way of clearing your head (no pun intended!). Graphically it seems unfinished as some areas just seem to lack any texture - like faces and weapons - where as other areas look quite nice. The controls seem a bit sluggish at first but can be helped by turning the sensitivity up. With all the great shooters on the 360 at the moment SoF will be easily lost in the crowd but if you see it preowned or discounted (like I did) it's worth a look and should entertain for a short while, as long as you don't take it to seriously.… Full Review »
  3. 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. … Full Review »
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