Classic FPS Painkiller returns with a modern reimagining

The gothic first-person shooter Painkiller first appeared on screens in 2004, earning a cult following thanks to its fast pace, dark atmosphere, arsenal of weapons, and intense combat. Now, a modern redesign of the same name from developer Anshar Studios and publisher 3D Realms is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

If you're not familiar with Painkiller, its core concept is that you play as a man trapped in purgatory for a previous crime, but you're on a mission to redeem yourself and earn your way to heaven. In this reimagined version, the mission is simple: stop the fallen angel Azazel and his three children, the Nephilim.

While this is an explanation of the setting, this is not a narrative-focused game. It’s all about action, always. So really, your mission can be summed up in simpler terms: kill as many demons and terrorists as possible, no matter what brutal means you choose.

You'll always have a team of three, which you can build by teaming up with people in online co-op or playing offline with your bot teammates. Between missions (called raids here), you'll return to a central area called Infernal Crossing, where you'll select your gear before jumping into the next raid. Start by choosing one of four characters: Ink, Void, Sol or Roch, each with unique strengths. Ink has better health regeneration, Void deals more weapon damage, Sol has higher ammo capacity, and Roch has increased max health.

No matter who you choose, speed, agility, and weaponry are the main focus of combat. You'll start the game with a classic analgesic weapon that will be a permanent part of your equipment for every raid. Its alternative shooting mode is called the Crusher, which crushes enemies (hence the name) and also acts as a grappling hook. You can use it on designated grapple points to quickly traverse biomes, or you can use it directly on enemies. Be careful when using this on tougher enemies, though, as they will retaliate if they are not stunned first.

In addition to the permanent painkiller weapon, you can carry two other weapons with you in each raid and switch between them in the central area. You'll automatically get the first two weapons in the prologue, while the rest can be unlocked in the order of your choosing. There are six selectable weapons in total (excluding painkillers), each with a primary firing mode and two alternate firing modes that you can switch between before each raid.

There are 18 shooting modes in total, and you can unlock upgrades for each weapon that change the way it works, making for a total of 72 different attack types. You unlock items by collecting ancient souls by completing raids, which can then be spent in the central area. You can use them to unlock new weapons, alternative shots, or upgrades, so your gear will continue to evolve as you progress through the game.

Painkiller weapons aren't the only weapons fans of the series will recognize. The Stakegun and Electric Drive are also back, the two starting weapons you'll unlock in the prologue.

The stake gun can impale enemies and fire different types of grenades as alternating shots, just like in the original game, and you can combine the two features if you're skilled enough. The main stake shot has a longer range than the grenade, so you can launch the grenade and then hit it with the stake in mid-air to carry the grenade further.

Electrodriver is used to handle larger groups. It has an electric attack that stuns enemies, and it can fire a set of bouncing shurikens that can bounce around corners or over enemy shields. Combine the two together and you've got a recipe for quickly dispatching hordes of enemies.

Not all weapons return to classics. The new hand cannon is a powerful pistol focused on hit scan accuracy. It has very high DPS potential if your aim is accurate. If you wish, you can also modify it with a scope to turn it into a sniper-style weapon.

In addition to weapon modifications and alternative shooting options, you can customize your gameplay using tarot cards to enhance your abilities. You can use gold collected in raids to unlock new cards in the hub area tarot draw, and you can choose which cards to activate before starting a new raid. The card's benefits will remain in effect throughout the next raid and then run out, but if you want to reuse it, you can use Ancient Souls to replenish a card.

There are currently 44 tarot cards, and they can produce a wide range of effects. Some are passive and always active, some react to specific enemies, and some require certain conditions to activate. For example, Angel's Torment allows you to kill any normal enemy thrown into the air in one hit. When you kill a Archdemon, the demon's payload creates explosive barrels. Crimson Rhythm will gradually heal you as long as you keep your combo count above a certain threshold.

Other tarot cards affect your teammates, so you and your allies can try to find synergies that work well together. For example, Harmonious Torment lets you share your health with allies, while Veil of the Undead lets enemies ignore you while you revive downed teammates.

This is just a small sampling of the different types of weapons, modifications, and tarot cards available. The rest is up to you to discover. Painkiller is available now on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. If you want to know more you can check out the game Official website Or continue to follow Instagram, twitteror Facebook.