Posted January 29, 2009
I am overjoyed to see this deserving game being added to the catalogue of GOG. Truly well crafted shooters that are clear about the direction they want to take are few and far between.
Painkiller is a game of a now dying breed. It isn't saturated by combinations of gameplay mechanics and quick time events. There are no escort missions or timed sequences. There is however a wall of "meat" between you and your inevitable antagonist which you brave with a variety of surprising combinations of weapons.
There are a few things of note in Painkiller. Firstly its masterfully designed environments. In no other shooter have I been as immersed in a setting of an abandoned dock or streets of war torn Stalingrad, the musical accompaniment of which goes a long way to help those locals come alive.
The second and a most entertaining aspect to me personally were the gargantuan boss battles. Structured as a classical first person shooter as Painkiller is, you can be assured that at the end of every level there will be a phantasmagorical boss for you to slay. In any other game any of those encounters could easily qualify as the end game culmination. Which if you are persistent enough to reach you will guaranteed be astounded by.
Lastly a worthy of note mechanic of tarot cards and soul collecting makes for interesting gameplay scenarios. I will not go much into this mechanic as I am sure those new to the game will appreciate discovering its benefits and multiple combination on their own. Needless to say however it is the icing on the cake that is Painkiler.
In summary if you are searching for a well crafted and orchestrated FPS shooter experience that is as straightforward as it is entertaining, look no further as Painkiller is most reassuringly a game for you.
Painkiller is a game of a now dying breed. It isn't saturated by combinations of gameplay mechanics and quick time events. There are no escort missions or timed sequences. There is however a wall of "meat" between you and your inevitable antagonist which you brave with a variety of surprising combinations of weapons.
There are a few things of note in Painkiller. Firstly its masterfully designed environments. In no other shooter have I been as immersed in a setting of an abandoned dock or streets of war torn Stalingrad, the musical accompaniment of which goes a long way to help those locals come alive.
The second and a most entertaining aspect to me personally were the gargantuan boss battles. Structured as a classical first person shooter as Painkiller is, you can be assured that at the end of every level there will be a phantasmagorical boss for you to slay. In any other game any of those encounters could easily qualify as the end game culmination. Which if you are persistent enough to reach you will guaranteed be astounded by.
Lastly a worthy of note mechanic of tarot cards and soul collecting makes for interesting gameplay scenarios. I will not go much into this mechanic as I am sure those new to the game will appreciate discovering its benefits and multiple combination on their own. Needless to say however it is the icing on the cake that is Painkiler.
In summary if you are searching for a well crafted and orchestrated FPS shooter experience that is as straightforward as it is entertaining, look no further as Painkiller is most reassuringly a game for you.