Painkiller returns in 2025 as a brutal co-op shooter—with Doom-like gunplay, grappling hooks, and loads of demons to nail to the wall.
Hallelujah, hell is freezing over: Painkiller is returning this fall! However as an alternative of easy solo carnage, 2025 will see the arrival of a co-op shooter for 3 demon hunters – can this work? After a number of bloody rounds within the prologue and two full ranges, I’d say: sure, it certain can!
Outdated cult shooter, new idea
In 2004, Painkiller allow us to flip hell the wrong way up as a one-man military: A linear stage marathon, steel soundtrack, and tons of monsters bursting into items in a hail of bullets. Major hero Daniel Garner slaughtered his manner via purgatory alone, with out cowl, with out reloading, however with loads of absurd weapons.
Over 20 years later, developer Anshar Studios is making an attempt a balancing act: Painkiller (2025) ought to really feel acquainted, however shine with recent concepts. Most likely the largest change: as an alternative of going solo, we now have a group of as much as three gamers (or bots, in the event you actually wish to play alone) on the shotgun.
This time round, iconic leather-based jacket hero Daniel Garner is neglected of the image – as an alternative, we slip into the function of 4 new champions named Ink, Void, Sol, and Roch, chosen by the creator himself to cease the demon hordes. Every of those anti-heroes has their very own perks: one can take extra harm, the following offers further harm, and so forth.
The brand new Painkiller additionally takes a distinct method when it comes to construction. Whereas the unique was a sequence of ranges, the 2025 spin-off focuses on replay worth via development: we are able to improve weapons and skills, unlock new devices, and steadily enhance our expertise (extra on that in a second).
Briefly: Painkiller (2025) seems like a gathering of outdated and new – nonetheless a fast-paced area shooter with a boomer shooter really feel, however packaged in trendy co-op buildings. Thankfully, the tempo stays excessive: the prologue will get straight to the purpose, and inside minutes I discover myself stomping via bloody stays.
Nonetheless, the texture of the sport is barely totally different than it was again then – along with basic bunny hopping, sprint maneuvers and even a grappling hook have been added, permitting me to whirl round even sooner. The brand new strikes make for fast-paced, agile gameplay à la Doom Everlasting, whereas the outdated Painkiller felt comparatively down-to-earth.
And the environment? Whereas the unique was extra of an exaggerated heavy steel nightmare, the reboot can also be darkish and gothic, however in a extra refined manner. Within the Cathedral Bridge stage, for instance, I combat my manner via a collapsed cathedral whereas a darkish sky hangs over the scene – visually actually cool and gothic as hell, within the truest sense of the phrase.No comparability to the clunky graphics of 2004.
Outdated-school weapons and Doom gunplayAnd that is the place the brand new installment makes a spectacular entrance: There are bangs, clangs, and splatters in every single place, sufficient to convey tears of pleasure to the eyes of any Doom fan.
We in the end have seven infernal weapons at our disposal, every with major and secondary hearth, and we now have to decide on two earlier than every stage.
It doesn’t sound like a lot at first, however what weapons they’re! The legendary stake gun is again – a sort of moveable ballista that fires thick wood stakes, permitting me to nail enemies to the partitions in model.
The primary demon I catch with it flies a number of meters via the chapel, writhing, after which stays impaled on a pillar. Nailed it, as they are saying. Additionally again once more: the Electrodriver, which fires shurikens in secondary hearth and shreds total rows of enemies.
After all, the eponymous Painkiller blade can also be a should: This rotating noticed chops up every thing that comes too shut and now even serves as a grappling hook that I can use to tug enemies towards me and switch them into bloody confetti.
One other new characteristic is that melee kills now replenish ammunition – however I didn’t really want to make use of this characteristic as a result of you may at all times discover sufficient provides within the ranges. After all, this may change at any time within the greater problem ranges.
By the best way, the builders have one other ace up their sleeve: weapon upgrades! With every mission accomplished, we accumulate cash and hell shards, which we are able to use to pimp our favourite weapons or unlock utterly new weapons.
For instance, you may improve the stakes of the stake gun to drills that simply pierce shields and armor.With the ultimate replace, they even explode as soon as they’ve dug into the rotten flesh of your enemies.
I’ve solely accomplished two ranges on the bottom problem setting up to now, however I’m certain that tailoring your loadout to particular enemy sorts may add one other layer of technique to the already intense gunplay.
Nonetheless, I’m glad that Painkiller stays primarily a brutally easy shooter – you may actually really feel each projectile hitting you, and also you hardly ever should do greater than pull the set off, dodge, and goal like hell. That’s the way it needs to be!
By purgatory collectively
In my play session, I (with two bots at my facet) mastered the prologue and two different ranges, and it actually felt like Doom (2016) crossed with Left 4 Lifeless or Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.Hordes of smaller demons storm out from each nook, and alone you’d be challenged, however not overwhelmed.
However with different gamers, it’s superb group chaos: Whereas I rush forward with the stake gun and actually nail zombies to the wall, my companion covers my again with a hail of SMG bullets.
Now and again, one among my companions warns me when one other group of screaming hellspawn rushes out of a facet passage or a very nasty elite mob spawns – communication is unquestionably useful, even when Painkiller isn’t a tactical shooter per se.
After all, the query arises: Is the basic Painkiller essence misplaced within the course of? In spite of everything, the outdated sport was a pure single-player journey. Primarily based on my impressions up to now, I might say no. Painkiller stays Painkiller, solely now the enjoyable is shared.
Essential: Nobody is pressured to play co-op right here. In order for you, you may full the whole sport solo with bot companions beginning October 9, 2025, and get a equally intense expertise, simply by yourself.
Editor’s conclusion
After my hellish journey via the preview model of Painkiller, I’m optimistic – and likewise relieved. As a fan of the unique, I used to be nervous about whether or not the balancing act between old-school shooter and trendy co-op horde shooter may work in any respect.
However Anshar Studios appears to know precisely what components make this franchise profitable. The gunplay bangs like a double-barreled shotgun, the environment is darkish and gothic but splendidly exaggerated, and in co-op, the entire thing unfolds with a pull that’s onerous to withstand.
Certain, you must be prepared for a brutal, fast-paced, cooperative hell journey that falls someplace between the high-speed carnage of Doom Everlasting and the team-oriented battlefest of Vermintide/Darktide. Painkiller (2025) caters to precisely this area of interest – and that makes it nearly distinctive within the present shooter panorama.
After all, there are nonetheless inquiries to be answered. Will all ranges be as various as those we performed? Will the development and improve system hold us motivated in the long term, or will we simply find yourself grinding for skins? And can the sport be simply as thrilling in solo mode as it’s in co-op (key phrase: AI bots)? The ultimate model should reply these questions. However my impression is that this can be a sport with plenty of potential to win again outdated followers and appeal to new co-op buddies. Anybody who’s eager for extra PvE co-op shooters – maybe upset by different titles – ought to regulate Painkiller.
