Condemned: Criminal Origins Review (no fat)

Game Description

Ethan Thomas, a Serial Crimes Unit agent, is an outstanding officer who's trained to deal efficiently with serial killers. He is also the best among his peers. This does not prevent him from being framed for the murders of a couple of colleagues though. As the unfortunate scapegoat, Ethan rapidly finds himself rejected by everybody, and can only rely on himself and his own capabilities to get out of this mess -- even if doing so involves roaming dangerous suburbs, brimming with criminals, at night -- grudgingly proceeding without ever turning back.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Gameplay

Condemned may first come across as a typical first-person shooter, but it features adventure parts that require you to do some detective work. As such, the game is a subtle blend between two distinct genres. This coupling of different action phases is handled superbly, and contributes to give Condemned a unique setting. As Ethan Thomas, your task is to survive in an exceptionally dangerous city while investigating the bizarre events that keep occurring around you.

Condemned isn't a game where you have several guns, as well as an almost infinite supply of ammunition, to deal with your foes. Blasting your way through the city is not something that you can do, unless you want to be ripped apart almost instantly. Instead, you must rely on stealth, and need to find your own weapons, which are not necessarily firearms. Be it a crank, a pipe, or a mere sledgehammer, everything must be used to your advantage in this frantic quest.

Your ability to handle each weapon varies upon the latter’s characteristics, and each will excel in a given situation. You will thus find it easier to swing a pipe, as opposed to brandishing a heavy axe. It is up to you to assess which weapon is more effective in a certain situation. Keep in mind that you can always carry only one weapon, and Condemned suddenly becomes even more vicious.

You'll soon find out that everybody in the city is after you, and that your chances of surviving are almost non-existent. Since you are a cop, it's no surprise everybody wants you dead. These criminals won't be easily stopped, and their creepiness is only matched by their sneakiness, as they show up when you least expect them. They will gang up on you, and seek all possible methods to put an end to your life. They are also more intelligent than they may look, and know how to put you off-guard during battles.

It's not just a matter of walking around and gleefully hitting the bad guys though. Condemned has other features to make it a thoroughly interesting game. In addition to the frantic battles, you also have to take Ethan out of this mess by proving his innocence. You thus call upon your detective skills to find out what happened, and this involves using your forensic tools to gather evidence that can ultimately be used to expose the truth. Such tools include a digital camera and a laser light, whose usefulness you will never question.

Your struggle takes place mostly in the dark, and you can only use your flashlight to vaguely make out your surroundings. Even then, you can't see much, and can only advance cautiously while watching out for signs of possible attacks. This keeps you on the edge of your seat, as you can never know what will come up next. You, therefore, need to learn to recognize the ominous sounds, as these are often the best indication of what danger lurks ahead.

Condemned: Criminal Origins – The Limitations

Condemned is quite short, as you find yourself reaching the excellent conclusion within six hours. It is also a linear adventure, and does not offer alternative paths to explore. While you do need to use your detective skills to move on and uncover the horrible truth, this is always done in a fixed fashion. The puzzles are generally easily solved, and you won’t find yourself at a dead end due to those. Moreover, you cannot freely explore the city, as you are always confined to a certain location. This gives the game a low replay value. The lack of a multiplayer option also hurts the game.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Visuals

Condemned has a dark setting, but is nevertheless aesthetically pleasant. The characters are realistic, and the animation remains smooth without any slow-down. Moreover, the setting is atmospheric, with well-designed and lush backgrounds. From decrepit buildings to roads covered with litter and glass shard, each location is brimmed with details to make it unique. Deaths are gruesome in their realism, as corpses fold on themselves and decay.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Sound

Music is kept to a minimum, and ambient noises, such as branches cracking under footsteps, constitute the core of the sound in Condemned. They play an important role throughout the game, and their realism shows that. The sharp metallic sounds of weapons hitting each other and the brutal crushing of your enemies' bones further add an oppressive mood to the game. The crisp voice-acting gives each character personality, and this makes the process of killing them even more enjoyable as they stutter their final words in agony. You however need a 5.1 surround setup to fully appreciate Condemned's sound.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Final 2cents

While it suffers from its linearity and lack of replay value, it is nevertheless one of the best launch titles for the Xbox 360. Play it at night with all your lights off and with the sound cranked up, and you will be immersed in an enthralling adventure that will continually scare and entertain you.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Cost

Condemned retails for $59.99US at the time of this review.