GH Review: Condemned: Criminal Origins

I know this one came out about two years ago but I just got around to playing it this week and so here is my shiny new review of a slightly old game. Condemned: Criminal Origins is a first-person shooter/ survival-horror/ action title from Monolith studios. Though it might sound like a bit of a genre mash-up it actually turned out to be a pretty sweet game. I know I’m jaded when it comes to violence in games and movies so I’m sure some of the shock value of the game was wasted on me but that isn’t to say that I couldn’t appreciate it. I have to say that even though I didn’t get “scared” while playing I did get creeped out by some of the sound design and the sheer darkness the game is wrapped in.

So that said I’ll jump right in with the visuals of the game. Considering the 2005 release date of the game you have to be a bit forgiving. Monolith did a great job making the baddies in the game look scary as shit but when it came to the regular people in the game, including the main character, well, weird rubber mannequins come to mind. It’s no big deal though since the vast majority of people to actually see are the effed-up dudes you bash in droves with everything from a pipe to a shovel to a sub-machine gun. My only real complaint about the look of the game was how DARK it was. I mean, even with the bright turned up on my tv I still found I was only able to play after the sun went down. I know this may have been intentional by the developers to add to the “scare” factor but they would do well to remember that not all of us are insomniacs or live in the light-deprived basements of our parents. Oh well.

The story of Condemned is told from the perspective of FBI agent Ethan Thomas, one tough dude, all things considered. You start out at a crime scene and over the course of the first mission you learn that Ethan isn’t just any G-Man, he’s a top investigator and works serial killer cases. Nice. So then the game takes a left turn and heads straight to crazy-town. No not the sucky band, the place where scary things live and people like Leon Kennedy are populous. I love this genre so I won’t ruin any of the game’s many twists and turns, but now that the sequel’s out I feel safe in saying that the end’ll leave you wanting more.

Gameplay in this title is interesting and fun if a bit repetitive. You basically are in a first person shooter environment at night, with only a flashlight to light the game. And even though you do have the first person perspective, considering the very small number of guns to be found in the game and the even smaller amount of ammo for said guns, it seems more appropriate to call this one a first-person-brawler. You basically can pick up and swing just about anything you came across. Pipes, electrical conduit, 2×4 with nails or bolts, the list goes on and on. It’s a fun mechanic that when combined with the visceral feel of combat makes for a satisfying playing experience. That’s not to say that it’s easy, you do have to time your attacks and blocks pretty precisely to take on some of the later foes. All told though, you will get a real sense of accomplishment after finishing this one.

Sound design in the game is one of this title’s high points. The dark, claustrophobic feel of the game is intensified by the score, which is noticeably absent at times leaving you with only the sounds of your own footsteps and the odd crunch or laugh from the scurrying dark. Sweet. Voice work was on par with what you’d see on any network tv drama so I give it a pass.

All-in-all the good visuals, excellent sound, and balanced gameplay make condemned an easy thumbs-up for me. If you dig horror games and dark, dark FPS’s, give this one a shot. you won’t regret it.

Gamer Hero Score: 8/10

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