Payback (2001)

Developer: Apex Designs
Publisher: Apex Designs, Freeverse Software, Zoo Digital, DSI Games
Platforms: iOS, Mac, Amiga, Game Boy Advance
Genres: Shooter, Racing

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A freeform, GTA-inspired crime game letting you chase points through missions, mischief, or outright rampage.

action-packedopen-endedchaoticgrittyfreeform

About

If you'd always wondered what it would be like to be a master criminal, then Payback is the game for you. It's entirely non-linear - to complete a level you simply have to obtain a certain number of points - how you get those points is entirely up to you; you can do what the local kingpin tells you, uncover secret missions or just go on a mad killing spree. This GBA action game takes inspirations from Rockstar/DMA's classic GTA series, but features unique gameplay elements, plus a visually stunning 3D GBA engine full of special effects and a smooth framerate.

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.