Painkiller Hell & Damnation first look at E3 2012

Internet personality, shoutcaster and indie game reviewer John “TotalBiscuit” Bain was afforded the opportunity to get an exclusive look at Painkiller Hell & Damnation (Painkiller HD) at E3 2012. The game is touted as a re-imagining of the original 2004 Painkiller, with some familiarity for veterans of the game, but with new secrets and enemy actions to experience.

Painkiller HD is under development by The Farm 51, based in Poland, and it will utilise Epic’s Unreal Engine 3. The team boasts developers who worked on titles such as the original Painkiller, The Witcher and Two Worlds II. Nordic Games will publish the title.

The title has largely been kept under wraps until now, but Nordic Games’ Reinhard Pollice was confident enough to whip out his laptop at E3 2012 and show off some live alpha gameplay footage while talking us through the game.

Pollice said that the game is remaining true to the roots of the original Painkiller, which is by and large considered a near-perfect example of the old-school, fast-paced run n’ gun shooter genre.

The physics and player movement will be similar to that of the original, with some tweaks and additions to bring gameplay up to modern standards. Large-scale boss fights will feature.

Classic weapons return alongside new additions, with two firing modes. Likewise, the rock and metal soundtrack will be back in action.

Numerous multiplayer modes will be included, but details have yet to be shared. Pollice indicated that Nordic Games has plans to offer competitive-level support for Painkiller HD.

“We’re proud of the shiny new splendor of the game’s graphics, but we’re doubly proud we’ve made player skill the most important part of the game. In addition to the single player campaign, we’re putting a tremendous emphasis on the game’s multiplayer component” said Pollice in a press statement.

Pollice revealed that they plan to have the game ready to ship by October 2012.