Painkiller Overdose is the best PK game

[Knight of The Wind]

I am aware that a lot of people consider the first Painkiller the best one and in fact one of the best FPS games of that generation but I'm sorry I have to disagree.

In my opinion, Overdose is the best PK game. The og Painkiller has great metal music, but that is objectively its best feature. The protagonist Daniel is extremely bland and devoid of any personality which makes it difficult to consider him a bad@ss. The next problem are the levels: they start great with chapter one but then most of the levels seem to use random themes that have nothing to do with the theme of hell and seem to come from completely different games. Sometimes the levels are just the right amount of spooky and hellish and sometimes they happen in broad daylight or some random urban areas. It ruins the idea that you are in this demonic dimension. They are also populated with enemies with any rhyme and reason (ninjas in an industrial train level?) Another problem is that you are always short on ammo. Is it an oversight or they are forcing you to use the painkiller weapon? I dunno but it sucks.

Sure, Overdose's protagonist comes off as a cheap demonic Duke Nukem but at least he has a voice and a personality and talks trash during the firefights so he is immediately more likable than Daniel. The weapons are for the most part clones of the original ones but are designed in a more imaginative way and have a few more creative ones than in the first Painkiller. The level themes, for the most part, do not stray too much from the demonic sensibilities and enemies populating them are at least coherently placed (ninjas in Asian level, scarabs in Egypt, evil knights in fairy tail level etc).

But I have to be objective, Overdose does have way weaker music and pretty long loading times though. Either way, I think many overlook Overdose and glorify the original when at least in my opinion Overdose improves on everything the first Painkiller did.

[Яedly Яed.暗赤色@Tsundere-Tiddy]

The loading times alone are inacceptable, it's an absolute flow killer and since Overdose appears to be harder than the original + its expansion, I won't get around without replaying sections / entire levels numerous times, which involves more loading screens. The game can be as great and fun for what it's worth, but if the technical aspects drag it down, I can't see myself enjoy it. It's a shame really, this is pretty high up there with the original, unlike the other standalone expansion packs.

[Knight of The Wind]

There is a fix for the loading times just make a "maps" folder inside of the "data" folder and the load times are shortened.

[Яedly Яed.暗赤色@Tsundere-Tiddy]

I know, but it's still too long for me, I don't know, maybe I'm spoiled or something but eh, should give it one more go someday I guess.

[Snow]

I think original is still the best. I prefer the map design there. But Overdose is fun and it is hard, even on normal, compared to original one.
Also I had zero loading problems.

[UmbralPenumbra]

Im gonna take a guess and say the original was not the one you played first. You probably played Overdose first.

Overdose and the other expansion werent made by people can fly, they just dont have the same feel or charm as painkiller or BooH

[terry309]

Both games are good but the original is better

Overdose has that Serious Sam 2 appeal in the sense that the levels are generally more vibrant and colourful with goofier elements but I do think that the original game is a lot more polished by comparison.

Also the levels you bring up that don't make sense actually kinda do in a way.

If you look at city on water for example, the sky is pure red and the location, venice is historically known as a land free from religion and considering that fact it was left in purgatory for what it represents. As for everywhere else, the ambient sounds do a pretty good job of creating a feeling of unease.

I like the variety in levels, it keeps things fresh.


I do agree though that Belial is cooler than Daniel, Daniel is still cool but Belial is even better.