Even today, when hardware effortlessly renders billions of pixels, sprites, and polygons that look like they came out of someone's doctoral thesis on animation, it is not at all easy to make a run-and-gun that visually dazzles while remaining playable.

There are plenty of fantastic games that are Doom-like today, games like the amazing Prodeus (review coming soon). A game where the pixel graphics and the limitations of old school shooters work in the game's favor. This, however, is not that. Yes, I'll start in a somber tone, because how else to begin a review of the Painkiller reboot? 

Even if you have never played a Ninja Gaiden game, you will quickly find your way around because the tutorial is excellent, and later you have many opportunities to practice specific moves with your sensei.