You don’t play Painkiller for the story. You play it to rip the souls out of monsters. Let’s talk about the real star. Every FPS has a shotgun and a rocket launcher. Painkiller gives you the Painkiller (the weapon).
It is a giant, spinning set of metal blades that you shoot at enemies. But wait, there's a secondary fire: You launch the spinning blades out and then retract them, slicing through anything standing between you and the blade like a giant, unholy yo-yo of death. Painkiller Black Edition
You also get freeze grenades, lightning guns that chain between enemies, and a rocket launcher that shoots shurikens and grenades simultaneously. The philosophy here is simple: if the weapon isn't fun to just shoot , it doesn't belong in the game. Painkiller is an arena shooter. Level design is simple: You enter a large, Gothic cathedral, a frozen harbor, a Roman bathhouse, or an operating theater in Hell. The doors lock. 50 demons spawn. You kill them. The doors unlock. Repeat. You don’t play Painkiller for the story
As you kill enemies, they drop green souls. Collect enough souls to fill a meter, and you earn a Tarot Card. These aren't just collectibles; they are modifiers. You can equip a limited deck of cards before a level to change how you play. Want to start every life with full health? Use The Heirophant. Want enemies to explode into shrapnel when they die? Use The Magician. Every FPS has a shotgun and a rocket launcher