::Nominated for 2016 Best Use of a Farm Animal::

Old review is contained at the end for reference.

The main issue of less than consumer friendly microtransactions has been remedied, so that point in my old review is no longer valid. What does remain the same is the DLC model. It gets harder and harder to tell someone to pick up this game, in reality you can be very effective with minimal amounts of DLC, I would personally say only two really matter: Armored Transport and the Courier Pack. It does not help a player feel involved when the bulk of the firearms are DLC locked to them.

Do I play this game? Yes
Do I want to play this game with my friends? Yes
Do I encourage them to buy it? No

XXXXXX Previous review below XXXXXX

I have logged 811 hours of time in this game.

And I have loved every minute of it, the DLC model while frequent, is one of the most consumer friendly models in the game. When a new map comes out, not everyone has to have it, if for example I own Big Bank, and you do not, that is fine, I will host the heist and you can play with me. This small step in DLC is incredible for the gaming community.

Slowly though the game changed, I had to take breaks because the fun left. When stealth was broken for a few months, then they fixed it and allowed me to come back. The Deathwish update, which should have coincided with the skill tree update so that there were more options in how to deal with maps.

I would always recommend to people to get the game and the Armored Transport DLC, because that DLC had some key weapons. I eventually added the Gage Sniper pack to that, I was reluctant, but clearly people needed to get it. I slow moved from that to telling people to wait for a steam sale then buy the game.

Now I cannot in good conscious encourage anyone to purchase this game, I am vehemently opposed to game effecting microtransactions, which as of crimefest 2015 are now included in the game. As an attempt to appease the anti-microtransaction crowd, the keys that are needed to open these safes (boxes) are rarely available in game. To me this does not help. If money is going to effect my ability to play the game at the higher tiers, then the game should not have a cost associated with it.

I will never tell someone to stop having fun, and I will always remember my time in Payday 2, but the days where I would happily join someone for a round are now over.

So long and thanks for all the fish.