Condemned: Criminal Origins is a solid horror game which will send genuine chills up your spine
Condemned tells the story of a decorated agent named Ethan Thomas, Ethan is sent to investigate a murder which is suspected to have been committed by a serial killer called, 'The Matchmaker'. Before he knows it, he is a wanted criminal who must hunt down a serial killer in order to clear his name but all becomes more complicated when a shady character named Malcolm Van Horn enters the picture. That's the best plot outline I can give you without spoilers. Though it might sound bland and cliche the story is actually very well told and the plot twists and turns are unexpected. The story is simple but effective and it's one worth experiencing. Another great thing about the game is the presentation. Think Se7en (Movie) but creepier. It's really great and the creepy atmosphere of the game is perfected which sets you up for a lot of shocks and scares. I'm never frightened by games or movies but this game made me jump and made my heart race. It is genuinely creepy and awesome.
Technically this game is nothing amazing but for its time it's not bad. This game came out around the time that the Xbox 360 first came out, developers really weren't sure how to properly use the hardware and thus the graphics are not amazing but they are effective. A lot of the textures look great but character models aren't that impressive. There are also graphical blemishes and some odd graphical glitches but they aren't anything that'll ruin the game for you. The sound is quite good though, this plays a large role in bringing on the scares. The melee weapons sound great but the guns leave more to be desired. Luckily though Guns aren't a big part of the game. The game can be beaten with all melee weapons quite easily but it would still be nice to have the guns have the deep rattle a real gun has.
In terms of gameplay there is not much to be said. It's nothing new and innovative but it's done well. The melee combat is really great but it's kind of simple. Most of the time one good hit to the head is all you need. Sometimes you need more but when it gets to that stage all you do it hit, run back, hit, and repeat. It's fun but over simplified. You can make it harder on yourself by blocking but...who does that? The guns work well but could have used a bit more work. The AI is really good in this game, a lot of the time they pop out of nowhere and sometimes they just jump from the darkness. It's heavily scripted but they fight well. The game's difficulty is just right though, it's never unfair and it's never really easy so overall the gameplay is great.
Overall Condemned is great. There are a lot of bugs though and some bland level design which may sometimes leave you running around in circles. Other then that it's a solid game with an intriguing story. It's worth the price now as it is pretty easy to pick it up for cheap. I wouldn't pay for then fifteen dollars for it though, the game is quite short. It takes around nine to ten hours to beat although some might go back to beat it again for achievements. It's worth a buy especially if you like games with a lot of suspense, horror, and thrills.
Goods: Great melee combat, creepy atmosphere, compelling story, difficulty is perfectly tuned
Bad: Bland level design at times, lots of glitches, graphics leave a bit more to be desired
Overall: Worth a buy especially if you love games with horror