Condemned: Criminal Origins

I posted this review at my gaming site D-Pad Junkies, but I thought I'd share it here, too. It's one of my favorites that I've written.

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Genre: Horror
Platform: Xbox 360
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: Sega

Condemned: Criminal Origins does not revolutionize video games. Yet everything Condemned does, it does very well. The way in which the story unfolds through clues is intriguing. The combat, while simple, never grows tired. The sound will send shivers down your spine. Plus, it is o­ne of the best looking Xbox 360 games to date. It isn't glitchy like some of the other first generation games are. Monolith and Sega got it right with this o­ne, and if there is o­ne Xbox 360 game you need to experience, it's Condemned: Criminal Origins.

I use the word "experience" rather than "play" simply because Condemned feels more like a suspense thriller unraveling before your eyes than something you directly affect the outcome to. It makes you feel like you are actually in the middle of something huge going o­n around you. The game revolves around the player-controlled character of Ethan Thomas, an FBI agent, who is following up o­n a routine call. He is a serial killer investigator who arrives with the police o­n the scene of a murder. Eventually, things turn from bad to worse as he quickly finds himself implicated for the deaths of two police officers. Not how you want a routine call to turn out.

Condemned, as you can imagine, is not a peace and love game, but rather a game that will bring you to many everyday settings that are filled with many undesirables. Some locales may feel familiar, but they definitely do not put off a feeling of comfort. Grisly images of department store mannequins, deranged lunatics who like to beat you over the head with any nearby item they can find, and unsettling evidence are just a few of the things you can expect to run across during your journey.

Fortunately for you, Ethan Thomas, you've got some help o­n the inside. Rosa is your real-life lab partner that you'll be in contact with throughout the investigation. As you collect evidence, it is immediately transmitted via cell phone to Rosa's computer for analysis. It's very cool and high tech. She gives her report in real-time and aides in deciphering the meaning of the clues as well as where your investigation should lead you next. The forensic aspect of the game is the part that truly makes Condemned shine. The o­nly drawback that some gamers may balk at is the handholding the game does for you during these forensic moments. You are limited to o­nly certain areas that require scanning for evidence, and the game automatically selects the appropriate tool. However, I can't really knock the game for this handholding, because it does play into a storytelling element that I dare not reveal. Trust me, the last thing you want to be doing in these completely creeped-out environments is fumbling around in your inventory while a depraved thug whacks you from behind. If it was truly a shortcoming, at least the designers made up for that fact in an intelligent way that worked.

Combat is handled in a very interesting way. Not o­nly is all of the gameplay in first person perspective, but the combat is just as gruesome as some of the evidence you find. Armed with o­nly an FBI standard issue taser, it is in your best interest to find a weapon and hold o­n to it. As you progress through various locales investigating clues, you will find all sorts of items to use as weapons. You'll run across everything from pipes and entry tools to firearms and locale-specific objects. And you'll need the right weapon to not o­nly take down your assailant but to defend yourself as well. Each potential weapon is graded in damage, blocking, speed, and reach. As you walk over a useable item, a little bar graph pops up o­n the screen that shows these attributes. When given more than o­ne weapon option, it is a very useful tool in deciding which item is the best weapon for the situation. While it may seem that firearms are the ideal weapon of choice, keep in mind that ammo is limited.

While bludgeoning these deranged baddies is brutal fun, it doesn't change much as the game progresses. However, there is the optional "finishing move" to help mix things up a bit. For instance, o­nce the player wears down an opponent with 1-2 hits depending upon the weapon, a small D-Pad will appear o­n the screen. The four directional buttons o­n the D-Pad represent a different move, and you get o­ne chance to finish off this stunned enemy with a violent move. Another interesting aspect that adds to the combat is watching enemies interact with each other and the environment. It is not uncommon to walk into a firefight between several enemies and watch at least o­ne of them get finished off. Or better yet, when o­ne of the enemies searches for a different weapon and then joins the beating. That's a nice interactive touch to the overall experience.

The thing that makes Condemned so great is that it never lets the player get bored. While the story definitely alludes to more than is revealed, there is always a new, disturbing clue to discover, more weirdoes to encounter (they get weirder and tougher as the game progresses), and another unsettling locale to visit to keep you guessing. The game keeps you o­n your toes with its eerie sounds as well. Ambient noises seem so real you'll find yourself looking over your shoulder, especially if you experience this game alone in the dark. You're likely to exhale a sigh of relief o­nce the experience comes to an end; however, don't be fooled. I guarantee you'll never look at department store mannequins the same again.

4.5 out of 5