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No synopsis available.

Released in 2004, Painkiller was a first-person shooter developed by Polish studio People Can Fly and published by DreamCatcher Interactive. The game took players on an intense, fast-paced journey through a dark, twisted world overrun by hordes of demonic entities. Painkiller's story follows Daniel Garner, a man who is killed in a car accident along with his wife. However, instead of passing on to the afterlife, Daniel finds himself trapped in a nightmarish purgatory known as Judgment. This hellish realm is overseen by the demonic overlord Lucifer, who has instigated a war between the forces of heaven and hell. Tasked by a messenger of God, Daniel must fight his way through Judgment's tormented landscapes, battling swarms of vicious demons and other supernatural creatures. These environments range from the crumbling ruins of a medieval town to the toxic, industrial-themed complexes of a demonic factory. Each level is filled with a variety of uniquely-designed demonic enemies, from shambling zombies to towering, grotesque monstrosities. At its core, Painkiller is an unabashedly old-school first-person shooter, emphasizing frantic, intense combat over complex narratives or exploration. The game's arsenal consists of a varied selection of outlandish and unconventional weapons, including a fully automatic stake gun, an electrified "boltgun," and a scythe-like blade that can be hurled at foes. Combat is fast-paced and relentless, with hordes of demons constantly assailing the player. Painkiller encourages an aggressive, run-and-gun playstyle, rewarding players who can efficiently dispatch enemies and maintain momentum. Additionally, the game features a "Tarot Card" system, which grants the player special abilities and power-ups earned by completing optional in-level challenges. Upon its release, Painkiller was met with critical acclaim, praised for its visceral, uncompromising combat and its faithful homage to classic first-person shooter gameplay. Many reviewers highlighted the game's stunning, gothic-inspired visuals and the intense, adrenaline-fueled encounters with the demonic hordes. Painkiller went on to become a cult classic, spawning several sequels and expansions over the years. The game's success helped establish People Can Fly as a prominent developer in the first-person shooter genre, paving the way for their later work on titles like Bulletstorm and the Gears of War series. Even today, Painkiller remains a beloved and influential title, serving as a prime example of the kind of fast-paced, skill-based combat that defined the golden age of first-person shooters. Its unapologetic embrace of over-the-top action and demonic imagery has cemented its status as a unique and enduring entry in the genre.

The game features a cyberpunk plot within a dystopian world, and draws inspiration from the works of William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Philip K. Dick to create its story, setting and atmosphere. Hard Reset is modelled on video games such as Quake and Unreal, which results in more straightforward gameplay than most contemporary first-person shooters. The various stages have secret areas with hidden pick ups such as health and ammunition. The environments are designed similarly, as there are explosive barrels and various vending machines outfitted with electroshock anti-vandalism defenses, that can trigger splash damage by being shot at, scattered throughout the levels, which the player can use by luring enemies near them. Unlike most old-school first-person shooters, which feature a liberal variety of guns and throwable weapons that can be stored in a magic satchel-style inventory, Hard Reset features only two weapons, the CLN Modular Assault Rifle, and the EEF-21 Plasma Rifle. Both weapons have unlockable firing modes, the Modular Assault Rifle including the option to strap add-ons such as grenade and rocket launchers, and the plasma rifle allowing railguns and stasis modules.