Check the line-up of hit TV shows and you will find many that deal with special crime units. People are fascinated with the acts and the minds of these criminals. It’s not just TV though. Some of the biggest grossing movies have been based on or partly on the acts of a famous criminal. Perhaps people want to try and understand why someone can do the unthinkable? Or maybe it’s just due to the fact as humans we are curious by nature. While both TV and Hollywood have done a good job with some of the better shows and movies, they seem to almost place these criminals in the spotlight and glorify their crimes. Some shows, including some of my favorites, show the personality and mental state of the person and dig deeper instead of just showing their violent crime or action.

We know the horror genre is a popular one and there are some great games out there. A few are even loosely based on a real person or event and then the developers add their own take on it to make it a hit. Condemned takes a different approach. Instead of controlling the ‘nutcase’ and his gory actions, you are placed as the person trying to stop him. You’ll need to be the agent, the one who collects the evidence and also the psycho’s pawn in a real cat and mouse game. As interesting as the concept sounds, is the game really worth playing? Or just another attempt at cashing in on the horror fans out there? Read the full review of Condemned: Criminal Origins and see what I thought of this one from Sega.

Gameplay

As part of the Serial Crimes Unit, players will take on the role of FBI Agent Ethan Thomas who happens to get called in for his expert take on a strange murder that has some really bizarre circumstances. An expert and a profiler are needed to find out if the scene left clues or just the work of a madman. Here the game takes a twist right away and you find yourself in a first person view as Ethan for most of the game. Ethan has his forensic tools and his weapon and has been down this road before; not wanting to ruin the whole story but he also has a gift that even he has little knowledge of. What is the gift you may be asking? Well, let’s just say he has not tapped into it yet and thinks at times he is just overworked, but he sees things before they happen only in brief moments. Now this is all to set-up the game.

After being shown the horrible scene, the detectives leave you to do your thing. All of a sudden they learn the killer is still lurking around and they go to chase him down before he has a chance to escape. Armed with your issued 45 calibur handgun and a Taser (or stun-gun), you start collecting evidence and communicating with your partner who analyzes the evidence you find. The forensic kit Ethan has looks realistic and is not only used to gather key evidence but is also used as a distraction. You find a key lead and right as you send the data the story takes a twisted turn. You find yourself without your weapon looking up in the face of the killer and worse he toys with you telling you he will get away and they will now be looking for you. He killed the two detectives with your gun and framed you for the fall.

Now if it sounds like I just gave away too much, no worries that is just in the first ten minutes of the game. Ethan wakes up and is at his apartment greeted by an old friend of his father; his dad was also a decorated cop and good at what he did. This man tells you about the deaths of the two cops and that they will be coming for you and to use the gift you have. As Ethan, you’re thinking this guy is babbling but as you try and piece the info he is telling you, a knock comes to the door and they want you to surrender. The older man distracts them and lets you escape, now you’re wanted without your gun, and the only contact is your partner via telephone and scanner that still believes in you but tells you to hurry up and get the guy to prove it to everyone else.

Here is where Condemned starts to shine and shows its not like most other games in the genre. You have to find the killer and you already know that but the evidence you collected before getting thumped upside the head and framed shows a deeper plot. People are acting crazed and are killing others in a brutal way almost like they are out of their minds or under control? So you now have a serial killer to capture and need to find out if the two are connected. Of course the next few minutes in the game you meet up with these insane people and need to defend yourself or be killed. With no weapon, you need to grab whatever is nearby; a pipe, a sign – whatever to defend yourself. You have the Taser but that only stuns these crazed people for a few seconds and gives you enough time to disarm them or get in a few hard hits. Using a melee attack system without the standard combo system makes the fights even harder.

As you make your way through each level, the story turns from two plots to three and even more. Of course, I won’t ruin it by telling you everything but let’s just say Ethan is in for one really bad time. The fights and battles are not just for gameplay or to stretch out the game. At times you will stumble upon new evidence and some dead birds. Don’t ask if you play the game, you will know why they are dead and why you need to collect them. When you find evidence, you need to use the tool kit and a certain item ranging from a high-tech photo scanner to a chemical tracer. While you need to be accurate and zoom in at the right angle to collect and send the valuable clues, it acts as a distraction for the next plot twist. At times you will see a few moments in a black and white view of what happened before it happened. Yep, he sees into the future and while he can’t control or use it at will, it triggers when needed. It also tends to make things harder as the killer is using the crazed others to distract you and even shows himself to you several times but is always one step ahead.

You need to collect certain weapons to open doors or find a way to get to other levels. A mix of puzzles solving and part brawler, it also really does a great job messing with your head. Sound effects are the most used form but there are times when the Xbox 360 graphics come into play and will make even the toughest gamer jump a little. It plays on your reflexes as a gamer to create more of setting that fits well for a horror game. Scattered throughout the levels are hidden health kits and even firearms, but no ammo. You will also need to make choices of grabbing a better weapon and then needing to drop the other since you can only carry one at a time. You may make the wrong choice and need a crowbar instead of the axe you have now to open a new area. It is a cat and mouse game and done very well.

At times the cops are right on your heels only to be stopped by the same madman you’re trying to capture to clear your name. The old man is calling you and telling you about your gifts and to harness them and throughout the levels. Ethan will learn more than he bargained for. From train chases to running through the Metro area, Condemned does a decent job but at times the levels do get a bit old and seem familiar. Overall the game is messing with your mind and yes it is gory. After all, you don’t nail someone with an axe and not draw blood. The developers need credit for not overusing the blood and gore. It’s used when it makes sense and then they throw a new way to freak you out. The overall story takes many twists and turns. By the end, Ethan may be the one who goes mad but you will need to play it for yourself to find out what happens in the end.

Control / Playability

Learning the controls is easy and they are set-up perfect for this type of game. You use the right trigger to attack, the left trigger to block an attack, and the left shoulder button shoots the Taser. Doors and lockers are opened by the A button when not locked. Now the forensic kit can be tricky to get the controls down but there is on-screen guides and clues. Overall, the controls are great and learning the basics will take about 10-15 minutes.

Since the game is mainly melee style attacks and fights, the system may take a bit of time to get used to. You will learn that sometimes a swift kick is better than a blow from your weapon. If you are lucky enough to find one of the firearms scattered about the levels, a headshot will end the battle quickly and also has a cool visual. The camera seems to always be in the right angle and overall the controls are great.

Graphics / Presentation

It does not matter if you are playing on a HDTV or a regular TV; the game is shown in a letter box format which adds to the whole horror film feel. Most of the characters look great and the damage during the fights is very realistic. At times the graphics switch to black and white and will also use a foggy or out of focus effect. Of course this is all meant to mess with you and distract you. Rats and tin cans rolling will startle you but the real mind games are when you are face to face with the serial killer. The camera angle really makes it look like you are face to face with this sick person and will make anyone jump.

The levels are well laid out but at times do tend to seem a bit familiar and I would have like to see more additions to the layouts. They all are designed to get you lost and to set you up either for a massive fight with the deranged zombie like people who are acting violently or with the killer himself. Overall the graphics are well done and show some really neat tricks some that will rival real horror movies or shows. A bit more time could have been spent on the levels and the details but that’s not the main focus of this title.

Audio

Condemned does not rely on music to scare the player. The only time a light score will play is at a key place where you need to gather evidence. Instead it uses sound and the voice actors who do a great job (although they should have used the voice actors more often). At first most of the things that will startle you are rolling cans or a table being moved – cheap use of sound effects. Then you will learn you’re being set-up in a clever way.

You will get over the noises and not pay attention to them and that’s exactly what the developers had in mind, a false sense of security, it’s another gimmick to make me jump and then BAM! You missed a key sound cue smart move and very clever and this is the part of the game that really shines. You really need a 5.1 surround sound system or something other than your TV to fully appreciate the sound in this one. Overall the best use of sound effects I have heard in the genre in a very long time. The key roles Ethan, the partner that trusts you, and the mysterious old man that was your father’s friend are all well cast and they really do a convincing job.

Replay Value

Depending on what path you take and if you are trying to unlock and find everything, the game can take 6-9 hours to complete. You can go back and try to find the things you missed or win the awards like never using a firearm at all during the case. Achievements are plenty and most are marked as secret so there is a reason to replay the game again. Although only those really into the genre will replay it right away, most will let it go at beating the gamto the going back later on. An online mode would not have worked for the format. Some added levels would have been nice or the option to unlock the chance to play as the killer would have been cool. It certainly is worth it, fans of horror and adventure titles will certainly get the most out of this one.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 8.4/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

Condemned is not perfect but it is well done and provides enough tense moments that will mess with anyone’s mind. It’s gory and meant for the older players but I liked the fact they did not go for the gore too much. It kept my interest and the story and plot twists made this one more than your basic slash and bash game. A thriller that pulls it off and the only one right now for the Xbox 360; fans of horror will find it to be enjoyable and not as predictable as other titles in the past.

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