Video Games
3D Realms’ ‘Painkiller’ Delayed to October 21
Fans waiting for the return of Painkiller will have a slightly longer wait. Originally set for release on October 9, developer Anshar Studios and 3D Realms have announced that the reimagining of the cult shooter will now be launching for PC and consoles on October 21.
Announced via X, the reasoning for the delay is to give the team the time needed for polishing. This will not affect pre-orders, which is obviously a good thing, seeing as the digital pre-orders include the “Iron Crusade” skin pack as a pre-order bonus. And for those physical media fans, it again just gives you more time to snag those pre-order bonuses.
Much like in the original 2004 game by People Can Fly, the reimagining sees you trapped in Purgatory, sentenced for your transgressions against Heaven. But the Voice of the Creator gives you a chance to redeem yourself. As one of the Champions, you are to stop the fallen angel Azazel who is about to unleash his demonic armies onto Earth. You will face hordes of enemies, demons with unique powers and three monstrous children of Azazel – the Nephilim.
Jump, dash and hook across vast biomes while fighting nightmarish enemies in bloody, fast-paced combat with a host of new and classic Painkiller weapons. This time around, you play as one of four distinctive characters – Ink, Void, Sol and Roch – and take advantage of their unique perks to boost your energy, health, power and damage. You also have your trusty Tarot cards to upgrade your abilities, rank up to expand your arsenal. And as before, you can choose to blast your way through hordes of demons in either solo or in online co-op for up to three players.
Painkiller will release for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
Black Tabby Games has dropped a little update on the progress for Scarlet Hollow, announcing that writing work on their planned expansion to the game’s first five episodes has finished, with the team pivoting to the art. Testing for the update is set to begin in “about a couple of weeks,” though if you’re a Patreon member, you can get early access to it.
The update adds around 70,000 words of new and remastered content, with most of it expanding some of the shorter sections. The update also tweaks certain aspects of gameplay, as well as adding more dialogue (obviously) between characters, and even revamps one of the endings to the fifth episode.
The team also confirmed that writing for Episode 6 is well underway, though no release date has been announced.
Currently in Early Access on Steam, Scarlet Hollow is an immersive horror-mystery with sharp writing, impactful choices, and meticulously hand-drawn art. What was supposed to be a quiet getaway in the rural mountains of North Carolina to meet your long-lost cousin and comfort her through her mother’s funeral, has turned into a nightmare of cryptids and other supernatural horrors. You only have to survive a week. But can you get to the bottom of these mysteries haunting Scarlet Hollow before they claim your life?
If you’re keen on learning more about the game, check out Aaron’s review of the first five chapters.