With over a dozen launch games for the Xbox 360 back in November one would think that choosing a great game would be easy. However, many of those launch games were simple ports or lacked from the high expectations that were set for the games.
Condemned was the one game to deliver the knock out punch. A new breed of fear has been introduced into the gaming world and one could only hope that sega will put out a sequel.
Graphics 9/10---What makes a survival horror game shine is no doubt the atmosphere. Not only did sega put out areas that would scare a grown man but they also put great details into many aspects of the game. Walking through a building you will notice the "dull" color put towards certain objects to give you a great feel of how an abandoned building would be. Rubble placed among the floor is not the best but it adds to the game. Pieces of plaster missing from parts of buildings also signifies how old/abandoned the place may be. Basically all in all the atmosphere is flawless, each level offers a wide range of great expertise in the design for the game. Whether it be a 2X4 up to a building the game delivers. My only gripe with the graphics are some of the characters seemed a bit "blocky" looking. Some people seemed to be more fixed in a position rather than more of a loose feel.
Sound 10/10---Usually I dont listen to the sound in games but rather throw on my own music. The sound is what makes Condemned though. If you have 5.1 Surround Sound make sure to turn that bad boy on. You hear the homeless hobos screaming slurs at you, the sound of pipe smacking a skull is priceless, the sound of scampering "zombies" also adds to the suspense and lets not forget walking down a hallway and hearing buckets, cans, chairs, etc being knocked over. It seems like almost every piece of the game has a significant sound element associated with it which adds great thrill to the game.
Gameplay 10/10---You start off as Agent Thomas, a detective for the FBI. You are called into a scene to investigate a brutal murder. Your job is to track down this serial killer and investigate the murders he is associated with. Things turn bad though when you are framed for the murders of 2 fellow officers. You must use your skills to survive and your Forensic officer known as Rosa to help you stop these crimes. Your levels will range from a subway all the way up to a school(my favorite level by the way). Use your surroundings as a weapon. Out of ammo? Pick up that 2X4 or if you want more of a death dealing weapon pick up that fire axe. The choices are endless. Knock your foe down to the ground and snap his neck if your heart desires. The AI in the game is well done, it is well shown in the later levels. Enemies become more prone to block your attacks then quickly deliver a stunning blow to your face. Learn how to block and use weapons that will counter your enemies (if your enemy has a small pipe or 2X4 they will deliver less damage and have a short range attack.. Use a large pipe or fire axe to counter this). Use your guns wisely since in most cases you will get no more than 5 shots per gun, if you are in a sticky situation use the butt of your gun to deal small amounts of damage. Use caution while you are playing, check every room because if you dont the AI will sometimes sneak up behind you.
Replayability 9/10--- The game is fairly short (no more than 10 hours). But from what you play you will love every minute. There are 2 endings to the game (if you dont feel like playing it twice you can basically just load your last save and get the alternate ending). The achievements the xbox 360 really saves this game in the replayability part because in each level there are 6 dead birds that you can find and also 3 metal bolts per level. If you find every bird in the game you will get the golden bird achievement. Find metal bolts and you unlock propaganda reports (there are 4 total). Also there are detective badges and TVS throughout the game. Find those to help you complete the game 100%. I, myself, went through the game 3 times (2 times to get all the achievements and once just for the fun of it).
Bottom Line: Many people say its a rental game because of how short it was. I myself think this was the only game on launch to qualify as a "system seller". Playing through this game twice will take about 19-23 hours of your life and I enjoyed every minute of that plus more. The only thing this game lacks is multiplayer but there is really no need for it in a game like this. The twists and turns this game makes is just one of the reasons to go out and spend $60. By far the best 360 game that was put out on launch.
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