Some of the best games of the arcade era came from Midway. Unfortunately, that success didn't transfer over to future console generations. Many of Midway's later titles went relatively unnoticed despite their phenomenal gameplay. The third-person horror shooter The Suffering is one of the many great Midway games that went overlooked during the sixth console generation.
The Suffering follows Torque, a new inmate at the infamous Abbot State Penitentiary sentenced to death for allegedly killing his family. Shortly after Torque's arrival, a violent earthquake releases a wave of nightmarish creatures within the decaying prison. Torque must escape the hellacious penitentiary before the soulless abominations drag him to hell.
The devilish monsters are some of the most creative enemies ever to grace a video game. The mastermind behind The Terminator and Jurassic Park's special effects, Stan Winston, created each monster, giving them distant characteristics that resemble different forms of capital punishment. One is covered in toxic needles to represent lethal injection, while another is fitted with multiple rifles to portray a firing squad. Every creature behaves differently from each other, forcing players to adapt their playstyle while battling specific monsters. They are some of the most disturbing creatures since Silent Hill 2 and are still as terrifying today as they were upon release.
The Suffering also gives players a ton of variety when it comes to playstyle and story development. Players can alternate between first-person and third-person at any part of the game, allowing them to customize their experience according to their preferred playstyle. Both views are equally enjoyable and fit perfectly with the game's fast-paced gameplay.
A player's in-game decisions will also dictate The Suffering's closing narrative. The game features multiple endings that paint Torque in very different lights. If a player decides to help the various survivors scattered throughout the prison, they will get an entirely different ending than if they murder everyone in sight.
The endings will also reveal more about Torque's past and explain what happened on the night of his family’s murder. Players will have drastically different opinions of Torque depending on which ending they unlock. Both are worth a playthrough, giving The Suffering tremendous replayability.
Although The Suffering is often regarded as a hidden gem, its graphic gameplay isn't for everyone. The game tackles some very mature subjects and features extremely gruesome death scenes. Gamers who get easily upset or squeamish might find The Suffering a bit overbearing. That being said, if you enjoy games that deal with mature themes and brutal violence, you might want to check out The Suffering.