Painkiller: Black Edition

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Painkiller: Black Edition is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by People Can Fly and was released on January 24, 2007. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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.

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 897 reviews

gameplay61 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

Fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled gameplay with a variety of unique weapons and enemies.
Great level design with diverse environments and a heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the experience.
The tarot card system adds an interesting layer of strategy and replayability.

Boss fights can be frustrating and often require specific strategies that are not clearly communicated.
The game can feel repetitive due to its formulaic level structure of clearing rooms of enemies.
Technical issues such as crashes and bugs, especially on modern systems, can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
10%
The gameplay of Painkiller is characterized by its fast-paced, straightforward mechanics reminiscent of classic first-person shooters like Quake and Serious Sam, offering a mix of intense combat and exploration of secret areas. While many players appreciate the adrenaline-pumping action and unique weaponry, criticisms arise regarding its repetitive nature, lack of enemy variety, and poorly explained mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the game remains engaging for fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy a nostalgic, no-frills shooting experience.
- “Fantastic gameplay, even after all these years it's smooth as ever.”
- “This game has dynamic and simple gameplay, and a great heavy soundtrack.”
- “Painkiller boasts fun bunny-hopping shooter gameplay, an armory of unique and satisfying weapons, and a fantastic variety of battlefields and enemies.”
- “None of the mechanics are explained, so it's just quicksaving and loading the game all over again until you figure them out.”
- “Don't even get me started on the enemy variety or lack thereof; literally 95% of the enemies in the game are just melee ranged that sprint straight at you like headless chickens, which makes the gameplay loop incredibly stale.”
- “The game developers clearly want to test you on your 'knowledge' of their movement mechanics, but it quickly devolves into unintuitive movement glitches and arbitrary platforming challenges, with no sense of consistency.”
story
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The story of "Painkiller" is widely regarded as simplistic and often nonsensical, serving primarily as a backdrop for the game's intense action rather than a focal point. Players embark on a quest for vengeance after a tragic car accident, battling through hordes of demons, but many reviews note that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, with cutscenes that are poorly executed. Overall, while the story may be entertaining in a campy way, it is generally considered secondary to the fast-paced gameplay and chaotic shooting experience.
- “The battle out of hell expansion adds another chapter with 10 levels to beat, and it continues the story from the main game.”
- “The story is kind of hilarious, as it's about a regular man who dies in a car accident and for no reason is called upon to kill four guardians of hell, which are basically large giant golem-type creatures.”
- “The game follows the dark tale of Daniel Garner and his quest for atonement.”
- “The story is really forgettable and sometimes downright laughable at times, so I'd recommend not even paying attention to it.”
- “The story is there but the gameplay is much more fun.”
- “The most obvious ones being the story is absolutely woeful and seems to be thrown in after the fact.”
music
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The music in the game is predominantly heavy metal, which many players find to be a perfect fit for the intense gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. While some reviews note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, the majority praise it as a standout feature, with many describing it as "fantastic" and "kickass." However, a few players feel that the music can be overshadowed by the chaos of combat or is simply forgettable, indicating a mixed reception overall.
- “The heavy metal soundtrack perfectly complements the on-screen chaos, further immersing players in the frenetic world of Painkiller.”
- “Beyond the visceral gameplay, the original soundtrack is an absolute banger.”
- “The soundtrack is really fitting and the overall setting of the game and its atmosphere is just amazing.”
- “The soundtrack is very forgettable and boring.”
- “The guns in this game are nice and the enemy design is interesting but most of the levels are really forgettable, the soundtrack is forgettable save for maybe 1 or 2 songs.”
- “If you googled 'generic rock music', this game's soundtrack is what would appear.”
graphics
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
The graphics of Painkiller, a game released over 20 years ago, are generally considered to have aged surprisingly well, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up decently compared to modern standards. While some players find the visuals outdated and lacking coherence, others appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric lighting that contribute to the game's gothic horror aesthetic. Overall, the graphics evoke nostalgia and charm, making them enjoyable for fans of classic shooters, despite some criticisms regarding their age.
- “Despite its age, Painkiller's graphics hold up surprisingly well, with atmospheric lighting and detailed textures contributing to the game's eerie ambiance.”
- “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.”
- “A fantastic old-school styled shooter with stunning graphics, amazing soundtrack, and outstanding art direction.”
- “The graphics are starting to show their age, which may not appeal to players accustomed to more modern visuals.”
- “The graphics are laughable compared to the games of today, but that doesn't matter.”
- “However, the repetitive gameplay and outdated graphics may deter some players.”
atmosphere
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
5%
The atmosphere in "Painkiller" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, blending gothic horror aesthetics with intense action. Players appreciate the diverse and well-crafted levels, each contributing to a dark ambiance enhanced by effective sound design and a fitting soundtrack. While some note that the atmosphere can diminish in lighter areas, the overall experience remains captivating, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Painkiller has a strong atmosphere on its levels; the sound and level design, the theme for the levels and the chapters are spot on.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the enemy design is cool too.”
- “Each level is beautiful and carefully designed, keeping the story and atmosphere in view.”
- “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.”
- “Even though Hell and Damnation looks 'better', the gritty atmosphere of the original games is something that can't be copied.”
- “Eeeeeeeeh, the game really shows its age; it tries to be Serious Sam but serious (excuse the pun) and with a dark atmosphere. To some extent, it does work, but seeing as you are a one-man army, it loses its unique dark atmosphere quite quickly and becomes a repetitive FPS, well for me it did.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players noting the hilariously bad story, funny animations, and quirky voice acting. The ragdoll physics and over-the-top enemy designs contribute to a comedic atmosphere, making the gameplay feel dynamic and entertaining despite its outdated elements. Overall, while some aspects may lack originality, the game's humor shines through its edgy characters and absurd scenarios, providing a unique and amusing experience.
- “The story is kind of hilarious, as it's about a regular man who dies in a car accident and for no reason is called upon to kill four guardians of hell, which are basically large giant golem-type creatures.”
- “Funny animations in cinematics.”
- “Gameplay's a bit 'been there done that' and the cut-scenes were pretty funny to watch.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in later levels where confusing mechanics and difficult boss encounters detract from the experience. While some enjoy the fast-paced action and variety, many feel that the need to collect items and navigate large levels can become monotonous, especially when aiming and jumping mechanics are inconsistent. Overall, the game offers moments of enjoyment but is often marred by a grindy gameplay loop that can test players' patience.
- “Aside from its moderate glitchiness, the game's actually alright - if not grindy if you're going for a 100% playthrough.”
- “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.”
- “Jumping puzzles and secret-searching get tedious because of textures and 'git gud wiv chain-jumpz or git lost har har'.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as missing enemies, unresponsive mechanics, and crashes. While some users experienced smooth performance and enjoyed the gameplay, others found the physics and movement mechanics inconsistent, often requiring specific frame rates to avoid issues. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial patches to address its stability problems.
- “Runs great, looks great, and is heaps of fun.”
- “You get a shotgun, chain gun, rocket launcher, stake gun, lightning shurikens classic Doom-style weapons with alt-fires that should be cool, but often feel inconsistent and buggy.”
- “The game also glitches a ton, forgetting to spawn bridges, bosses, etc., as well as crashes.”
- “Hard to run, buggy, game-breaking glitches encountered.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its addictive gameplay, diverse difficulty levels, and a rewarding tarot card system that encourages players to engage with the content multiple times. While many players appreciate the ability to revisit levels and unlock new challenges, some criticize the design choices that limit replay value, particularly in terms of exclusive levels tied to difficulty settings. Despite mixed opinions, the game generally offers a strong replay incentive, especially for those who enjoy exploring secrets and achieving higher scores.
- “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.”
- “I would understand that playing on higher difficulty lets you play more levels, but each difficulty has one or two exclusive levels... this is a really bad design for replayability.”
- “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.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for allowing smooth performance even on older systems, with some users achieving high frame rates at maximum settings. However, there are reports of microstuttering and significant frame drops, indicating that performance can be inconsistent. Despite its 2004 release, many players find it runs well on modern hardware.
- “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).”
- “There's lots of microstuttering and huge FPS drops.”
- “It was originally released in 2004, so performance can sometimes be an issue.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The monetization model is straightforward, featuring no microtransactions or ads, which allows for an uninterrupted gameplay experience. Players do not need to reload weapons, and the absence of a sprint mechanic suggests a focus on strategic movement rather than speed.
- “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 frustrating, as it feels like the game is designed to push players towards spending money to progress.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
- “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency really detract from the overall experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of confusion and frustration, as players navigate challenging mechanics that evoke a mix of anxiety and determination. The experience of overcoming obstacles, such as the hyperactive rope and wood, adds to the emotional intensity of gameplay.