Condemned: Criminal Origins (X360)

“I stopped playing the game at about level 3 when I first got the game, thinking it was boring. The gameplay, though original, moved too slowly for my tastes and was too repetitive. I picked it up again months later, and as soon as I got past...”

“I stopped playing the game at about level 3 when I first got the game, thinking it was boring. The gameplay, though original, moved too slowly for my tastes and was too repetitive. I picked it up again months later, and as soon as I got past level 3, the game really caught hold of me. The pacing, storyline, and level design seem to really come together at that point. The last few levels are striking. They make excellent use of mood and make full use of the game's immersion. The story itself is tastefully ambiguous. As the game ends, like in any good horror movie, you still have several questions about the characters, their motivation, and their general situation.

In short, the game is memorable. Though it has its flaws, they become forgotten when looking back at the experience.”

“The Condemned series has always intrigued me & the first was the best :)”

“The Condemned series has always intrigued me & the first was the best :)”

“This is an often overlooked gem of a game. Granted it has some flaws and towards the end of the game it can get frustrating, but this game has some of the best atmospheric horror I have seen in a game.”

“This is an often overlooked gem of a game. Granted it has some flaws and towards the end of the game it can get frustrating, but this game has some of the best atmospheric horror I have seen in a game.”

“Horror, terror and suspense. Films have been made that are without peer when it comes to producing a spine-tingling atmosphere. Invariably, these are films from yester-year, because you have to be a certain age to be taken in by scary movies. Films...”

“Horror, terror and suspense. Films have been made that are without peer when it comes to producing a spine-tingling atmosphere. Invariably, these are films from yester-year, because you have to be a certain age to be taken in by scary movies. Films like Jaws, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Predator and even Terminator. Watching those for the first time was an experience I have never forgotten. But to this list of terror-inducing experiences, you can add this game.



Now, for the sceptics amongst you, the question might be running through your mind that asks what sort of a baby you have to be to jump out of your skin in this game at regular intervals. Well, if you think of it this way, there are very manytried and tested ways to induce terror and horror whilst following something on the magic box. And everyone of these techniques is used to great effect in this game. Moody lighting? Check. Brutal and gory violence? Check. Long and poorly lit corridors? Check. And the list goes on. And even though you recognise the setups and the different techniques being used, you still can't help but be on edge whilst playing this game.



This game also features a very distinguishing piece of pub trivia. For anyone that is a fan of Heroes, you may be pleased to know that the voice of the main character, Ethan Thomas is voiced by none other than the actor Greg Grunberg. Otherwise known as the mind-reading cop from Heroes, also known as Matt Parkman.



Something for the next pub quiz. But anyways, there is a lot of hokum about some evil that only you can stop. Something to do with your heritage, etc. In all honesty, I played this game so long ago, I don't remember the ins and outs of this game, only that there was a lot of scary screaming, lots of bone-crunching violence and even some very rudimentary forensic detective work. This game is certainly not a CSI-show equivalent. It's not even a CSI-game equivalent. You do get some funky gadgets, but forget about using your detective skills to crack a case. Handholding, thy name is Condemned. And behold, the magic mobile that can do it all. iPhone, eat your heart out.



But back to the violence and the game. You must remember that this was one of the first wave of games released all the way back sometime in 2005. And as such, it is now available for an absolute bargain price. You really have to treat yourself. It is not the most difficult of games. There is even the very handy carrot of a steady stream of achievements per level. But it is frantic, sporadically terrifying and every bit a unique experience as one of those 80's horror films. I know that Bioshock made it quite stylish to dispatch of splicers with a wrench, but Condemned made it brutal.



Thankfully, this game slipped under the BBFC's radar, otherwise there would be another game slapped with a ridiculous ban that would be overturned on appeal. If this game is not yet on your gamercard, get it, play it and see what 360splurgeVice_Destroyer classes as a terror-inducing game.”

“Its got a good story.”

“Its got a good story.”

“This game is a good suspense triler. If you like to get scared, this is a good game to choose for yourself and has good story to it not the best but still good overall.”

“This game is a good suspense triler. If you like to get scared, this is a good game to choose for yourself and has good story to it not the best but still good overall.”

“First person melee combat usually turns out shit. This game is no exception.”

“First person melee combat usually turns out shit. This game is no exception.”

“scary game will freak you out if played in the dark but awsome”

“scary game will freak you out if played in the dark but awsome”

“Game was okay, but the collectables were dumb and if you miss one you have to replay the entire level. Also the game glitched out on me at the end of the end level and I couldnt ue a weapons so I had to knock the difficulty down to easy and use kick”

“Game was okay, but the collectables were dumb and if you miss one you have to replay the entire level. Also the game glitched out on me at the end of the end level and I couldnt ue a weapons so I had to knock the difficulty down to easy and use kick”

“In a world filled with crazy, homicidal bums, one man must hit them with sticks, pipes, and whatever else he comes across. There are parts of this game that made me jump and scream like a little girl. Gamepllay is clunky and frustrating, though.”

“In a world filled with crazy, homicidal bums, one man must hit them with sticks, pipes, and whatever else he comes across. There are parts of this game that made me jump and scream like a little girl. Gamepllay is clunky and frustrating, though.”