Gameplay
The gameplay of Painkiller - Battle Out of Hell is similar to the original game, with some new features and improvements. The player has to fight through 10 new levels, each with its own theme and atmosphere. The levels are filled with hordes of monsters, traps, secrets, and puzzles. The player can use a variety of weapons, including two new ones: the Boltgun/Heater and the Stakegun/Grenade Launcher. The Boltgun/Heater fires electric bolts that can bounce off walls and electrocute enemies, while the Heater mode shoots a stream of fire that can ignite enemies and objects. The Stakegun/Grenade Launcher fires wooden stakes that can pin enemies to walls and surfaces, while the Grenade Launcher mode shoots explosive projectiles that can cause massive damage.
The player can also collect souls from killed enemies, which can be used to activate the Demon Morph mode. In this mode, the player transforms into a powerful demon that can fly and shoot lightning bolts. The Demon Morph mode lasts for a limited time, depending on how many souls the player has collected. The player can also use Tarot Cards, which are special items that can grant various bonuses and abilities. There are 24 Tarot Cards in total, 12 Gold Cards and 12 Silver Cards. Gold Cards are more powerful and have permanent effects, while Silver Cards are weaker and have temporary effects. The player can equip up to two Gold Cards and one Silver Card at a time, but they have to meet certain requirements and pay a price in souls to use them.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics of Painkiller - Battle Out of Hell are improved from the original game, with more detailed textures, lighting effects, shadows, and physics. The game uses the proprietary PAIN Engine, which allows for high polygon counts, deformable environments, ragdoll physics, and particle effects. The game also supports high resolutions, widescreen modes, and anti-aliasing options. The game's art style is dark and Gothic, with realistic and surreal environments that range from an orphanage to a colosseum. The game's sound is also well-done, with atmospheric music, sound effects, and voice acting. The music is composed by Marcin Czartynski, who also worked on the original game's soundtrack. The music is mostly instrumental, with some vocal tracks that fit the mood of each level. The sound effects are realistic and satisfying, with different sounds for each weapon and enemy. The voice acting is decent, with some humorous lines from Daniel and some menacing lines from the bosses.
Reception
Painkiller - Battle Out of Hell received mostly positive reviews from critics and players alike. It was praised for its fast-paced and fun gameplay, its improved graphics and sound, its new weapons and levels, and its replay value. It was criticized for its short length, its lack of innovation, its linear level design, and its technical issues. The game has a score of 81% on Metacritic and 8.3/10 on IGN. The game also won several awards, including the Best Expansion Pack award from GameSpy and the Best Action Game award from Computer Gaming World.
Conclusion
Painkiller - Battle Out of Hell is a worthy expansion pack for Painkiller fans who want more of the same adrenaline-pumping action. It offers 10 new levels with new enemies, bosses, weapons, and challenges. It also improves the graphics and sound of the original game, making it more immersive and enjoyable. It may not be very innovative or original, but it is still a fun and satisfying shooter game that will keep you entertained for hours.
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