Payday 2 - Nintendo Switch Edition Reviews
The performance issues, missing content, and brain-dead AI are simply inexcusable.
Payday 2 is a very competent FPS game that allows you to tackle it in just about any way imaginable. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Nintendo Switch version, the price, performance and the fact that content is lacking behind versions that have been out for years will only make it worth purchasing for gamers who are desperate for a new FPS on the go.
Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch will not revolutionize the genre, but it's a very good porting, except for some technical issues and no voice chat at launch. An enjoyable cooperative FPS, so far.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Payday 2 remains a unique experience in the FPS genre thanks to its subject matter and dedicated approach to team work. And while quite a bit has been said about how this Switch version isn't up to date with all the content released on other platforms, the package doesn't feel incomplete or even light on material as there is still lots to do.
If you can look past the steep entry fee and have no other platform to play it on, this will probably do. Otherwise, you're better off picking up one of the other versions, since offline play and portability are not much of a benefit for Payday 2 on the Switch.
For those who have a dedicated group to play with online there are hours worth of fun to be had overcoming the more difficult challenges. However, If you'll need to rely on random players the fun can only go so far without any form of communication. And if playing solo is your only option, I'd highly suggest thinking twice because quite frankly playing alone is not very much fun at all.
As a newcomer to Payday 2, my time spent descending on Washington DC to start a crime spree has been filled with as much genuine laughter as it has with successful heists. While the whole experience can feel more than obtuse, those that take the time to learn the gameplay mechanics that underpin it will soon find this a game that’s worthy of the endless hours that they will spend with it. It’s a shame that performance niggles readily detract on occasion, but with a little more spit and polish, I am sure that anarchy can reign once more with hindrance.
A rather dated proposition in 2018, one that’s made worse by some eyebrow-raising omissions and a baffling AAA price tag.
If you’ve never played Payday 2, the Switch version has plenty of content (50 missions) to keep you busy solo or with friends. No online voice chat is a bummer, so you’ll have to use your phone or something like Discord to strategize with your friends – unless of course you play locally! If you have access to Payday 2 on other systems, you might be better off served there. It all depends on what your priorities are. No matter what, expect a fun time!
This game sometimes feels like it doesn't belong on the Switch because of its online focus that requires voice chat, but there is one strength of the Switch which Payday 2 utilizes perfectly well: local multiplayer. Payday 2 encourages interaction with your friends, and it would be the perfect game to high five your friends for a job well done or punch that one friend who likes to go all "Leeroy Jenkins" to blow a sneaking heist. Otherwise, when you are playing online with strangers, it will just ultimately feel like you are playing with better AI CPUs. The main people who I could recommend this game to are the ones who intend on buying it in groups with their friends for either local or online play. If your only option is to play this game offline, then you should just steer clear of it. The AI just doesn't help much, and you will have to do all of the boring bits such as breaking locks or hacking computers by yourself. In the end, I found the music to be lacklustre and the gameplay just wasn't enough to hold my attention. There was far too much waiting involved in the heists. If there was any game which outstays its welcome, this one is it. In the end, I'm going to give it a 6.0/10. It's not a bad game, but some questionable design decisions hold it back from realizing its full potential.
Moreso than almost any title I’ve played on the Switch Payday 2 is absolutely only as good as you and the people you’re playing with make it. Stripped to its base experience it isn’t hard to see the issues creep up, and they can be a bit of a bummer. That said, if you and your crew are committed to playing things smart, making effective use of your time, and working together to complete the phases of the mission it can really be a blast and offers an experience like nothing else on the system.
Painfully hurt by the lack of voice-chat capability on the console, Payday 2 is nevertheless a decent port of the game on the Nintendo Switch, with close to complete amount of DLCs from previous platform, and one hell of a fun experience playing with friends locally.
"Miles behind its PC brother."
Review in Finnish | Read full review