[Demo] PAIN: Below Sanity

About

What is PAIN: Below Sanity? PAIN is a tough-as-nails, labyrinth-structured rage-game utilizing full-on space physics. Introducing things like Power-DOWNS, that can stack on top of eachother for the most painful experience. ...Can one make it to the end unscathed...? What awaits your sanity? Extreme space-physics Unforgiving and annoying gimmicks NO checkpoints (imagine lol) Timing tomfoolery Wh…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

music3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a challenging and rewarding experience, perfect for players who enjoy hard challenges and the feeling of accomplishment.
It features a great soundtrack and interesting visuals that enhance the overall experience.
The recent graphic overhaul improves the game's presentation significantly, making it more visually appealing.

The pacing can be frustrating, as it takes a long time to return to where you died, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The simplistic graphics may not appeal to everyone, with some sprites resembling basic designs.
The sound design is polarizing, with some players finding it unappealing and not fitting for the game.

music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in the game is widely praised for its amazing soundtrack that complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is fitting for the game's events and contributes to player motivation. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, adding depth to the game's atmosphere.
- “Amazing soundtrack”
- “It also features a very nice soundtrack fitting to the events of the game.”
- “Accompanied by a great soundtrack and nice visuals, you are always motivated to complete the damned level.”
- “This is not music.”
- “Regarding miscellaneous stuff like music, story, and art style, these were fairly interesting to hear and look at.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The story revolves around controlling a spaceship on a quest to escape Earth, navigating through various levels. While the narrative is not the primary focus, it is complemented by engaging gameplay and interesting art and music, making the overall experience worthwhile, especially given the game's affordable price and additional content.
- “Overall, this is a solid game worth the price for only 3 bucks, as the average playtime is roughly 4 hours, plus a lot of extra content after the main story, potentially adding up to a total of 10 hours.”
- “Regarding miscellaneous aspects like music, story, and art style, these were fairly interesting to hear and look at.”
- “In pain, you control a spaceship on a quest to leave planet Earth, and you have to go through a bunch of levels to get to the end.”
- “Luckily, there is an update coming to address this, but I guess it's fine now considering this is more of a gameplay and story-focused game.”
- “Regarding miscellaneous stuff like music, story, and art style, these were fairly interesting to hear and look at.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The recent graphic overhaul significantly enhances the visual experience with improved sprites and added visual feedback, making it reminiscent of "the world's hardest game." The art style, combined with a compelling soundtrack, keeps players engaged and motivated throughout the levels.
- “The recent graphic overhaul (repainted free DLC) improves the experience a lot by adding a lot of visual feedback and changing sprites to be more visually appealing.”
- “Accompanied by a great soundtrack and nice visuals, you are always motivated to complete the challenging levels.”
- “The recent graphic overhaul (repainted free DLC) improves the experience a lot by adding a lot of visual feedback and changing sprites to be better on the eye.”
- “It feels like a spiritual successor to 'The World's Hardest Game' due to its simple level design and artwork.”
- “Graphics and optimization.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is primarily focused on story and features a unique power-down mechanic that encourages players to adapt their playstyle to complete levels. Despite its simple movement design, the game offers surprisingly deep mechanics, such as momentum control, enhancing the overall experience. An update is expected to address some gameplay concerns.
- “Luckily there is an update coming to address this, but I guess it's fine now considering this is more of a gameplay and story-focused game.”
- “The unique power-down mechanic requires you to adjust your playstyle in order to complete various levels.”
- “Though even with its rather simple-looking movement, it has surprisingly deep mechanics, like stopping your momentum or using it to your advantage.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game's optimization has been criticized for being excessive, as players feel that high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 are unnecessary for a title that resembles a simple game. Overall, the optimization appears to be over-engineered for the gameplay experience offered.
- “The game's optimization is impressive, allowing it to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it maintains a steady frame rate without sacrificing visual quality.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, ensuring that the gameplay experience is seamless and enjoyable.”
- “About optimization; dude, you're playing a game that feels like a ripoff of the world's hardest game. You don't need an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, lmfao.”