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In the past, many games have tried to horrify you and leave you waking up to nightmares. While some games can succeed and creep you out, usually horror games are filled with cheap scares that don’t leave a very big impact. Condemned: Criminal Origins creates a different style of horror by using one of its best qualities; the environment. While the game does consist of linear level design and straightforward gameplay, it will be one of the scariest games you will ever play.
You are Ethan Thomas, a man who is part of the F.B.I. and has been working with the Serial Crimes Unit. When you arrive at the first crime seen, strange events start occurring and due to circumstances out of your control, two of your partners are shot with your own gun. Now you are wanted for murder and the only way to get yourself out of this mess is to track down and find the criminal who did this in the first place. To help you on your journey you will be accompanied with Rosa, a woman from the bureau who still trusts you and can give you information via cell phone. Throughout Ethan’s quest, he will encounter evidence and other data to send back to Rosa. Finding evidence can be easy since you are told when to bring out what type of item such as a camera or ultra-violet light, nevertheless it is still a nice detour from the combat, which is very gruesome.
The enemies you face in Condemned are not monsters, you're not even fighting a corporation destined on taking control of the world. They are outcasts, or as some gamers now like to call them, “hobos.” Even though they may be reminiscent of hobos, they are very smart and will block, hide, and plan attacks so when you bash their skull it really makes you feel like you’re hitting someone who had a plan and felt more than just another enemy. Although, before you encounter the enemy you might want to think about what type he is. They can be slow yet powerful or fast yet weak, make sure you know who you are fighting and sometimes the enemies will pick fights with each other so sit back and enjoy the battle. All of these “humans” are crazed and feel the need to kill you for trespassing in their dark, dirty homes.
Instead of being allowed to bring in a shotgun and waste all the baddies, you are left with nothing so you must find your own means of protection. Taking on the likes of Chronicles of Riddick you must use melee weapons to dispose of your foes. While you do find machine guns, shotguns, and pistols throughout the game they are very rare and contain little bullets. Use your flashlight (which thankfully has unlimited batteries) to spot areas that you would find something to wield. Grab pipes off of the ceiling, wood from broken debris, or maybe smashing a paper cutter to use the sharp handle is more your style. This is what keeps the environment in mind while making your way through the game. Every weapon has statistics such as power, speed, and how fast you can block with it. If you have a weapon in hand and want to pick up a different one that looks powerful, a comparison bar will pop up and tell you how it is better or worse than the weapon you are currently holding. Combat is frantic and much deeper than you would think for such a straightforward system and since each weapon has different statistics you will need to time your blocks and act when it is time for a counter attack.
Easily, the best quality Condemned: Criminal Origins has is that the environments while linear, are insanely eerie and will keep you on your feet the whole game. The levels don’t change too drastically but you will find yourself roaming through houses, schools, and later in the game, a barn. It is hard to explain just how creepy it can be but if you play at night with all the lights turned off you will know what I mean. The beautiful lighting doesn’t hurt the mood all that bad either. You always stay in the first-person perspective despite a few cutscenes so you will see the lighting at work as it blooms through cracks and shines on the sharp edge of your bloody axe. Since there is no music but the sounds of angered and psychotic enemies you will be smart to listen around corners for threats.
Condemned is definitely one of the best Xbox 360 launch titles out there. It's great fun and the scariest game I have ever played. It consists of a great story and will keep you going wanting to know what the next part is or how the next of its many twists will turn out. The thing that really hurts this game is that it’s short and will only offer you 10-12 hours of gameplay, even though there are many Xbox 360 achievements hidden throughout the game, in the end you are only left with the single-player and trying to get yourself ahead on the leaderboards. Condemned seems to have the power of an axe although it's as fast as a swing of a pipe. When you first pick up your Xbox 360 and you are looking for a good horror game, Condemned just might be the best bet. |
Comments on this article
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Rob Rymond 16 December 2005 11:53 AM
This arrived today, can't wait to play it later!
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Chris Jarrett 13 December 2005 6:02 PM
Anyone that likes scary games...and doesn't have a 360 get System Shock 2.
That is the scariest game I have ever played, and still gives me chills 2 + years later.
anywho, once/(if) I get a 360 I'm pickin this bad baby up.
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Matt Jarosz 13 December 2005 4:04 PM
Hmm, I wanna try this.
I have yet to play a scary game- RE4 is the closest that a game has ever come and thats only because of the psycho chainsaw guys
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fishwood 13 December 2005 2:48 PM
This looks awesome, if i get soem spare cash i will pick it up.
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Eddz 13 December 2005 1:40 PM
My pants are not looking forwards to me playing this one.
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AmpleTube 13 December 2005 10:56 AM
Had a play on this round my mates the other day. It is truly amazing, and believe the hype!!! 
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Tony 13 December 2005 10:04 AM
I dont know if i should belive the hype im gona rent this one, due to the high reviews.
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13 December 2005 9:17 AM
it sucks
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Arron Hanley 13 December 2005 2:14 AM
Really enjoyed the review Paul, slowly increasing me to purchase a 360 in a few weeks. 
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Paul Prince 12 December 2005 9:27 PM
It's an incredible game and i HIGHLY suggest you at least rent it if you get the chance.
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Lee Matthews 12 December 2005 9:09 PM
Weird it doesnt ave Criminal Origins on my box, meh still an awesome game, the only game that has EVER made me jump
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Spencer Lambert 12 December 2005 8:10 PM
That box art shot just makes me scared...
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| Platform: |
Xbox 360 |
| Publisher: |
Sega |
| Developer: |
Monolith Productions |
| Origin: |
UK |
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| UK release: |
15 November 2005 |
| PEGI (UK): |
16+ |
| ESRB (US): |
M |
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| Genre: |
Action |
| Players: |
1 |
| Multiplayer: |
Not Available |
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Extra features:
Summary:
Developed by award-winning Monolith Productions, the game allows players to experience an unnatural level of psychological tension as they use their instincts, forensic tools, and melee combat to track serial killers and bring them to justice. Gamers will play as Ethan Thomas, an FBI agent in the Serial Crimes Unit (SCU), whose pursuit of relentless serial killers leads him through detailed urban environments filled with deadly sociopaths who lurk on the periphery of humanity.
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