Condemned 2: Bloodshot

When the x-box 360 first launched a couple of years ago one of the most promising looking launch titles was Condemned: Criminal Origins. All though Condemned didn't really get the hoo-haa i was expecting it spawned a sequel.

If there's one thing i don't understand it's why the first condemned never came out on ps3 but the sequel came out on PS3 too. But i'm very glad the game reached the sony console.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot follows on a couple of months after the first game. Ethan Thomas our favourite forensic investigator has resigned from SCU he's homeless and an alcoholic. The character has changed drastically since the last game as you can see. Ethan is called back with the loss of his friend Malcom Vanhorn and the return of the infamous SKX.

Basically, Condemned is a true to the genre Survival Horror. It actually lives to the name unlike other survival horror games. It greatly blends aspects of survival and horror.

The survival aspect is well done. The fact that you must think on your feet and make split second decisions and furious action going on around you. Anything and pretty much everything can be used as a weapon and this is a good point.

The horror part is quite obvious. You walk around grimy streets being attacked by figments of your imagination and insane killers. The levels are filled to the brim with atmosphere. It's very scary. Sometimes you will just randomly walk into a room and expect nothing to happen but suddenly your getting bricks thrown at you by a lunatic.

The game does use guns but doesn't emphasise on using them often. When you use guns your ammo runs down quickly and it's a while until you find ammo or another gun. Also as a great feature you can drink alcohol when your using a firearm to "calm" your nerves and make your aiming more responsive.

Overall a game that truly is scary, effective in gameplay and brims with good atmosphere.9/10 My tip: Turn off all your lights and turn the volume up real loud for maximum effect.

Why does it feel so awful to play, the first one was a nice, simplicity combat design, there was a block button and attack button, now I have to use both shoulder buttons to attack and press together to block and Perry, it feels way to flimsy, doesn't have the Power feeling I want.

And the game is so dark, It's hard to see anything, it has the perfect gross feeling, but I cannot see anything, the fov is low, every time I get hit I can't see anything, I feel like I get hit not because I can't attack but because I cannot see anything.

When mystery gets lifted and every question gets answered, but in a silly way, it take the horror out of it, It's more feels like hobos fighting hobos in this one.

As a game I just don't think it comes together. It has one amazing Bear level, it has combat that is fine, but doesn't compare to the original and it puts way too many guns in the game, I think it's a horrible game to play.

I haven't played the first Condemned but this one is supposedly better and I think it is brilliant. It is very effective to give someone the scare and I think this is a very good horror game. The interesting thing about it is that it isn't the monsters that make this game scary but other things.

1). The first thing that makes this game a horror is the location that you are in. Dark, abandoned and a very rough city where potential dangers lurk almost around every corner.

2). Although the city is abandoned, phsycopaths lurk around the city. Things called Sonic Devices are scattered around the city which emit waves that basically fu*k up people's brains and make them go insane and violent. This isn't your average rough city. This is super-rough.

3). The third thing is the monsters themselves. Like the phsycopaths, monsters lurk around the city as well, waiting for you to go into the wrong place and then...your basically done for.

I highly recommend this game to horror game fans. This will surly give you a good scare. (I haven't even completed it and I love it!)

I have never played the original Condemned, so starting off with the sequel with already developed characters was a bit disorientating. I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this game, but for £5 I couldn't refuse, especially after the disappointing Resident Evil 5.

In Condemned 2 you play Ethan Thomas, a burnt-out drunk and former special agent. When people across the unnamed city start to go crazy you're brought in to kick some ass and find out why.

The game is set in the ugliest of places, from abandoned hotels, factories, back alleys. Everything is dank and depressing. The graphics are not the best but sure do impress with their grottiness. What IS remarkable though is the gut-wrenching sound design, which is not only the best video game sound I have ever heard but would rival the most superior of Hollywood horrors. If you have a home theatre hooked up to your PS3 then be prepared for a horrifying atmosphere made entirely of sound to flood into your living room.

But...a first person beat-em-up? I understand that the FP perspective makes the game even scarier, but it just doesn't fit a beat-em-up. When fighting bad guys your chances are almost down to luck with skill being nearly irrelevant.

However, since I was very much let down by RE5 I was surprised just how shocking and creepy Condemned 2 was. I was well worth the money and I recommend it despite it's flaws.

Pros:

Disgusting production design that will make you head straight for the shower.

Truly menacing sound.

Cons:

Clunky fight system

Load times are a pain.

Graphic B+ Sound A++ Gameplay B- Lasting Appeal B-