The 20-year tradition of subpar Painkiller sequels is still going strong.

The new Painkiller, out now on Steam, unfortunately fails to live up to its predecessors, continuing the legacy of unsatisfactory follow-ups. Although not a terrible game per se, it doesn’t leave a significant impact, resembling a standard Doom-style shooter but with less thrill.

It offers cooperative play where even in offline mode, players are accompanied by AI companions. These bots often handle the combat themselves, allowing players to take a backseat. My trial with the demo revealed this aspect, as my AI teammates effortlessly dispatched enemies while I did little.

The game is built on familiar mechanics: enter an arena, vanquish foes, and progress. It showcases some new weapons, although the demo limited me to the stake gun and the electrodriver, which felt like retro iterations without the excitement of the original game.

In comparison, my recent play of Painkiller Black revealed it to be an exceptionally well-crafted experience. If you’re curious about the legacy of Painkiller, consider revisiting the original instead. Currently, it is available for a mere couple of bucks on GOG.

Furthermore, for those eager for a fresh look at the classic, the Painkiller RTX Remix mod has been praised for modernizing the visuals while retaining the core fun. Though in development and slightly buggy, when it works, it offers stunning graphics that elevate the original gameplay.

Ultimately, while the new Painkiller is acceptable, it hardly rivals current offerings in the genre. If you’re looking for something that captures the essence of the classic Painkiller, I highly recommend diving back into that experience.