Painkiller (2004)

An incredibly addictive and surprisingly fun FPS that concentrates more on mindless button bashing than in tactics, exploration or anything else than many modern shooters now live by.

The level design is not always top-notch and occasionally, the game might lose some of its pacing, but in the grand scheme of things, it all balances out nicely with the unique and fun bosses and some frantic over-the-top shooting, slashing, breaking and stabbing action.

It has times where it bogs down in the monotony of endless waves of enemies that do nothing but cluster on your position, but it balances itself out with a great deal of depth in what they do.

In long stretches, Painkiller can become repetitive. (By long stretches, I mean two or more hours.)

Painkiller delivers satisfying gameplay, excellent visuals, and a visceral feel that veteran FPS players will feel right at home with.

Painkiller gives us both something ancient and something fresh and off the cuff. It’s bold in its approach and defiantly steps away from trends.

You'll need a fairly souped up machine and graphics card to get the most out of Painkiller but if you have yearned for the return of games like "Serious Sam," "Doom" and the original "Quake" your next stop is Purgatory. Tell 'em I sent you.

Painkiller abounds with sublime touches, such as the boxes full of postcards that flutter down around you when shot and the fireworks that send multi-coloured sparks whizzing in all directions. I've said it once, and I'll say it again - there's nothing wrong at all with violent videogames. Disagree, and I'll send you to hell with a wooden stake through your eye socket.

It gamely delivers the pure joy of superbly crafted chaos, something it does better than any game released (so far) this year. [July 2004, p.56]

The truest and most gratifying shooter since "Doom." [July 2004, p.69]

It offers a quick adrenaline rush and beautifully detailed levels running on the spectacular Havok2.0 physics engine and, I must say, this game is one of a kind.

The shooter has outstanding graphics, addictive gameplay and solid multiplayer components, but it’s held back from becoming a true classic through its disappointing narrative and mediocre soundtrack.

The atmosphere, over-the-top-physics, vast seas of enemies and bosses that reign as some of the most impressive in any video game to date all equate to title that is worth your time. It is unfortunate that with a little more focused effort on fleshing out the multiplayer game, Painkiller could have gone from a very good game to an instant classic.

The stake gun and painkiller are simply useless in multiplayer, and they’re your starting weapons. This is as poorly thought out as id giving the blaster as the weapon in "Quake II."

This game is the sort of which I'd like to see more: breathtaking attention to detail, deeply satisfying gameplay, and a focus on pure, simple fun that doesn't in any way defeat or diminish a richly powerful thematic narrative.

To call the game simple fun is to ignore Painkiller’s proof that straightforward play in elaborate environments with creative, demonic enemies and a sophisticated sense of style is tremendously entertaining. This is a first-person shooter that can be enjoyed in brief sessions or a protracted weekend of play.

Painkiller is pure adrenaline. If you don't feel the rush while playing this game, you're probably dead.

An excellent mix of intense first person shooting combined with a sophisticated risk-reward system that actually integrates into the gameplay. The Tarot cards are pure genius and add a whole new level to the genre.

The outstanding graphics, unparalleled physics, huge levels, tons of unlockable cards, enormous bosses, and gameplay variety make this a must-have for anyone who pines for the glory days of "Doom." [June 2004, p.134]

This title is pure unadulterated action, a great adrenaline run. Its staying power will rest on how fleshed out the multiplayer can be and whether there are any new maps, levels, modifications or expansion packs in store.

If you’re a fan of mindless destruction, you’d be hard pressed to find a game as immediately gratifying as Painkiller. Just don’t expect it to be a cure-all.

One of the most lovingly crafted games in years, Painkiller looks awesome, sounds intimidating, and controls simply and smoothly.

But obviously, the gameplay is incredibly repetitive. There’s no denying that you don’t do much beyond running around shooting monsters and blowing up stuff.

This game is so scary that even the end-of-level warps give you the creeps...Extremely playable and well-designed.

There’s an eerie absence of a whole lot of noise sans the atmospheric sounds in each level; another sinister part of the game to keep your interest in what is going on.

The action is fast paced, with great weaponry and enemies that will surprise the hell out of you. Multiplayer is even faster than the single-player game, and is amazingly reminiscent of "Quake."

Painkiller puts the action back into action gaming and will pull you in, pump you up, and unleash the righteous demon-slayer buried within.

If you're not precious about tactical elements it's a real hoot. With more level consistency, it could've become the shooter king. [GamesMaster]

The multiplayer is adequate but uninspiring and the cutscenes are best skipped, but the single-player game brings home the bacon.

It offers up lots of spectacularly visceral, bloody, in-your-face action through its numerous, action-packed single-player levels. And it looks beautiful, it sounds great, and it's got a pretty good old-school multiplayer deathmatch mode, for good measure.

Perhaps what's most amazing is that it plays like the work of a seasoned developer with a rare grasp on atmosphere and tone, a rock-solid set of technologies, and sophisticated ideas about game design.

A visceral, intense shooter with well designed and realized levels, and certainly a “must have” title for FPS aficionados.

A great game that will truly be appreciated by FPS purists like myself who remember the good old days where all you needed was a bunch of ammo, some nasty monsters, periodic powerups, and an itchy trigger finger to get you from the beginning of the stage to the end.

The environments created, enemies that spawn, and weapon you use sets this apart from most FPS’s on the market.

The game's physics interact brilliantly with your actions to create game sequences much more memorable than any cut-scene could ever be. [July 2004, p.86]

This is the antithesis of thought and strategy. It is a carnival ride, an action movie and an all-you-can-eat-burger bar. This is the quintessential twitch game.

With speed and smarts to match its outrageous visuals, Painkiller boasts fiendishly clever monsters that attack in groups and learn from your defenses. No corpses shambling around like they have a load in their pants, these are monsters of the 28 Days Later variety: quick and scary.

I love it. I became addicted to this game very quickly. My wife is starting to get jealous now.

In delivering a fantastic single player experience for a street price of $40, Painkiller is one of the best FPS money can buy today and isn't anything short of highly recommended.

Visually, Painkiller is sumptuous. I won't disclose the awe-inspiring setting of the last level except to say that it's one of the most dazzling displays I've ever seen in a game. [July 2004, p.76]

Its addictive and amazingly detailed single player game, coupled with a fun and varied old school multi-player game, set Painkiller apart from the rest while at the same time harkening us back to shooter days of old.

What makes Painkiller different from other similar games are the awesome visuals. The architecture is particularly great.

The striking image quality of this absolutely gorgeous pastiche of tainted purgatory is a big factor in Painkiller's appeal. [June 2004, p.66]

Gruesome, bloody and at times compelling - even if you might admonish yourself for thinking it.

Graphics are smooth and clean and detail in the game is never compromised with interactive surroundings, excellent weapon effects and great animation of the action taking place.

Painkiller sports some of the best graphics to come down the PC pipe all year. The bosses (the hammer-wielding Saphathoraél in particular) all look incredible.

Painkiller is like a cold drink on a hot day; refreshing.

Breathtaking attention to detail served with great graphics that'll run on anyone's system all make it highly commendable. The game provides a lot of intensely focused carnage, but absolutely nothing else, and that wasn't quite enough to keep us entertained for it's whole duration.

I did enjoy the game itself, but I got tired of going back to find that one monster that would trigger the next area. The cutscenes are great, though I did find the storyline a bit weak. Then again, this isnt an rpg. It's a fps!!

Blasting an exploding barrel just as a group of foes are shambling past it and watching their aerial acrobatics just never gets old.

The story is interesting, without getting too laden with metaphysical theory, the action is blistering, the sound is creepy, the graphics sharp and clear (with a few minor slowdowns when multiple multiple enemies attack), and the multiplayer fun and varied.