Play Payback (e)(rising Sun) Online

Payback was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003, developed by Apex Designs and published by Rage Software. It arrived during a period when developers were experimenting with how to translate the open world, mission based structure of games like Grand Theft Auto onto the limited hardware of a handheld. The result is a top down action game that tries to capture a similar feel of urban chaos on a much smaller scale.

You control a criminal in a large city, driving various cars and completing missions for different crime syndicates. The main objective is to work your way up the criminal ladder by taking on jobs, which range from simple deliveries to violent assassinations and turf wars. Signature mechanics include the open city navigation, where you freely drive between mission start points, and the on foot combat that lets you get out of your vehicle to punch rivals or use weapons. The game is known for its challenging difficulty, with aggressive police response and a demanding wanted level system. It feels like a condensed, frantic interpretation of a much bigger genre, constantly pushing you to react and adapt.