Reboots can go one of two ways: they either rekindle the magic of the original or leave you wondering if some things are better left in the fiery pits of nostalgia. Painkiller for PS5 falls squarely into the latter. This once-chaotic cult classic has been resurrected by Anshar Studios, but instead of a glorious return to demonic mayhem, we’ve been handed a co-op shooter that’s loud, shallow, and already halfway back to Hell.
Gaming Heaven
Let’s give credit where it’s due – Painkiller knows how to make a first impression. The gunplay is satisfyingly brutal, the weapons are gleefully absurd, and turning hordes of demons into red mist is as cathartic as ever. The titular Painkiller weapon – essentially a handheld lawnmower of doom – remains a grisly delight, chewing through enemies while generating ammo like a hellish recycling scheme. Performance is smooth, the action is fast, and the Unreal-powered visuals deliver a decent spectacle, even if most of it looks like a burnt cathedral. For brief moments, especially with a good squad, it feels like the frantic FPS chaos we were promised.
Gaming Hell
Sadly, the fun burns out faster than a match in a hurricane. The campaign offers just three biomes and nine stages, all of which blend together in a blur of repetitive objectives and recycled demon screams. The story, once rich with gothic melodrama, now amounts to a few lines of meaningless exposition mumbled by something called the Metatron. There’s no real character progression, no loot to chase, and no reason to replay beyond mild masochism. Even the heavy metal soundtrack feels phoned in – all volume, no vibe. After a few hours, you’ll start to feel like you’re the one trapped in purgatory.
Final Judgement
Painkiller is an infernal exercise in wasted potential. It looks fine, it plays fast, but it’s thinner than the plot of a b-movie horror sequel. Fun for a night, forgettable by morning.
