The Suffering

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Midway
  • Release Date: Mar 9, 2004
  • Also On: PC
The Suffering Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 47 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Suffering captures the disturbing and terrifying nature of the horror genre in a compelling third-person action/adventure game set in the mature and gritty world of a maximum-security prison. By alternating periods of tense and terror-filled exploration with frenetic combat sequences,The Suffering captures the disturbing and terrifying nature of the horror genre in a compelling third-person action/adventure game set in the mature and gritty world of a maximum-security prison. By alternating periods of tense and terror-filled exploration with frenetic combat sequences, The Suffering creates the ultimate experience of terror. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures jump out of shadows, fall out of trees, and erupt out of the ground, attacking the player in the most frightening ways possible. Along with a cast of uniquely hardened criminals and guards, you?ll battle not only the ghoulish apparitions besieging the prison but also the demons of your own forgotten past. The player controls the prisoner Torque, a hardened inmate in his late 20s, sentenced to die for a murder he may or may not have actually committed. Underneath Torque?s tough exterior hides a man who is not quite psychologically balanced, who fears far more than he would ever admit to. As a side effect of his mental instability, Torque has flashbacks to the events from his past, throbbing images that depict the events that lead up to the crime for which he was imprisoned. Torque is also subject to black outs where he becomes extremely violent and transforms into a massive monster hell-bent on destruction. [Midway]… Expand
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Trailer

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The Suffering Official Trailer 6

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 47
  3. Negative: 1 out of 47
  1. Cinescape
    100
    This is a game that needs to be played on Surround Sound (Pro Logic) or with a good set of headphones. It needs to be loud in the room, and it needs to be dark. It should be like any good horror movie.
  2. PSX Nation
    90
    Exceeded all expectations that I had for the game, and then some. It does everything a game of this calibur can possibly do, innovating on some aspects while integrating several new ideas, molding the genre into a fun, sadistic package the likes of which we rarely see.
  3. GameBiz
    85
    The Suffering is more about exploration and action and less about surviving does a great job of providing us a horrific action game.
  4. Yahoo!
    80
    Incorporates harsh violence, language, and imagery into a much darker, nastier action/horror title that takes its subject matter and protagonist seriously for a change...The Suffering offers a good mix of the violent, the visceral, and the visionary.
  5. GamePro
    80
    It's faster and nastier than most of the kindred of "Resident Evil" at the cost of losing a bit of edge. [May 2004, p.71]
  6. PSX Extreme
    76
    The Suffering has a lot of good stuff going for it – scary creatures, fast-moving gameplay, and a good story. It also has enough flaws that anyone who’s grown tired of the genre will likely be unable to look past its faults.
  7. games(TM)
    40
    It's not that this is a bad game, but to ignore the more important elements of gameplay in order to add more gratuitous elements to the cauldron is unforgivable, and in that sense The Suffering is most similar to Soldier of Fortune II and the like. [June 2004, p.123]
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See all 47 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. EdB.
    Jul 31, 2005
    10
    The reviews that dont like this game dont like a fear or a scare atmosphere. This game was great -period - for the non-whimp crowd. I have The reviews that dont like this game dont like a fear or a scare atmosphere. This game was great -period - for the non-whimp crowd. I have been playing for 20 years and this is the scariest video since the silent hill series. Resident evil does not hold a candle to this. Reviewers that had comments on controls, weapon management systems etc. just dont get it. You buy this game for the scare and atmoshere factor which cannot be beat! If you want super controls etc. stick to Ratchet and Clank this game is for the big boys not the whimps.… Expand
  2. DrKilljoy
    Mar 17, 2004
    10
    This is by FAR the BEST game I've played for a long long time, I will look forward for midway to continue to make games like this...this This is by FAR the BEST game I've played for a long long time, I will look forward for midway to continue to make games like this...this is the best scary action etc game made EVER! Nothing is wrong with this game at all...If I were to give it one bad thing to say about it, well that would be sometimes there is clipping, but I would never rate it lower than the highest score because the clipping isn't bad, not like every time, but in some areas, very few. This game is on my top 3 game list and I own 50 really good games for PS2. Great friggin job!… Expand
  4. ScottS.
    Apr 25, 2004
    10
    Its good to see that midway can actually make good games, after roadkill and the likes ive been a little skeptical as to how good a gaming Its good to see that midway can actually make good games, after roadkill and the likes ive been a little skeptical as to how good a gaming company midway was but after palying this and ballers and the highly anticipated psy ops i think that gamers and nerds alike can rest assured Midway is a good devolper, even though they did make road kill.… Expand
  5. JosephN.
    Mar 15, 2004
    9
    This is a great game,Best action/horror game i have played in a long time, it destroys resident evil as far as scaring you and game play.
  6. Shanemane
    Nov 29, 2019
    9
    This is one of my favorite horror titles for the PlayStation 2, i enjoyed the gameplay and atmosphere as well as the in game enemies based onThis is one of my favorite horror titles for the PlayStation 2, i enjoyed the gameplay and atmosphere as well as the in game enemies based on different forms of the death penalty. This game is by no means perfect, but i highly recommend playing this game if your a fan of action/horror titles.… Expand
  7. HardevS.
    Jun 13, 2005
    9
    Truly an original and spectacular concept. A great game accompanied with an intelligent storyline. Can't wait for Ties That Bind to come out.
  8. RR
    Apr 2, 2004
    5
    For a true look at what a "masterpeice", this game is, simply read Game Informer's April Issue second opinion.

See all 28 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best PS2 Game of 2004
34
#34 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2004
64
#64 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004