Painkiller Black Edition

Growing up, I didn't have a mega PC that I do now, so back in 2004, playing anything that would want to light a weak performing computer on fire, blow it up with C4, and then Field Goal it out the window, was just out of the question. But thanks to the Internet, and places like Ebay, Amazon, Steam, and of course, GOG, getting this game is not so hard to do, and now that I do have a well performing pc, I thought "eh, why not pick this game up". Anyway, Painkiller, needless to say, in no other terms imaginable is simply "A DAMN JOLLY GOOD TIME THAT WILL BLOW YOU BALLS OFF!" Considering how modern Fps's today try so hard to Rip off C.O.D. and replicate a very linear experience to DEATH! It is definitely a breath of fresh air to play something that feels like what an Fps should be. Just the Joy of Jumping around like a lunatic and Shooting Stakes through monsters face, hanging them on a wall like a Davinci painting never get's old. One thing that always sticks with me when I play this game is the complete feeling of catharsis. Just being able to play this game for hours and not get bored, is a very good thing. Sure the AI isn't perfect, Sure there aren't a whole lot of weapons, sure the Graphics.......well actually the Graphics are still Damn good! ^_^ But my point is, sure it's not exactly perfect, all games are flawed...but unlike most FPS games today, that are pumped out by the soulless companies that pump these out to feed the idiotic masses that believe Call a duty is "ultra realistic, and very deep!" You can feel all the heart, soul, blood, and tears that was put into this Gem of a game! Seriously, do yourself a favor, and stop reading this review, and by Painkiller Black! Trust me, you'll thank me later. Any game that gives you a gun that Shoots shurikens and Lighting, is a game that deserves your attention...NOW!!

Polish "People Can Fly" studio released a really enjoyable albeit pretty brainless (while still more intelligent than Modern Borefare)first person shooter with DROVES and DROVES of enemies to ravage and destroy. It's bloody, it's fun and it's a breath of fresh air in comparison to brown and gray shitfests that are Modern FPS games. My advice to you however is taking a little wait since the game is going to be re-released using Unreal Engine III. Funny trivia - People Can Fly later on went to port original Gears of War to the PC and coded the exclusive chapter, later to be integrated into Epic Games and releasing much less fun but still playable Bulletstorm

If you are a fan of classic shooters then this game is for you. It may have its flaws, but it does the core elements of the genre so well, that most people will be able to overlook that and simply enjoy the great fun. The pros: - awesome, satisfying, inventive weapons; each with 2 firemodes that accompany eachother very well and bring lot´s of diversity - many different levels and enemies with interesting design choices - challenges for extra rewards in form of game modificators (like double damage for a short time, health- and speed-boosts, slowmotion and many more) the cons: - falls a bit short in technical execution (like enemy pathing and some physics glitches you may or may not encounter; nothing severe or gamebreaking though) - boss battles can feel clumsy at times (huge enemies walking right over you with strange hit detection and debris blocking you terribly) - a creative story but a lackluster presentation notes: If you decide to do, what you should never do and compare Painkillers classic gameplay to modern FPS gameplay, then yeah... you could say it is very linear and gets repetitive. But thats how it is and ment to be: Move (or rather "bunnyhop like a mad man") through the level and shoot stuff! And I don´t think that´s a big deal, when those levels and the shooting are as interesting, creative and inventive as in this game. -> Definitly worth a buy.

I've had this love-hate relationship with Painkiller since it's been out. It's like a slower-paced version of Serious Sam with lower enemy variety. Almost every time I've installed with the intention of beating it, I've gotten bored by the end and never finished it. And yet, the atmosphere and style the game has is enough to keep drawing me back to play it again and again. The weapons are all amazing and the settings all have this great gothic feel to them. There's even the extra incentives to play the game different ways with the tarot card challenges for each level. While I can heap all the praise in the world on the game, there are some drawbacks. The game has some stability issues (at least on Windows 10), which is annoying if you are right in the middle of accomplishing progress towards a tarot card goal and the game either crashes or just locks up my entire system. The game physics is super wonky, too. Like, the bunny hopping is excellent; but then there's the 'walk over random debris and fly 30 ft. into the air' physics. I'm appreciating that Painkiller is not the kind of game that I will marathon through and enjoy my time with, which tells me it's not as good as games I can play through entirely without realizing it. However, if I play like a level per day or something and pace myself through it, it's pretty enjoyable. There's no denying the uniqueness of the game and it's really a gem from the twitch shooter era.

It took a decade to accomplish something even close that Painkiller did back in days. Those games are the new era first person shooters, like Wolfenstein: New Order and the new Shadow Warrior. Still, Painkiller kicks ass, and it kicks it alot whit the rocking soundtrack. Fast packed action, nothing more or less. A masterpiece.