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Pain (video game)

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Pain
Developer(s)Idol Minds
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Composer(s)Peter McConnell
EngineHavok (physics)
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Release
  • NA: November 29, 2007
  • PAL: March 20, 2008
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Pain (stylized as PAIN) is an action video game developed by Idol Minds and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was released as a downloadable title on the PlayStation Store in North America on November 29, 2007 and in the PAL region on March 20, 2008. The game was released physically in June 2009 in Europe, Australia and the United Kingdom.

By 2009, Pain had become the all-time most downloaded digital game on the PlayStation Store.[1]

Gameplay

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In Pain, the player attempts to damage a ragdoll character and the environment as much as possible by flinging themselves from a rubber-band slingshot, utilizing the Havok physics engine. Each character has distinctive poses and phrases, can move by "ooching" and can grab things to throw or hang from. Replay videos can be watched, and can be edited and uploaded to YouTube or the PlayStation 3's hard disk drive.[2]

Characters

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Besides the regular characters available, Santa Claus, Katsuaki Kato (Famitsu editor-in-chief), Elvira, Flavor Flav, George Takei, Andy Dick and David Hasselhoff were remade in the game.[3] PlayStation characters Buzz, Daxter and Fat Princess are also available.

Levels

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The original game download included only one level, "Downtown", a sandbox level with three unlockable environments. "Downtown" offered the modes 'Fun With Explosives', 'Spank The Monkey', 'Mime Toss', and 'Bowling'.[4]

On September 18, 2008, the "Amusement Park" level was added with one unlockable environment and four available modes including 'Hot N' Cold' and 'Trauma'. On November 13, the "Touchmounds Movie Studio" level was released which included a new mode named 'Cratetastic'.

On May 13, 2009, the "Sore Spots" DLC was added and included two environments: "Morningwood High School" and "Area 69". This level added new modes named 'PAINalympics' and 'Mad Science!'. On August 13, the developers added "Stiffsonian Museum" to the game.

In 2010, the "Alpine Ski Slope" level was added to promote the release of an update that enabled game functionalities for the PlayStation Move. On November 24, the game was updated with the final DLC level, named "Hurt Falls", which was released for free and sponsored by Axe. It included the mode Fun With Explosives.

Additionally, two Pain themed pinball minigames were made available for download, which include elements of "Amusement Park" and "Area 69".

Release

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In June 2009, SCEE announced that the game would get a physical release through Blu-ray disc format. It launched in Europe on June 24, 2009, in Australia on June 25, 2009 and in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2009. The Blu-ray version includes the original game as well as several other levels and features released as downloadable content for the PSN version.[5]

Cancelled PlayStation 4 version

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On October 25, 2013, Sony announced that Pain would be "reinvented" as a free-to-play game developed by Argentinian studio QB9 Entertainment.[6] Footage of the project was showcased as the 2013 Brazil Game Show however no release date was provided.[7] In 2015, the website for Idol Minds indicated it would be available on PlayStation 4.[8] As of June 2025, the game has not been released.

Reception

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PAIN

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PAIN received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9] GameSpot praised the game for its "great use of Havok physics engine" and "smartly sophomoric sense of humor," but criticized it for having just one level.[15] IGN said, "One level, two characters, no online multiplayer and no way to share crazy clips sucks. However, there are a ton of trophies to unlock."[17]

The game was referenced in the PlayStation 5 launch title Astro's Playroom, a celebration of the PlayStation brand.[19]

Amusement Park

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PAIN: Amusement Park received above-average reviews according to Metacritic.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Plunkett, Luke (January 26, 2009). "Open Up For A Strong Dose Of PSN Stats". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Cork, Jeff (August 6, 2008). "PAIN Gears Up For Amusement Park Expansion, More (Page 3)". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008.
  3. ^ "Bio: Kato San". PAIN. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Ingram, Christopher (November 6, 2010). "PAIN Review". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Payne, Joey (June 16, 2009). "PAIN On Blu-Ray Disc". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  6. ^ McWhertor, Michael (October 24, 2013). "Pain coming back to PlayStation Network as free-to-play title". Polygon. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "PSN ragdoll injury sim Pain returning as free-to-play game". Engadget. October 25, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  8. ^ "Games". Idol Minds Game Development. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "PAIN (2007)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Suttner, Nick (December 11, 2007). "Pain". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  11. ^ Mastrapa, Gus (December 31, 2007). "Pain". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  12. ^ Edge staff (February 2008). "PAIN". Edge. No. 185. Future plc. p. 95.
  13. ^ Androvich, Mark (January 10, 2008). "PAIN". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Buffa, Chris (December 3, 2007). "Pain Review (PS3)". GameDaily. AOL. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (December 10, 2007). "PAIN Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  16. ^ Lafferty, Michael (November 28, 2007). "PAIN - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Miller, Greg (November 30, 2007). "Pain Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "PAIN". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. February 2008. p. 90.
  19. ^ Hansen, John (November 12, 2020). "Every cameraman reference in Astro's Playroom". Gamepur. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "PAIN: Amusement Park". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Thomas, Aaron (September 18, 2008). "PAIN: Amusement Park Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  22. ^ Myers, Dallas (September 25, 2008). "PAIN Amusement Park - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Haynes, Jeff (September 22, 2008). "Pain: Abusement Park [sic] Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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