Painkiller: The Co-Op Shooter That Knows Exactly What It Is (and That's Bloody Brilliant)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Painkiller is shaping up to be a brilliantly simple, co-op FPS that doesn't take itself too seriously, offering a refreshing alternative to the bloated AAA landscape. It's a demon-slaying, stake-gunning good time with your mates, and what's not to love about that?
Right, so the gaming world's currently drowning in these massive, sprawling AAA epics, right? Games that take longer to download than it takes to learn the entire Elvish language from Lord of the Rings. But hold your horses, because Painkiller is here to say, "Nah, mate, I'm just here for a good time." And you know what? That's fair dinkum refreshing.
IGN's Ryan McCaffrey (give him a follow on Twitter, @DMC_Ryan) recently took a dive into the Painkiller preview build, and he reckons it's exactly what the doctor ordered: a co-op FPS that doesn't take itself too seriously. We're talking demon-hunting, bullet-hell chaos, and absolutely zero live-service nonsense. Sounds like a right laugh, doesn't it?
Forget intricate narratives and emotionally complex characters – you're a wisecracking demon slayer chucked straight into Purgatory. And honestly? You're not there to ponder the meaning of existence; you're there to turn demons into Swiss cheese. Purgatory's Crossing acts as your hub, a safe haven to customize your character, weapons, and tarot cards (more on those later) before diving headfirst into a raid.
Each raid always features a trio, even if your mates are busy. Don't fret; the bots filling in are surprisingly competent, according to McCaffrey. They aren’t just cannon fodder, apparently. He started off as Ink (20% improved health restoration), before trying Void (+10% weapon damage) and Roch (+25 health points). The fourth character, Sol, boasts a 50% higher ammo capacity. Seems like a pretty balanced bunch, eh?
The weapons, though, that's where things get properly interesting. McCaffrey had a particular soft spot for the Stakegun – a railgun that fires pointy wooden stakes with enough velocity to pin demons to the wall. I mean, who *doesn't* love pinning demons to walls? The Electrodriver, a machinegun-esque sidearm that spits out shurikens and blasts nearby baddies with lightning, also gets a shoutout. All weapons are permanently upgradeable using in-game currency earned from wreaking havoc.
Now, about those tarot cards. Painkiller throws a roguelike deckbuilding element into the mix. Drawing tarot cards grants buffs for each run. Think 30% extra damage – yes, please! But be warned: redrawing cards costs a pretty penny, so you can't just keep shuffling until you get the perfect hand. It's a risk-reward system that sounds pretty interesting.
Once you're actually in Purgatory, the gameplay is classic boomer-shooter: hordes of baddies that aren't exactly Mensa members, but make up for it in sheer numbers. Thankfully, you're never alone; if you go down, your teammates can revive you, adding a touch of tension. And yes, it's always nice to be resurrected rather than suffer a premature end to your run.
Look, Painkiller isn't going to win any awards for groundbreaking graphics or Shakespearean dialogue. But it doesn't try to. It's a game that embraces its simplicity, and that's what makes it appealing. If you're after a game to play with your mates online, something that doesn't require you to sell your kidney to understand the lore, Painkiller – launching October 9th on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S – might be just the ticket. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel; it's just trying to give you a decent time. And sometimes, that's all you need.
Tags: FPS, Co-op, Roguelike, Painkiller, Indie Games
Original article: IGN South Africa