Painkiller (2004)

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 394 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 304 out of 394
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 394
  3. Negative: 24 out of 394
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  1. armadonpower
    Jun 9, 2023
    10
    This quake-engine game is a non-stop adrenaline rush with epic boss battles, intense gameplay, and a killer soundtrack.
  2. KarolP
    Jun 3, 2023
    9
    Fast, old school shooter with not necessary, but interesting story. Variety of guns, enemies, maps, well balanced difficulty levels makes you play way more than once and try to do something better with another attempt. One of my best and most memorable FPS experiences,
  3. LT_Gruber
    Jan 6, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing game and one of the best First Person Shooters I have played.

    Painkiller is just Epic. In the core it is just a First-Person Shooter in which you shoot monsters and progress to the next stage, classic stuff that Doom, Serious Sam and Duke Nukem did before, but this game feels different somehow. It has a unique style of playing and some mechanics that are different in a way that it offers a fresh new concept.

    You play as Daniel Garner, a happily married dude who dies, along with his wife Catherine, in a car crash. Catherine goes to heaven and lives happily ever after, but not you. You are sent to Purgatory and are trapped there. Then, an Angel called Samuel makes a deal with you. If you can wipe out the four generals of Lucifers army, to prevent a battle between Heaven and Hell, you will be purified and can join your wife in Heaven. You accept and go off to war. On your journey, you meet a chick named Eve, who is also trapped in Purgatory. She aids you with information on the whereabouts of the next generals and other useful tips.

    The graphics in Painkiller are great. The environments are beautiful and detailed, and every level has some sort of Gothic theme that enhances the graphics even more. I especially liked the “Town” level and the “Opera” stage. The animations are perfect too. Enemies have Ragdoll and you can blow them away with your shotgun or nail them to the wall with your stake gun. Explosions and fire effects are really well done too. There are some clipping issues tough, but I take that for granted. Every level is completely unique with different themes, environments and enemies, keeping the game fresh.

    The controls are fluent, as can be expected from a fast-paced shooter like this. They feel natural and responsive. The Weapons are awesome. You got some sort of blade spinner as a melee weapon, shotguns, rocket launchers, machine guns and, best of all, your stake gun which lets you fire wooden sticks at enemies, nailing them to every surface. It is just epic.

    Some unique mechanics in this game is the soul collecting when killing enemies, which increases your health by one for each soul collected and let you enter demon rage mode, killing everything you point at. You can also earn Tarot cards that give you a bonus in each level if you selected that specific card for the level. You first earn those cards by completing a challenge in a level, for example, kill fifty monsters with explosions, or kill all enemies on the stage. When you earned the card, you need to buy it so you can use it. This can be done with gold, which you can collect and scavenge throughout the levels. I really liked this mechanic, and it gave some kind of RPG feel.

    Painkiller offers excellent and well-balanced multiplayer, only matched by Serious Sam. It is fast paced, fair and gives everyone a fair chance. I really liked it back in the day, even tough it is now mostly abandoned.

    What sets this game apart for me is the sound and music. I think I can say, without a doubt, that this game has the best music that I have experienced so far, even better than Serious Sam. Every level has a unique Heavy Metal fight track that really gets you pumped up. Combine this with the excellent sound effects of your weapons and the enemy grunts and it makes for one epic experience. It is just a masterpiece.

    The ending of the game is true badass style, Daniel knows that the killing is not done yet and is eager to return to the fighting, even tough he is offered to go to heaven like promised.

    In the end, Painkiller is a masterpiece in every way and one of the games that I can play any time of the year. It is a real classic and that it why it has multiple sequels and a remake, rightfully so.

    You really need to play Painkiller at least once in your lifetime, in my humble opinion.    … Expand
  4. KapralDominik
    Aug 29, 2022
    8
    Бодрый и дерзкий боевик, который дал старт целой плеяде игр с гордым наименованием "крепкий шутан из 2000-х". Ваши похождения в разнообразных увлекательных локациях (от заснеженного средневекового замка до глубин Ада) в которых вы козыряя распрыжкой под аккомпанемент тяжелого металла разносите орды противников априори не могут устареть и теплить душу еще долгие годы спустя. К сожалению, неБодрый и дерзкий боевик, который дал старт целой плеяде игр с гордым наименованием "крепкий шутан из 2000-х". Ваши похождения в разнообразных увлекательных локациях (от заснеженного средневекового замка до глубин Ада) в которых вы козыряя распрыжкой под аккомпанемент тяжелого металла разносите орды противников априори не могут устареть и теплить душу еще долгие годы спустя. К сожалению, не обошли игру стороной многочисленные баги и неочевидный для нового поколения игроков геймдизайн, но на мой взгляд - это настолько ничтожные мелочи, что в глобальном плане они даже упоминания не достойны (все баги - не критичны для прохождения, а второму пункту можно пожелать лишь терпения). Оценка: 8.… Expand
  5. Jackie_Jackson
    May 26, 2022
    9
    РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ РЕЗНЯ
  6. coolernen
    Mar 14, 2022
    10
    Shooter of the year. 2004, i think. I played this masterpiece all my childhood on my celeron, and i love this game ever since.
  7. etominskdetka
    Aug 26, 2021
    10
    One of the best shooters, as time has shown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  8. JaydenPickens
    May 21, 2021
    10
    Classic game. Amazing gameplay, amazing music, amazing levels, amazing monsters. Play this instead of the HD crap version from 2012. This one will always be the best Painkiller game. Pickens approves!
  9. ImperialYama
    Dec 22, 2020
    8
    Painkiller is mostly a good game, but It just offers not enough content to be a great game and can get repetetive quickly.
  10. AVP
    Feb 7, 2020
    10
    A great old-school shooter that you enjoy playing even after many years, with the best soundtrack.
  11. iddqd4
    Feb 12, 2018
    9
    Эволюция механик заложенных серией Doom, орды монстров в преисподнем мире, стрейфись-стреляй или умрешь.
  12. RagingPoet
    Feb 12, 2018
    8
    8.5 out of 10.
    Painkiller took not only gameplay from Doom but also hellish atmosphere. It also added physics and arsenal of interesting weapons with alternative fire modes for maximum carnage.
  13. Al89ex
    Jan 24, 2018
    10
    It's the best game of that time. It has an awesome gameplay and It is not boring to play the game
  14. naniin
    Nov 16, 2017
    9
    "Painkiller" - классный мясной шутер. С хорошей графикой для 2004 года, с интересным сюжетом , да даже с классными боссами! Вообщем это попросту ностальгия.. Жаль что серия потом превратилась в такой кал.
  15. LegitGamer1995
    Sep 10, 2017
    10
    This is my first review on Metacritic, so here we go. As a kid, I always enjoyed Painkiller. Back when I first played it in 2006/2007 (maybe, IDK) I'd spent countless hours on the PC blasting away demons with the chaingun/rocket launcher, pinning zombies to the wall with a stakegun, and killing just about
    every monster this game had to offer with my trusty shotgun. All five chapters, each    This is my first review on Metacritic, so here we go. As a kid, I always enjoyed Painkiller. Back when I first played it in 2006/2007 (maybe, IDK) I'd spent countless hours on the PC blasting away demons with the chaingun/rocket launcher, pinning zombies to the wall with a stakegun, and killing just about
    every monster this game had to offer with my trusty shotgun. All five chapters, each with unique settings and it's fair share of monsters. I enjoyed the hell out of the boss fights; fighting a huge monster in the Enclave, trying to take down Thor's hammer in Ruins, and destroying statues that gave Alastor some health. Some levels I enjoyed, some levels I didn't. Like Monastery, because that
    level gave me a hard time. Even though it was the constant process of going through checkpoint after checkpoint with doors closed, then blasting some monsters, and having the cycle to repeat itself over and over again, I still had lots of fun. If my dad hadn't showed me this game, I don't think I would've had the same childhood I had today.    … Expand
  16. MrPortoPimenta
    Jul 14, 2013
    10
    The gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
  17. MrCyberDino
    Jun 12, 2013
    9
    This is a great game. It has such good gameplay. It is more satisfying than any modern shooter like Call of duty or battlefield. This is the demonic love child of old school shooters like doom, quake and serious Sam, mixed with the graphics of 2004. Admittedly, I can't get past the first level of the demo, but I'm not that great at shooters, so don't think the game is too hard. If youThis is a great game. It has such good gameplay. It is more satisfying than any modern shooter like Call of duty or battlefield. This is the demonic love child of old school shooters like doom, quake and serious Sam, mixed with the graphics of 2004. Admittedly, I can't get past the first level of the demo, but I'm not that great at shooters, so don't think the game is too hard. If you liked games like serious Sam, you will love this game, The only complaints are the story is bad and, this isn't a complaint, I just think it's a bit difficult, but that's just me. A great game, and well worth your time and money.… Expand
  18. Glaice
    Feb 3, 2013
    8
    If there is any Painkiller game in the series that holds its water, it is this one and the expansion Battle out of Hell. The original more or less gets the formula right with plenty of action, ambiance when not battling and massive bosses. Recommended if new to the series.
  19. fedak
    Nov 29, 2012
    8
    Painkiller doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is- its a level based mob combat FPS in the spiritual vein of Doom or Serious Sam. The plot is incomprehensible- and what little sense it does make has little to do with the enemies and levels it throws at you.

    But as a pure mindless shooter it is an awful lot of fun. The levels are varied and well designed. The weapons are    Painkiller doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is- its a level based mob combat FPS in the spiritual vein of Doom or Serious Sam. The plot is incomprehensible- and what little sense it does make has little to do with the enemies and levels it throws at you.

    But as a pure mindless shooter it is an awful lot of fun. The levels are varied and well designed. The weapons are distinctive and well implemented- especially the eponymous     … Expand
  20. ixvo
    May 21, 2012
    10
    FPS the way it should be! At least according to old-school fans.... Considered by many to be more deserving of the name "Doom 3" than the actual one, this game takes everything that made up the classics, and pushes them to 11! ___Extremely vast choice of weapons, each of them more impressive and satisfying to use (that is, slaughter with).

    Also, impressive architecture, but just as the    FPS the way it should be! At least according to old-school fans.... Considered by many to be more deserving of the name "Doom 3" than the actual one, this game takes everything that made up the classics, and pushes them to 11! ___Extremely vast choice of weapons, each of them more impressive and satisfying to use (that is, slaughter with).

    Also, impressive architecture, but just as the "no punctuation" review says, if you spend longer than 30 seconds without shooting, you're doing it wrong.    … Expand
  21. mr_lahey
    May 10, 2012
    10
    Though it has its bugs and frustrations, I really can't say enough good things about Painkiller. At least the first two, and Overdose (included in Black Edition) is awfully cool too, but lacks some of the charm of the first. It's probably still my favorite after five years and countless other games. The fighting is insanely cool, though a bit repetitive. But mostly, its atmosphere andThough it has its bugs and frustrations, I really can't say enough good things about Painkiller. At least the first two, and Overdose (included in Black Edition) is awfully cool too, but lacks some of the charm of the first. It's probably still my favorite after five years and countless other games. The fighting is insanely cool, though a bit repetitive. But mostly, its atmosphere and creep factor can't be beat. Incredible, awe-inspiring maps. Pretty darned creepy monsters. Finding secrets is quite an interesting challenge as well. It scares you. It thrills you. It awes you. Wish the subsequent sequels lived up to the original. But alas, Painkiller was a landmark - and still seminal and stand-alone in the horror world. Plenty of good sci fi games. Only one good horror one - and that's PK… Expand
  22. TheDude133
    Jan 9, 2012
    9
    This is one of the two games that Yahtzee or Zero Punctuation likes over at the Escapists means it's actually good.

    To quote him "The story can go **** itself... (more problems with the game) ... But any criticism I find is immediatly squashed when I remember there is a gun that shoots Shurigans and Lightning.

    The way I felt about it.
  23. zerossj
    Nov 6, 2011
    10
    Genial música, física muy buena. Me encanta ver como despedazo a los monstruos. Un buen surtido de armas, cada una con sus pros y contras. Jefes finales... cinematicas....Esta traducido a varios idiomas incluido las voces. Para mi es un FPS 10.
  24. corroded
    Oct 8, 2011
    9
    A game that isn't ashamed to be what it is. A really simple, over the top deathathon, with great and varied weapons. A flashback to the good old days, and I applaud it for that.
  25. groggarioth
    Sep 13, 2011
    8
    Fast paced, Voilent, and above all good mindless fun, I found myself yelling warcries at the enmies as they flew across my monitor like meat filled water balloons.
    Will not thrill you if you're looking for a story driven game, but it makes up for that by being just plain good.
    Given the choice get this and 'battle out of hell' but not any of the other expansions or additions as this is the    Fast paced, Voilent, and above all good mindless fun, I found myself yelling warcries at the enmies as they flew across my monitor like meat filled water balloons.
    Will not thrill you if you're looking for a story driven game, but it makes up for that by being just plain good.
    Given the choice get this and 'battle out of hell' but not any of the other expansions or additions as this is the best it gets.    … Expand
  26. spartan-117
    May 8, 2011
    8
    Intelligent beautiful and bloody, hell...
  27. Arkveveen
    Nov 23, 2010
    8
    There are already enough positive reviews here to already mirror what I am going to say. Another classic that somehow still has it's appeal to this day; the spiritual story, the mysteriously fantastical areas, the crazy enemies, special abilities, myriad of treasures or secret areas, and the crazy weapons. It's enough to make any lover of Quake or frantic shooters drool. I for one, don'tThere are already enough positive reviews here to already mirror what I am going to say. Another classic that somehow still has it's appeal to this day; the spiritual story, the mysteriously fantastical areas, the crazy enemies, special abilities, myriad of treasures or secret areas, and the crazy weapons. It's enough to make any lover of Quake or frantic shooters drool. I for one, don't think this game deserves such a high score like a 9 or a 10; but, it comes close to being a classic which will withstand the test of time!… Expand
  28. Firmar
    Aug 13, 2010
    10
    Bloody massacre coupled with unusual weapons. One of the first big titles with Havok physics.
    This is most unexpected game which rightfully earned AAA status in gamers' minds shortly after release.
  29. PainkillerWins
    Dec 28, 2009
    10
    Painkiller is one of the most straightforward games of all time. That isn't saying it's bad; after all; Pacman was straightforward; yet it's made of win. Painkiller offers hours of fun killing, the attention to detail is superlative in every level; and you can see how much work was really put into it. Don't bother listening to the people who say it's boring or Painkiller is one of the most straightforward games of all time. That isn't saying it's bad; after all; Pacman was straightforward; yet it's made of win. Painkiller offers hours of fun killing, the attention to detail is superlative in every level; and you can see how much work was really put into it. Don't bother listening to the people who say it's boring or mindless. While it doesn't actually have THAT good a story; the missions are different enough from each other to play and have fun in. Unlike some modern FPS games; it's not trying to boast its physics. It's just there for FUN; something which a lot of people seem to have forgotten how to have.… Expand
  30. JohnR.
    Jun 15, 2009
    10
    Seriously - I'm not joking: Painkiller may be one of the best action games ever made. Most people describe it as a more serious and darker Serious Sam... but in fact Painkiller is much more. The epic story about Daniel Garner who is being abused to fight for heaven is... not really important since there is no direct connection between the cutscenes and the levels but it's still Seriously - I'm not joking: Painkiller may be one of the best action games ever made. Most people describe it as a more serious and darker Serious Sam... but in fact Painkiller is much more. The epic story about Daniel Garner who is being abused to fight for heaven is... not really important since there is no direct connection between the cutscenes and the levels but it's still a fantastic backbone for those weird worlds the player is about to encounter. There is graveyards, caves but also military bases, a medieval village and even a cathedral and an amphitheatre where you fight the weirdest kinds of demons ranging from skeletons armed with clubs to fat punks with machineguns. The game is a really surreal experience and has a high artistic value. And you can be sure to find some of the greatest bosses in this game. Anyway: Painkiller is simple. It absolutely sticks to simplicity and that's its strong point. Every single one of the six weapons is perfectly designed and every enemy has his own ways of attacking you - if you're not too ignorant to accept this simple kind of action you will actually even be surprised how perfect the gameplay is. And there is some unique features that make Painkiller really special such as the demon transformation gained by collecting enemies' souls and unlockable tarot cards which give the player some bonusses. And these tarot cards can only be achieved by fulfilling special tasks such as only using a certain weapon, not being hurt once in a level, collecting all gold, killing all enemies etc.. These special tasks make the action actually quite varied. Also the multiplayer mode is plain fun. It's one of the most entertaining deathmatch games ever made. The fast pace and the very different kinds of weapons are making it really special - and the fact that the game was represented at the World Cyber Games speaks for itself. Also check out the official addon Battle out of Hell which is almost as great as the main game. But don't even think about playing Overdose which is actually just a fan made production that somehow got turned into a commercial addon - it simply sucks. Btw: By now there is sort of a sequel to this game called NecroVisioN. It has been made by some of the original developers and it's even using an improved PAIN engine. Unfortunately the developers didn't stick to the formula of Painkiller but tried to combine the story with the actual gameply and make the fighting more "interesting" - which actually made NecroVisioN just another average shooter. That's why I even more recommend Painkiller and its addon Battle out of Hell. The gameplay won't get old and the graphics are still nice to look at.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PC Game of 2004
13
#13 Most Discussed PC Game of 2004
31
#31 Most Shared PC Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 62
  3. Negative: 1 out of 62
  1. Cincinnati Enquirer
    70
    A good choice for folks who want to wind down at the end of the day with a fast-paced diversion that requires absolutely no brainpower to master and enjoy.
    Read full review
  2. Cheat Code Central
    80
    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.
  3. Next Level Gaming
    94
    I love it. I became addicted to this game very quickly. My wife is starting to get jealous now.
    Read full review
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