November 4th, 2007

Painkiller – Overdose

Yes, that’s right, another dose of “hand-to-gun” combat and shooting piece of action that is somehow a remix of the original games from the Painkiller series. Some time ago I presented to you a review of the Battle Out Of Hell add-on to the game which actually brought some refreshing graphics and a really tweaked engine – such novelties are a considerable “effort” for many developers. What does this new game from the series bring to the table? Merely a new story to wrap the game scenario around it: the engine is pretty much the same one used in the Battle Out Of Hell, so nothing new about that, even the graphics look similar and were probably created in pretty much the same way as before. Since this wasn’t a real game to begin with, but rather a game mode that evolved into a stand-alone game - we shouldn’t expect very much either, only the fans of the series could appreciate it. However, the loading times between levels tend to be hilarious after a while, but the game requirements are similar to the ones from Battle Out Of Hell.

The game story is connected to the fight between good and evil, just like in the previous games, though it adds a sick twist in the plot – a male angel was seduced by a demon lady and they had a child who had both demonic but also holy features. Although it wasn’t his fault, he became soon the enemy of both sides, as they feared him because of his mastering of portals between the Heaven and Hell. And so, there was a pact that was signed (thematic entry from the Painkiller game series) in order to destroy the “creature”. Cerberus, the guardian dog of Hell was ordered to destroy the wings of the half-angel, while the traitor angel Samael was watching.

game trailer
Nobody even suspected that they might need to use the portal powers of Belial, the “wretched creature”. They tried to control him, to use him, and he was pinned down into a cage with enchanted locks. These locks would react only to Lucifer’s command. When Daniel defeated Lucifer in the Painkiller, he also set Belial free without knowing it. And because he was released, Belial started looking for revenge on “the mad dog” and Samael.

This is what this game is all about – the levels are organized into 3 big chapters, each having 5 “episodes”, each getting Belial closer to his purpose. For every fighting sequence in the game there is exactly the same scenario – you will take the role of Belial, and enter an area and a door shuts behind you with a big noise. The demons are spawned almost instantly one after another and you will have to “dispatch” them all, unless you wish to get stuck in the same level, over and over again.

The “episodes” are each one more stupid than the other, making you fall asleep by seeing how predictable the enemies will get. The repetition is very boring and there’s nothing changed but the surroundings and the types of the enemies. I’m going to mention though a few instances where I had “some” fun. While I was shooting ninjas in the “Japanese Massacre” I remembered a good joke: if you wish to get a ninja salad, just go among them and tell them something “nice” about their mother – this totally applies in this level, although they are the ones to become “salad” splattered on the walls when the gamer uses the “skeleton”-shotgun. Next, you will arrive in the Desert, where you will “shake-hands” with the Egyptian mummies, bugs and wannabe pharaohs in their lame attempts to bring some damage to our traveler. The scorpions that turn into bugs are the most hilarious types. But then again, what do the crazed spell-casted templar knights (standard or huge sized) have to do with Egyptians? There’s no answer to that as there is no logic that could explain a lot of silly and scripted apparitions from the game. And as if this wasn’t enough, we go even into Star-Wars and Asteroids with this story – that was really not necessary, the whole game is a SF-like adventure, so why bother? If you use your shotgun and the demon head with the laser-beam out of his eyes long enough, the level will be finished pretty quickly.

Another “ammo-demanding” stop is the Black Tower – the first boss-battle. Next, you will have to jump-through a Nuclear Plant and an Animal Farm, and as new element, you will gain a new weapon during the shooting spree, that operates on toxic waste ammo.

The ancient Vikings won’t give up that easily their fortress from Ragnarok and you will have to use excessive force to get rid of the annoying magicians who throw telekinetic hits at you. At the end of this level you will have to take your best shot at Cerberus, the dog that ripped apart Belial’s wings. Between this chapter end and Samael’s Lair there are just a few stops, each being filled with enemies you’ve seen before in the first series of levels, but in a large number this time, especially the Haunted Valley (candy-like images and trees – the realm of tales about witches, moving trees and bad tempered knights, all of them with nasty habits that need to be cured …permanently) and Loony Park (that is a total “remix” of the Loony Park from the original Painkiller - Battle Out Of Hell, except for the fact that you get no free ride on the electric cars, and because of that it is a total failure – not only the music is annoying, but there are all over again the same lame characters from last time; the addition of the “pirates” and the ships was a very good one though!).

Of course, as expected, you will have to fight against Samael, once you reach his place. First you will have to deal with some more giant knights and then use any weapon you like to produce heavy damage with and knock off Samael.

The sound in the game was very much the same as in the Battle Out Of Hell, but the music was a bit different, even the ambiental sounds, as there are specific areas of some levels where you will have to go through.

game presentation
Digitainment mark: 5 out of 10 (for lack of innovation)

Developer/Publisher: DreamCatcher, Mindware

Website with demo:
http://www.projectoverdose.com/

Buy: $39