 Review By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | People Can Fly |
| Publisher: | DreamCatcher Studios | |
| Genre: | FPS | |
| ESRB: | Mature | |
| # Of Players: | 1-8 | |
| Online Play: | Yes | |
| Accessories: | Dolby Digital 5.1, Xbox Live (online play) | |
| Buy Now: |   |
Not to knock the genre, but for a first-person shooter there is surprisingly a lot to the gameplay of Painkiller. Some of it is built-in, some of it is up to the player, but almost all of it had potential, and almost none of it was realized. Take, for example, the weapons in this game, which (in my opinion) are again your typical FPS fodder. You have a few guns that are fun to use for a level or so, and then you want to switch back to something you know and trust and not quite such a novelty, like the shotgun. Of course, while ammo is plentiful for most of those other weapons, like the annoyingly slow stake gun or so-damn-weak-I-can’t-stand-it bolt gun, the game naturally likes to skimp on ammo for the best weapons, like the mini-gun/rocket launcher – the BFG of Painkiller. Of course, the nice thing about this game is that each weapon has a secondary function, such as the mini-gun (which is actually the back-up weapon) and rocket launcher combo I just mentioned. Unfortunately, they are barely worth the trouble to use, even if they are fun for a short time, and again you’ll go back to your old stand-by. Another aspect of interest, and one that goes almost hand-in-hand with the weapons, are the tarot cards. These give temporary or permanent boosts to certain stats, and are used by spending coins acquired by breaking stuff in each level. While some cards can be found in hard to reach locations, other cards can only be obtained if certain requirements are met, such as completing the level with only a certain type of weapon. Unfortunately, even if you find the cards, you may choose to not even use them (I didn’t), especially since you not only have to jump through hoops to get them, but you also have to accumulate enough coins in the first place before you can use them.
The music in Painkiller is just as interesting as the gameplay, with as many (good and bad) facets too. In the beginning, the game seems to stick with a pretty heavy metal/alternative score that, even though it isn’t exactly my cup of tea, suits the game quite nicely. Later in the game, seemingly scoring the idiotic design behind some of the enemies you’ll encounter then, the game switches to a, well, goofy soundtrack that is more along the lines of really bad techno. Whether you are a fan of that music or not, believe me, when it clicks in, you’ll burst out laughing. But, to my surprise, one of the more interesting aspects of the game comes from the music, whether it is the rock or techno. When enemies attack, the game gives you an audio cue that switches the music to a faster paced tune that only slows once all the enemies in sight have been defeated. Considering the nature of the game, I must say, it works quite well and really serves to pump up the action at just the right moments...in any case, I think it certainly works better than scoring each level to a general feel just so you can be sure all the bases are covered. As for the sound effects, well, like most aspects of this game, I was somewhat impressed (or at least happy) with it all at first...then, soon after I completed the first chapter, I discovered that the sound effects seemed to be recycled. Now, I’m sure this sort of thing happens in games all the time, but it was very noticeable here and, worst of all, disrupting. Of course, I found out the hard way, finally catching on to what was happening after dodging an axe that wasn’t coming for the umpteenth time every time I shot open a vase.
When it comes to the graphics in this game, I’m afraid I have to throw up a bit of a warning. I don’t know how this game plays on the PC and I don’t own an HDTV, but on the original Xbox and on a standard television this game looks nothing like the shots you may see on the back of a box. Those are crisp and clear and very sort of colorful, but for me, the game came off dark and...I don’t know, almost smudged looking, but that last part could just be because the game chugs a bit in certain areas. Also, the game likes to use an insane amount of red. I mean, every time you complete a level or pass through a major event, you have to watch a giant swirling mass of that, and quite frankly it gave me a headache. I get it, the game is dark and involves monsters and hell, but all that red just looks (dare I say) goofy. And finally, the cutscenes are pretty awful, too, with characters’ mouths moving so out of sync with the words that it looked like a Halloween party for ventriloquists. Like I said: goofy.
Bottom Line:
In closing, as far as I’m concerned, the sheer amount of times I have used the word "goofy" in the review of a first-person shooter (that isn’t Serious Sam, that is) should stand testament to what I truly think about this game. What’s more, despite not mentioning them in the bulk of the review (mainly because there wasn’t a lot to go into), there are a few things that I wanted to touch on because they are still quite important. First off, while the game does offer up a multiplayer aspect, it is only online and through system link. During my play time with the single player game (having never taken my original Xbox online, and lacking multiple consoles, I never got to try it with more), Painkiller suffered from all sorts of problems, from the very small – such as objects floating in midair after you’ve shot something – to the really large, including one incident in which the game froze, emitting a sound that could best be described as a moose in heat being sucked through a jet engine. While the game reportedly runs a little smoother online, the lacking gameplay means it isn't going to be terribly fun regardless. And, finally, this game really could have used more rumble support - a FPS, among many other genres, just isn’t the same when you don’t get that feedback. Though it may seem like the least of this game’s problems, I must say, it does not bode well for the PS3...but I digress.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
|
| 4.5 |
Posted: 2006-09-01 18:35:36 PST