This is what probably will interest most users. After all, this is a portable entertainment console. What users shouldn't expect is commercial games. Unfortunately, not many game houses are interested in the GP2X to develop/port their games. At the time of writing, only Vektar and Payback are officially released, either in downloadable or package in a SD card. There are other games which are being ported for the GP2X console, but their exact release date is not yet confirmed.

This is probably the "only" and most impressive game for the GP2X console. It offers "...HDR rendering and tone mapping, including extremely high quality precalculated lighting, high resolution and framerate..", according to its developers. The gamestory behind Payback is that you get the role of a master criminal! The game has been inspired by Grand Theft Auto, but as the developers say, "...every effort has been made to ensure that Payback beats GTA in every way..." The game engine supports texture mapping, environment mapping (reflections), distortion mapping, realistic shadows, alpha-channeling (lens flares, explosions and shockwaves), multi-channel 3D sound and realistic physics.

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.

There are lots of hidden surprises to discover, so you'll have to play the game through several times to find all the extras.

Take on the police, stage a prison break, take on the Mafia, steal cars, trucks, buses, taxis, tanks and even helicopters!

Use a flame thrower to set fire to your enemies, run over the local police chief, rob the city's biggest bank - you choose what you do to succeed - or how you die trying.

The GP2X version of Payback features a full voice & radio tracks, 3D visuals, full TV out support, jukebox mode (make your own soundtrack), over 50 missions and 11 cities to cause mayhem in. The boxed version comes on a huge 512MB SD card and costs $30.

We used the demo version of Payback (size 53Mb). The perspective of the game is pseudo 3D as you can see in most pictures. The music is nice, as are the visual effects but we had a hard time following the story line and the general overview. While I am not a "professional" gamer, I must say I want's impressed. Certainly it shows the full potential of the GP2X, but it would be nice have games as well. Maybe a fully 3D FPS?