Jump to content

Soldier of Fortune: Payback

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Soldier of Fortune: Payback
Developer(s)Cauldron HQ[3]
Publisher(s)Activision
Producer(s)Jozef Hudec
Designer(s)Martin Hornák
Programmer(s)Marián Suran
Artist(s)Ľuboš Lednár
Composer(s)Juraj Karkuš
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • NA: November 13, 2007[1]
  • EU: December 7, 2007
  • AU: March 19, 2008

Xbox 360
  • NA: November 13, 2007[1]
  • EU: December 7, 2007
  • AU: April 23, 2008[2]

PlayStation 3
  • NA: November 20, 2007[1]
  • AU: March 5, 2008
  • EU: April 11, 2008
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer[4]

Soldier of Fortune: Payback is a first-person shooter video game and the third installment in the Soldier of Fortune franchise, following Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix. It is the first game in the series released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game was released on November 13, 2007.[1] The storyline revolves around a revenge plot against a global terrorist organization.

Unlike the previous two Soldier of Fortune games, which were developed by Raven Software using the id Tech 2 and id Tech 3 engines created by id Software, Payback was developed by Cauldron HQ.[5][6]

The game received tepid to mostly negative reviews, with critics noting that while the visuals were appealing, the gameplay was uninspired. As with the previous games in the series, Payback featured detailed character modeling and gore effects. Due to its high level of violence, the Office of Film and Literature Classification in Australia refused to classify the game. Following the ban, a modified version was released on April 23, 2008,[2] which removed extreme violence and dismemberment.

Plot

[edit]

After freelance mercenary Thomas Mason (Kyle Hebert) is betrayed by his comrade during a mission, he vows revenge against a global terrorist organization whose operatives are all marked with the same tattoo on their necks.[7][8][9][10]

Development

[edit]

The game was never originally intended to be based on the Soldier of Fortune license. It began as a budget title developed under the working name Mercenaries Wanted. A few months prior to its release, Activision saw potential for a full-priced launch and decided to brand the game under the existing Soldier of Fortune franchise. Most of the connections to the previous entries, particularly the game's cutscenes, were created at the last minute in an effort to tie the story to earlier titles.[11]

John Mullins, the protagonist from the previous games, was initially intended to appear as a mentor or partner character who would work alongside Mason throughout the narrative. Mullins was supposed to reveal that years of combat and the aftermath of the second game had turned him into a greedy, bloodthirsty figure, ultimately leading to his betrayal of Mason. However, for unknown reasons, Mullins was removed from the final version of the game. In his place, a similar-looking character named Colonel Miller was introduced, though the betrayal plotline involving Mason was retained.[12]

Reception

[edit]

The game received negative reviews. While most critics praised its character modeling and gore effects, they criticized the gameplay and overall execution. Jason Ocampo of GameSpot gave it a score of 4.5/10, stating, "This shooter is a great exercise in pattern memorization and trial-and-error gameplay." He also remarked that it "looks pretty." Jay Frechette of 1Up.com rated the game 5.5/10, commenting, "Soldier of Fortune doesn't cross the line of being a bad game, but it hardly ever breaks the surface of mediocrity either."

Bans

[edit]

On October 16, 2007, the game was refused classification by Australia's federal classification board, the Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC).[22] This effectively banned the game throughout Australia, as video games that 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.[23][24] Activision released the modified game in Australia on April 23, 2008.[2]

The original version was placed on the index of Germany's Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM)[25] even before it was officially released in the country.[26] It was subsequently banned nationwide.[27]

A censored version was briefly listed on Steam.[28]

Soldier of Fortune: Payback was also banned in Iraq due to its high level of violence.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d GameSpot Staff (November 8, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune, MOH: Airborne golden, dated". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Kozanecki, James (April 21, 2008). "AU Shippin' Out April 21-April 25: Mario Kart Wii". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  3. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". October 13, 2007. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  4. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback game description - PC". October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  5. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Confirmed by Activision". atomicgamer.com. October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  6. ^ "Cauldron HQ". Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2007.
  7. ^ "GameSpy: Soldier of Fortune: Payback - Page 1". Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  8. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review - IGN". November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  9. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  10. ^ http://www_gameanyone.com/game/PS3/803.html[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback aka: Mercenaries Wanted". Moby Games. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  13. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  16. ^ Goldstein, Hillary (November 27, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review [PC]". IGN. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Ocampo, Jason (November 28, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Whitehead, Dan (January 4, 2008). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  19. ^ Semel, Paul (November 20, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback review". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  20. ^ Stratton, Bryan (November 29, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  21. ^ jkdmedia, GameZone (November 27, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Soldier of Fortune Gets Refused Classification after All". Kotaku Australia, kotaku.com.au. October 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  23. ^ "IGN: Soldier of Fortune: Payback Gets AU Classification". November 22, 2007. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
  24. ^ "OFLC Happy With New 'Soldier Of Fortune: Payback'". Kotaku Australia. November 22, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  25. ^ Andreas Ludwig (December 6, 2007). "Soldier of Fortune: Payback: Sonderfall: In Deutschland bereits indiziert!". Gameswelt (in Austrian German). Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Benjamin Jakobs (December 7, 2007). "SoF: Payback wurde indiziert". Eurogamer (in German). Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  27. ^ District Court Amberg, Decision of June 17, 2008; File No.: 102 UJs 1987/08 – "Soldier of Fortune: Payback", PDF
  28. ^ "Soldier of Fortune: Payback - Schnittbericht: (Deutsche) Steam Version". Schnittberichte.com (in German). March 12, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Soldier_of_Fortune:_Payback&oldid=1299349056"