It’s true that this mod isn’t finished yet and requires a more powerful configuration, but it could be a better choice — and cheaper.

The new Painkiller maintains the franchise’s 20-year tradition of sequels being pale, weak imitations of the original game. Even when playing offline, it’s still co-op because bots are thrown in, and most of the time, they fight for us. The game seems smaller and more limited than the original, although the basic structure is similar: enter an area, kill a bunch of enemies, then move on. The price is a bit steep. $40 is a lot to pay when you can buy Helldivers 2 or Arc Raiders for the same price.

Steam players have a similar reaction, and the new Painkiller has mixed user ratings. This is mainly because it’s not what the name suggests; it’s not actually a Painkiller. The 2004 debut game from the Polish studio People Can Fly featured crazy levels, enemies, and weapons; roaring, heavy-metal “battle music”; and a story about a man who loved his wife so much that he accidentally killed her and must now atone by killing Lucifer’s armies single-handedly. It’s strange and silly, yet it became one of the most enduring cult hit shooters ever. Painkiller left its mark, and no effort since has come close to matching it.

That’s why it’s better to turn to the original game. One good solution could be Painkiller RTX Remix, which features a major overhaul. Painkiller looks great for its age, but the mod transforms it. Lighting, reflections, shadows, and improved enemies are all part of the comprehensive update. In August, Nvidia awarded Painkiller RTX Remix the Best Overall Prize in the RTX Remix Mod Competition. This triumph brought the development team bragging rights and a $20,000 prize. However, it’s not over yet. The game may crash if you load pre-mod saves, but the same thing happens when loading levels.

It would be better to call the new Painkiller “Painkiller” in quotation marks.

Source : PCGamer, Steam, ModDB, Nvidia