Painkiller: Black Edition
- January 24, 2007
- People Can Fly
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Painkiller: Black Edition" is a first-person shooter game that combines a gothic storyline with fast-paced action. The game features a wide variety of hellish monsters and enemies to battle, with graphically advanced environments and the Havok 2.0 physics engine for realism. Players must fight their way through hordes of enemies in a battle between Heaven and Hell as a pawn in the infernal conflict. The Black Edition includes the original game and the expansion pack, "Battle Out of Hell," with 10 additional single-player levels and new villains.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fast-paced, action-packed gameplay with a variety of unique weapons and satisfying combat mechanics.
- Diverse and creatively designed levels that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Great heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Some boss fights are poorly designed and require specific strategies that are not clearly communicated.
- The game can be repetitive, with a focus on killing waves of enemies in similar arenas.
- Technical issues such as crashes and bugs, particularly in the expansion content.
- gameplay158 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Painkiller: Black Edition is characterized by fast-paced, arena-style shooting reminiscent of classic titles like Serious Sam and Doom, focusing on intense action and large enemy counts. While the core mechanics are engaging and addictive, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly due to the simplistic loop of killing waves of enemies. Despite some criticisms regarding boss fights and a lack of narrative depth, the game is praised for its satisfying weapon variety and nostalgic appeal, making it a solid choice for fans of old-school first-person shooters.
“Painkiller: Black Edition is a high-octane first-person shooter that offers an extremely entertaining gameplay experience, especially for fans of classic shooters like Quake, Serious Sam, or Doom.”
“The gameplay is a mixture of the standard boomer shooters on the market with alternate fire modes on weapons as well as pickups to boost health and armor; you know the drill.”
“Painkiller boasts fun bunny-hopping shooter gameplay, an armory of unique and satisfying weapons, and a fantastic variety of battlefields and enemies.”
“The gameplay can become somewhat repetitive after extended play sessions.”
“The boss fights are terrible: most of them have some clunky mechanics to be discovered in order to kill the boss, and that's all.”
“While some are good or at least look nice, there's a lot of odd deviations from the main gameplay loop, obtuse mechanics that go unexplained, and a general lack of polish.”
- story151 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of "Painkiller: Black Edition" is generally regarded as simplistic and clichéd, serving primarily as a backdrop for the game's intense action rather than a focal point. While some players find the narrative entertaining in a cheesy, action-movie way, many criticize it for lacking depth and coherence, with cutscenes that fail to enhance the experience. Overall, the consensus is that the gameplay overshadows the story, making it a secondary concern for those seeking a thrilling shooter experience.
“While the story certainly won't win any awards, this game puts gameplay and fun first, and it benefits from it.”
“This game is one of the few that reached FPS excellence with immersive gameplay, legendary boss fights, and a well-knit story.”
“The story is really cheesy, but I suppose that's just because of how intense it is.”
“The plot is basically about one man who fights his way through the army of hell single-handedly to kill Satan and be reunited with his girlfriend.”
“The story is really forgettable and sometimes downright laughable at times, so I'd recommend not even paying attention to it.”
- music146 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in "Painkiller" is widely praised for its heavy metal soundtrack, which enhances the game's fast-paced, chaotic gameplay and complements the horror atmosphere. While many players find the adrenaline-pumping tracks exhilarating and fitting for the action, some note that the repetitiveness of the music can become tedious over extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, appealing especially to fans of metal music.
“The heavy metal soundtrack perfectly complements the on-screen chaos, further immersing players in the frenetic world of Painkiller.”
“The soundtrack is a symphony of heavy metal and dark ambience that perfectly complements the non-stop action.”
“A fiery heavy metal soundtrack fills the ambience of each stage with pulsating grooves and riffs, a glorious accompaniment to the titillating violence.”
“The worst was the penultimate level of Battle Out of Hell when one guy just fell in the hole right at the beginning of the level and I wandered around an empty level with rocking battle music for like 15 minutes.”
“First of all, the music sucks and I had to turn it off.”
“I don't know if it's the nonsensical story, the subpar game length, or the honestly annoying heavy metal music that plays during every level.”
- graphics93 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Painkiller," released in 2004, are often praised for their impressive quality for the time, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up well today, featuring detailed textures, atmospheric lighting, and a variety of visually distinct environments. However, some players feel the graphics show their age and may not appeal to those accustomed to modern visuals, suggesting that an update could attract a broader audience. Overall, while the game's aesthetic is appreciated, it is acknowledged that the visuals are somewhat inconsistent and can feel outdated compared to contemporary titles.
“Despite its age, Painkiller's graphics hold up surprisingly well, with atmospheric lighting and detailed textures contributing to the game's eerie ambiance.”
“The graphics are pretty amazing for their time and hold up really well.”
“For a 2004 game, this game really kicks ass when it comes to the attention to detail in graphics, such as the lighting, effects, and shadows.”
“The graphics are starting to show their age, which may not appeal to players accustomed to more modern visuals.”
“The graphics have aged poorly, looking way too realistic for the setting of this game.”
“The graphics are laughable compared to the games of today, but that doesn't matter.”
- atmosphere43 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its dark, immersive, and creepy qualities, effectively combining gothic horror aesthetics with well-crafted levels that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric sound design and music, which contribute to the eerie ambiance, while the game's graphics, despite their age, still manage to create visually striking environments. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that complements the fast-paced action and diverse enemy encounters, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay.
“The atmosphere is very solid and can, at times, be pretty creepy, even a bit scary.”
“This classic FPS combines fast-paced action with gothic horror aesthetics, immersing you in a dark, adrenaline-pumping journey through hauntingly atmospheric purgatory, armed with an array of devastating weapons.”
“The sound design in general is really well done; the ambient sounds in the levels add a lot to the atmosphere.”
“From the first level, the dark atmosphere makes the game scary, but this atmosphere vanishes with light in some levels, although fortunately it doesn't affect gameplay.”
“Dark atmosphere in some levels does not exist.”
“Eeeeeeeeh, the game really shows its age; it tries to be Serious Sam but serious (excuse the pun), and while it has a dark atmosphere, it loses its unique dark atmosphere quite quickly and becomes a repetitive FPS.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd ragdoll physics and over-the-top gore, which many players find entertaining despite the game's outdated elements. While the story is often described as nonsensical, it features amusing twists and quirky characters that contribute to a comedic atmosphere. Overall, the blend of dark humor and slapstick moments creates a uniquely funny experience, even if some aspects feel intentionally ridiculous.
“Yes, I especially liked the diverse arsenal (from the iconic stake gun to explosive weaponry, each satisfying to wield against hordes of enemies) and the funny ragdoll physics that makes the gameplay feel dynamic and satisfying.”
“The physics are so hilariously bad it almost seems like a joke game (I got killed three times by walking over a rope bridge), and upon reaching the end of chapter 1... the boss didn't even spawn.”
“The gore is abundant and the physics of the models are hilarious (dismembering, impaling, or simply blowing up your enemies).”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing the difficulty in accurately hitting enemies and the repetitive nature of collecting resources. While some enjoy the challenge at higher difficulties, many feel that the gameplay lacks excitement and can become monotonous, especially during lengthy boss fights and exploration. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The bosses also have attacks that are often difficult to dodge, and that combined with the tedious ways to damage them make them boring and frustrating.”
“Collecting the souls that enemies drop can get tedious.”
“Aside from its moderate glitchiness, the game's actually alright - if not grindy if you're going for a 100% playthrough.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, driven by features like a tarot card system that enhances gameplay and unlocks, as well as the ability to revisit levels for improved performance and exploration of secret areas. While many players find the replay value high, particularly for those who enjoy challenges and modifiers, some critics argue that the single-player experience in shooters can limit replayability due to predictable AI behavior.
“Very replayable, even after all these years!”
“The replay value is strong thanks to the simple yet brilliant tarot card system that rewards those most dedicated by granting a substantial advantage when playing on the higher difficulties.”
“This game has a lot of replay value; you can go back to any previous level and try to do better, or just focus on the ones you enjoy; there are secret rooms for those people who like searching for them; the cards function as an achievement system before PC games had those.”
“For what it is, it is not worth the ten dollars being charged; there is very little replay value in my opinion. Most of the time, you're going to be sitting at your computer with your finger on the mouse button and the other hand on the W key.”
“Shooters, multiplayer aside, tend to lack replayability because single-player in a shooter is effectively you against a bunch of easy bots.”
“So for a shooter to have that replayability, it would either need to do something special with the basic mechanics or have an AI that truly presents a challenge.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent glitches, such as missing bosses and items, as well as occasional crashes that can lead to lost progress. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and atmospheric, the overall experience is marred by these persistent bugs, prompting calls for updates and patches to improve performance.
“Runs great, looks great, and is heaps of fun.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
“The game also glitches a ton, forgetting to spawn bridges, bosses, etc., as well as crashes.”
“Sometimes it glitches in ways that are not possible to spot (bosses not spawning when they're supposed to, weapons not being added to your inventory at the beginning of the level that are supposed to be added, etc.).”
“Hard to run, buggy, game-breaking glitches encountered.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, allowing it to run smoothly at high frame rates even on older hardware. Despite its original 2004 release, it performs well on modern systems with all graphics settings maxed, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
“The levels are vast, the enemies are many, and I got it to run smoothly at 260fps in full HD with all the graphics settings maxed on my tired laptop: it should be able to run pretty well on almost any system.”
“The optimization in this game is phenomenal; you can run everything at ultra and won't have to worry about any frame drops.”
“A great fun, classic game that runs smoothly on current systems (I had Windows 7 64-bit).”
“It was originally released in 2004, so performance can sometimes be an issue.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game features no microtransactions, ensuring a straightforward experience without the need for reloading or ads, although players cannot sprint.
“There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to progress.”
“The absence of microtransactions allows for a fair and balanced gameplay experience.”
“The monetization model is frustratingly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I feel like the game is designed to pressure you into making in-game purchases, which ruins the experience.”
“The constant prompts for microtransactions take away from the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
