Examining The Suffering Series | Prison Horrors

The Suffering Series is one of the better, overlooked third-person shooters with a dash of horror from the mid-2000s.
It's dark, it's edgy, it's very much a product of its time - a much better time for the industry. The Suffering series has one of the better-executed morality systems I've come across. Its smaller scope and focus allow several choices to add up over the course of both titles. It's not like a 30+ hour RPG where "choices matter" - more would turn into the illusion of choice.
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The Suffering has a simple, engaging story, that's told in an economical way. How it plays out will depend on your actions. That said, the second title, Ties that Bind, does over course correct in some areas. In some instances, it creates problems that didn't exist in the first Suffering. Still, it's a great game.
Both are worth your time if you haven't played. I've been meaning to check out The Suffering series for some time - I'm glad I did. As far as action horror goes, it's one of the better series around.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Prelude
01:50 - The Suffering Intro
05:10 - Presentation of The Suffering
06:06 - Gameplay of The Suffering
21:22 - Plot & Highlights of The Suffering (Spoilers)
31:53 - The Suffering: Ties That Bind Intro
35:47 - Gameplay of Ties That Bind
42:54 - Plot & Highlights of Ties That Bind
53:25 - In Conclusion of The Suffering Series
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#thesuffering #boulderpunch

[@BoulderPunch]

• PATREON: www.patreon.com/boulderpunch • KZbin MEMBERSHIP: kzbin.info/door/Ue2AK0iirPfXcDkYu5dWowjoin • TWITTER: twitter.com/boulderpunch1 Related Videos & Playlists: • Condemned Series Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL9iyzUyf92M_mCNDnBEXn_tOXj66rZfxa • Games Series Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on6zmZiNZt-pqqc&pp=gAQB • Manhunt Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL9iyzUyf92M8_KkdbxWg7eF01THWyL0bl • Max Payne Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL9iyzUyf92M_-iCmX5nGx0UabPvLnkkTo • The Suffering Series Game Patch: www.moddb.com/games/the-suffering/downloads/the-suffering-series-aio-patch • The Vulgar Wave article: lindynewsletter.beehiiv.com/p/vulgar-wave

[@sikevillian]

Love The Suffering & its sequel.. im hoping one day for a remaster, port, remake or hell a spiritual successor 🥺

[@SnakeBush]

Yes but wont happen

[@stefanoartuso001]

​@@SnakeBushmaybe a spiritual successor but its so forgotten I highly doubt it'll ever happen

[@kylereno5383]

Itll never happen.

[@Brucedoos]

Emulate it man, still a fun time 👍

[@screamybingus707]

​@Brucedoos it's on GoG for 10$, why emulate

[@Maioly]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3060">51:00</a> something I LOVE about this bossfight is that, if you're playing with good morality, Carmen will aid you in the fight by literally showing up to block enemy attacks, that always felt like such a cool turn.

[@Evil_Noah]

Really? I played through both games at least 3 times each (if not more) to get good, bad, and neutral endings. I don't remember that though. But it's been nearly 20 years, so there's that.

[@Maioly]

@@Evil_Noah its the main thing that stuck to me from.ties that bind, played the ps2 version a few times myself.

[@liquidrufus]

Dr. Killjoy would love to meet Alan Wake. Also love the dreamcast guy line truly savage.

[@Evil_Noah]

Or Issac Clark I'd imagine.

[@randalthor6872]

ahh I miss Alan Wake :) Sad that they changed it to Alan Woke now : (

[@Mankey619]

The Suffering is indeed an underated classic horror games made by the defunct Midway. I mean Stan Winston designed the monsters in this game, and not to mentioned it has that Clive Barker vibes all over it. Weird that no one has ever did a remaster port of these games.

[@Evil_Noah]

Ernesto was my favorite companion. He has a really nice voice. His dialog sounded sincere. Killjoy was really great too. I was happy to see his character return in Ties That Bind. The Suffering is not only an underrated series, but also has some good voice work, especially for a game from it's era.

[@Destiny2isthebestever]

@BoulderPunch I really appreciate how you just get right into the video man. No BS, just straight into it.

[@nnnneeeeuuuu]

The DreamcastGuy comment was Boulder Punch's brutally totally honest comment of the day

[@lordravenblade]

The Tommy Gun isn't really an odd choice when you consider the portion of the backstory where the island/jail/whichever (I don't remember off the top of my head) was used for bootlegging and mob activity back in Prohibition. It's implied or outright stated there were caches of guns and stuff left over from then.

[@Ricardo12487]

I played Suffering as a child, I didn't understand the story because I didn't understand English, but I still completed the game several times. Thanks to you, today I know the story.

[@SpectralSound.]

The suffering,condemned criminal origins,painkiller...such great games.

[@greglongmore6503]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="310">5:10</a> I always say this era's graphics required just the right amount of imagination, and they honestly took a back seat overall.

[@ODD17Ymusic]

Love your videos and the direction to channel has been going! We always seem to be on the same page / wavelength When it comes to gaming! The suffering is one of my favorite game series from the p s two era and it doesn't get enough respect in my opinion!

[@trxsh_oc]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1340">22:20</a> some of the most underrated voice acting of all time

[@edvinsrakickis8801]

God dammit this game deserves a remake. It's a shame it was so underrated and missed by many. The vibe this game builds is amazing.

[@gokudo1069]

The Dreamcastguy joke had me fucking dying lol

[@JordanJMyers]

Just replayed these not long ago. Still fun and wish they'd get a remake or something. Plenty of potential. Great vid man

[@jaykettavong4109]

I already know about the suffering but damn how is it’s like a once only done in a franchise the idea of a horror game being taken place in a prison sounds like a amazing idea

[@sukamadik5983]

Contrary to it's name this series is a wonderful delight to play through.

[@BadlyRoy]

"If graphics never evolved past this timeframe I'd OK with that." Preach. Fun, gamey games > cinematic, movie experiences.

[@r011ing_thunder6]

Fr. We never needed nor wanted a rdr2 game. Hell i hope they never release gat6 and rdr3 fr

[@ajaakola2]

Ps2 era look just works so much better in my opinion, also would had gave us some insane physics

[@EMO_alpha]

I agree. This, Manhunt, Halo 2. Silent Hill 2, Its right before games got really good looking. They still look they are supposed to be fun. Actually Ratchet and Clank has held on to that ps2 magic a little bit.

[@yoursonisold8743]

Or just have both. That's what these old games can't offer. They can be fun, but not look good (except for a couple of hyperstylized games). Modern games have the potential for both. But even then there is no excuse when MGS3 existed on the PS2. Truth is you nostalgia blind people just call anything you liked as a kid fun and then somehow make a nonsensical connection between graphics and fun game experiences yourself. Seriously, this nostalgic nonsense... PS2 games for the most part looked absolutely horrible. And before I hear any deflections about how cartoon graphics or the like looked always good, there are games right now with cartoon graphics or stylized artstyles which look far better than anything from the PS2 era without being hyper realistic too.

[@ARIXANDRE]

That Dreamcast Guy reference was much appreciated. 😉🤭

[@alexanderhaile6196]

I absolutely loved this game back in the day. It was one of those games I saw on the shelves at the rental store and ignored for a long time, and then one day my brother and I gave it a shot. We spent all night playing it and needing to take a break now and then to ease our nerves.

[@DamonLaRiche]

I wish I could go back and play these games again for the first time. They're great! A remaster would be epic

[@weirdautumn]

I actually really like the malefactors design and the lore around them. Would love to play a remake of those games one day

[@Carnate301]

These games is where I got my name from and I love, and still replay these games to this day. Nice video

[@zacharyharris2177]

Loved these games. Resident Evil and silent hill keep getting remakes left and right, so if they remade or even just remastered the suffering today it’s a safe bet it would do well. What would be great is if they did that and it revived the series with new entries. They can still do more with the premise they had if they wanted to. Have more locations and more monsters based on those specific locations histories

[@BabyArms]

Wow, never thought I'd be early to one of yours. Love your channel since I discovered it a few months ago. Looking forward to watching this.

[@briancoulombe4517]

It would be a surprise if Carnate island WASN’T haunted with that kind of history.

[@PlaceGunToHead]

Thx for the vid, brother - looking forward to the Nightmare creatures and Batman videos!!!

[@ravana7975]

Thank you once again, Boulder-sama

[@stitchfan93]

Great series! All the monsters were designed based on different punishment methods.

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

Another awesome treat, time to sit back and relax.

[@BriGuyIL1980]

I still have my copy. I usually do a playthrough every Halloween, but I'll be doing a playthrough in March in honor of its 20th anniversary.

[@thomascollett8776]

Been waiting for this one!

[@karljohan2300]

dr killjoy is just a perfect weird doctor character for a kinda cheesy horror game/movie

[@willowfrid]

I still play it on the computer, and I consider it one of the best horror games ever made, the monster design is totally amazing, sick and bizarre, I would love to see these monsters in high quality today, they would be the perfect representation of bizarreness

[@jurtheorc8117]

They're very awesome indeed. For other cool monster designs, have a look at the Zeno Clash games and Clash: Artifacts of Chaos. Creature designs range from stuff from the pages of medieval monster woodcuts to prehistoric animals to... well, whatever the heck the protagonist of Clash: AoC is. (the dev studio, ACE Team, made another lovely game with strange bizarre creatures by name of The Eternal Cylinder)

[@willowfrid]

@@jurtheorc8117 thank you!!!!

[@jurtheorc8117]

You're welcome, i hope you'll find them cool and interesting.@@willowfrid

[@davidbowers4270]

I’ve been trying to find the name of this game. But I couldn’t remember enough things about it. Thank you.

[@shawnfee9107]

The Suffering was so fun. I remember staying up all night with a buddy taking turns when one of us would die. Playing with all the lights off added a whole other level to the horror.

[@depsoul1604]

About time, I just finished this on my PC last month

[@deadgirl1172]

I remembered playing this as a kid along with my brother. We only found out about the different endings when I got the good one and he got the bad one

[@TheGamerLx]

Thanks to demos in other games i met this gem, one of the first scary games i played and i was hooked

[@theguyinthere]

i always thought the film ghost was what charley Chaplin would should like.😂😂

[@mosthole]

this game has always been one of my favorites for monster design, love when they do monsters that just feel overwhelming and impossible to survive against

[@hadiferlan3760]

The Suffering 2 is kinda mid for me. I like the first one more. The monster lores of how each of them came into existence and the hidden mystery of the island. Its funny even though the island has many proves of supernatural incidents, whoever who wants to built the prison in that island is an ignorant fool.

[@grimmumbra2600]

Wow… Someone still remembers Drakan. Neat.

[@nickgavis0305]

The first game was always one of my favorites. So underrated

[@torquetheprisoner]

a solid set of games loved them since they first came out

[@TheHorrorHistorian]

I remember liking the game in 2005 when I played it, I played both a few years ago and hated my experience... now thinking I should give them another chance

[@navyhusky2020]

That is the most Renderware-looking game that isn't actually a Renderware game lol

[@jonbourgoin182]

I miss this era of gaming so much. I hate what it is now.

[@lucascoval828]

Same.

[@albotroszzz8750]

Why did the Michigan Report from Hell video get taken down? Is there a link to watch/download it?

[@Mashita_Kills77]

Really love this SERIES!! The suffering glad I got them both for the ohh SoOo beloved!!✨ PS2✨😻💞💕🌟

[@StaindHand]

This game is and was so slept on

[@Cold_Zero_The_Wise]

Am i the only one who thinks that the female narrators mouth clicks have a certain natural charm to it?

[@Dimitri9511]

The Sequel to Halo 3 rat: *The Suffering Rat*

[@themarchinggoblin8294]

Always appreciate a good dreamcast guy joke 😂

[@IfYouInsist]

These were art of the highest order.

[@JellyJman]

These games were definitely overlooked. I loved these games

[@tristanjones7682]

I remember first playing this on a Xbox demo disc and a few years ago I got the real deal! This along with silent hill is one of my favorite horror games to play!

[@retrorockerross]

I remember renting the first Suffering and enjoying it. I knew of the sequel but never got around to it. Recently, both games were on sale dirt cheap on GOG, and I've been replaying them. Definitely some fun action horror titles. I would love to see a remaster, remake, or even a new game. Too bad Surreal Software was absorbed by Monolith (the guys who made those Mordor games.)

[@jonathanbell8887]

Such a damn good game. I beat the 1st game like 20 times. I loved that game. Only beat the second one maybe once. I barely even remember it.

[@stefanoartuso001]

I love the suffering, it's a real shame we wont ever see a third chapter (like half life)

[@Vladi_AK47]

While gameplay is outdated, it was fine on release. However, the story and atmosphere are still superb.

[@lucascoval828]

Wasn't too crazy about the Blackmoor twist. Also feels like there was too many unanswered questions.

[@djfanboyLIVE]

I've always thought this game would make for a fun movie or limited streaming series.

[@BlusViews]

Love it!

[@vagabondjp]

Really liked 1 over 2 because all the gameplay changes. The max payne kinda gameplay was much better. Though that pimp boss enemy design is really fucking good

[@xer0signal]

First game was the first time I heard someone say “cun*” in game and I was actually shocked

[@evolancer211]

Those rats remind me of rats in story book animations lol

[@bigtimthepeasant]

Lets goooooo. "How many time have I done this and I still hate it" gang rise up.

[@seannwilliam9557]

I bought this game on gog, my character won't stop walking forward, I'm not pressing any buttons, how do I fix it?

[@Paindriller]

Hope you'll do Cliver Barker's Undying someday.

[@StarwinMarvin1]

Great spooky game.

[@greenscreensformemes4875]

there was also the neutral ending were you accidentally kill your wife then one of your sons fell in the bath tub and drowned and the other son fell out of the window

[@Coccyx69]

There was a point where the United States Army owned the rights to this game and area 51 the games became free but still the last people I expected to own the rights to two PS2 games

[@SnakeBush]

No way bro nice game different era of games sehow we have regressed

[@yokai333]

These creatures definitely left an indelible mark on my youth

[@Horror_N_M3tal]

The monsters are based on different forms of execution.

[@deadbeataffiliates]

LETSFUCKINGGOOOOO!!!

[@Big_Dai]

I don't think Suffering is the kind of game a company remakes

[@Cam-pe3nd]

I'll have you know, my cat's name is Torque. And she came with that name.

[@theblobconsumes4859]

The music for the original game is excellent, some of my favorite combat tracks. Don't like Ties That Bind that much; Its visuals is the only positive in the game for me.

[@yoursonisold8743]

I'm so tired of nostalgia blind old men telling everyone how their prefered gaming period was the "golden age" or the best time for gaming. Completely aside from whether The Suffering games are all that good I just really can't hear it anymore. Take off those nostalgia glasses and realize that there were good and bad games in any decade since the 80s. And yes, a lot of the best games of every genre came out in the last 10 years.

[@FatalKitsune]

I never liked The Suffering and it's always made me feel like a crazy person, since everyone always talks so highly of it. I've tried multiple times to enjoy it, thinking the problem was just me and I needed to give it more of a chance but it just doesn't click with me and I don't quite know why.

[@frogin2700]

Would love to see siren blood curse on ypur channel

[@anthonynegron]

Wtf is the guy talking in the very beginning the spokesman for Arby’s???

[@heretic0014]

You forgot to review another underrated horror game: Spec Ops The Line.

[@ertuio20002]

Objective: kill people *kills people* Wow you are a horrible human being

[@Alkal1nes]

It's massively overrated.

[@user-iq6sg3hz5s]

​@@Alkal1neswhat?

[@vicentetomas8836]

@@Alkal1nes It's funny because the game was underrated when it released, as everyone just believed it to be a cod clone (as they were many at the time). But in the era of youtube essays and retrospectives, it became the go to game for youtubers to be like "Guys this game is actually nuts and stuff". So It went all the way to overrated.

[@RootVegetabIe]

​@@vicentetomas8836Who gives a fuck. Over/under rated is the least interesting thing anyone can say about a game. Dull as fuck.

[@bigboss4993]

I played this way too young I think I was like 7

[@greenheadblackvoodochild2487]

Fellow misophonia sufferer here , the mouth clicks being excruciating uncomfortable to listen to is cos you have misophonia too

[@gualbertoferrer9268]

Fuck resident evil and fuck dead space the suffering is the best horror game ever

[@KillinCat]

Hey I did a Let's Play of these games! I covered every outcome and morality choice in it, plus a pure neutral follow up run for Ties That Bind. They're amazing games. I got the voice actor for Ranse Truman to come back and voice all his unspoken lines, including loading screen ones! He had an interesting story about his role where he was just kinda there and thus was casted. He also did the narration for the movie G-Force, and had a similar tale! His name is David Markus, he goes by The Vocal Chameleon, and it really fits because he's in so many things and I never know it's him. He's a really cool guy, check him out if you get the chance!

[@dieyng]

If early nineties until late 2000s was the vulgar times, then we have to live in the wimpy, no skill, nothing unsettling era now, where women should not look good in video games. 🙂

[@RootVegetabIe]

You're going to die a virgin.

[@Postc0ital_mal0ne]

A black protagonist was pretty rare too. From that to the rating, issues of murder, rape, esp involving kids, these devs took a huge gamble and deserve props!

[@joshuabernardo4305]

I liked you until you dissed Arby's