Painkiller: Hell Wars

The game is all about shooting down hell spawn, and take that word 'spawn' quite literally, because this game is all about spawning.

Painkiller Hell Wars is the latest title in the series from Dreamcatcher (the developer is People Can Fly), slated for release on the Xbox console in the first quarter of 2006. GameZone.com was fortunate enough to get a three-level demo of the title to have an early look-see at how this shooter is shaping up.

First off, it has to be stated that if you are not a fan of first-person shooters, there is a very good chance you will not enjoy the action and pacing of Painkiller. This appears to be a very directed experience, sporting a variety of weapons, a stream of mobs that have to be dealt with before you can advance to the next level.

There are 20 levels of action and more than 75 species of monsters to deal with. Some are rather stupid, and others are very tough. The game requires that you keep on the move, avoiding missile attacks (hammers, torches and pieces of body – at least initially) while blasting your assailants. Three weapons were available in this demo – the shotgun, the stakegun/grenade launcher and a metallic claw-like weapon, presumably for melee encounters (if you let the mobs get that close). Switching out weapons was a breeze using the D-pad, and you will need to do just that as different mobs require different strategies.

The stakegun is a slower reload between shots, but is a general all-purpose weapon though it is less effective against the flying mobs than the shotgun. Slower-moving spawn just beg for you to lob in a grenade, and with destructible environment pieces, the grenade can not only clear the path of potential hang-up points, but also have a radius damage effect on the monsters.

The story – and there was not much of a linking storyline in this demo – tracks Daniel Garner, a seemingly regular guy who has just been killed in a car accident and is not awaiting purification to enter heaven. In the meantime, he is tasked with battling the minions of hell in a variety of locales.

Three levels were available in this demo – town, prison and ruins. Yes, there were load times (but this is an early build) and the final version will support multiplayer via Xbox Live.

The game’s controls were very simple to use, and the tactical elements are almost standard for the genre. Move sideways to avoid attacks, move forward to lock on targets and then backward to shoot and gain some distance against possible melee attacks. Collect power ups and induce the “bullet time” effect, where the world goes gray and slows down, but you move along at what appears to be a regular speed – a great tool for getting out of dangerous spots.

The musical score was spot on with the game’s mood and the game’s graphical elements were very well done. Lighting and shadows create a solid setting and the texturing was very well done, even when you hugged a wall.

Painkiller is not likely to be the type of game that appeals to everyone, but if you are a fan of FPS titles, like your action intense and seemingly non-stop, then there is a lot to like about Painkiller: Hell Wars.