With the launch of the Xbox 360
gamers have a ton of choices when it comes to launch titles. But a common theme
among the majority of the 360 launch titles has been sequels. The sixth edition
of one game, the fourth of another, the second of this one, the 2006 version of
that one. The list can go on and on but there were only a handful of original
titles released for the 360. If you narrow that list down to original titles
only appearing on the 360 then the list shrinks considerably. Condemned:
Criminal Origins is on that short list and thankfully it’s a great game that all
Xbox 360 owners should check out.
The premise behind the game could
almost be considered CSI meets Resident Evil. You play the role of Agent Ethan
Thomas member of the Serial Crimes Unit of the FBI. Ethan’s success rate of
solving crimes has been the best among his peers which has put undue pressure on
Ethan. Ethan has been investigating murders committed by serial killers and has
noticed a disturbing trend. The homeless, addicts and socially deranged of the
city have been committing a growing number of violent crimes. During his most
recent investigation Ethan has been framed and accused of killing two police
officers. In order to clear his name and find out the true intentions of the
latest serial killer Ethan must slip into the underworld where violence rules.
There are two aspects to this game;
one is similar to a first-person shooter while the other has you investigating
locations looking for clues in Ethan’s investigation to clear his name. The
majority of the game plays similar to a first person shooter but with a major
twist when compared to other FPS games. The majority of the game is played via
melee combat. You start off with a gun but soon you’re out of ammo with no ammo
scattered throughout a level so you can reload. Once you’re out of ammo toss the
gun and get ready for some melee combat. You can pick up a variety of objects to
use as a weapon such as pipes, 2 x 4’s, crowbars, fire axes, and others. The
melee combat is easy to get into and a breeze to control. This isn’t melee
combat that was tacked on as an afterthought; this is melee combat that you will
use during the majority of the game.
You swing your weapons by pressing
the right trigger and block by pressing the left trigger. Ethan can also kick
enemies during combat which helps in putting together combos. You’re not awarded
for performing a combo but it helps in staying alive longer in the game. Ethan
has the ability to use a stun gun which can temporarily subdue an enemy. The
stun guns helps in giving you extra time to attack since many of the enemies in
the game are relentless. The AI of the characters in the game is usually
impressive throughout the majority of the game. The attacks are never duplicated
because of scripted events. The AI of the enemies in the game will keep you
wondering just what will happen next during the game. When I would get stuck in
parts of the game because of a tough battle I could never rely on learning a
pattern of the enemy. Every battle was different depending on a variety of
circumstances such as the number of enemies and the layout of the stage. I
enjoyed sitting back in certain stages and watching the enemies destroy each
other even though I was nowhere in sight. But even with the impressive AI there
were a few moments where the AI would seem to have a stupid moment. It didn’t
happen often but it did occur occasionally.
The rest of the game has you playing
the role of criminal investigator. You have an inventory of tools that you will
use to uncover clues in your quest to clear your name. The tools range from a UV
Light (used to detect traces of blood), Laser Light (shows pieces of evidence
usually not visible to the human eye), Gas Spectrometer (used to detect fumes of
decaying corpses), a Sampler (used to collect samples), the 3D scanner (captures
3D images of objects) and a Digital Camera. The game will switch automatically
to the Forensic Investigation mode when you’re near an area that needs to be
investigated. This helps in keeping a nice separation between the combat mode
and the investigation mode. You usually never have to worry about being attacked
until after you’ve completed an investigation of an area.
The story of the game unfolds during
the investigation mode since you’re sending data back to your contact at the
FBI. Once you’ve collected forensic samples your contact at the FBI relays to
you the results via your cellphone. Ethan will sometimes experience visions that
allow him to see what the serial killer had been doing before Ethan started
investigating the area. The cellphone calls and visions are where you start to
learn the crazy and disturbing story of the game.
Crazy and disturbing are just a few
of the adjectives to describe the overall look and feel of the game. In my
opinion Condemned is one of the most gruesome, horrific and shocking games I’ve
ever played. The power of the 360 shines in establishing the disturbing look of
the game. All of the stages in the game are practically in ruins with plenty of
structural effects such as cracks & holes in the wall and debris scattered
everywhere. But the visuals for all of the stages are incredible with dazzling
detail in all of the textures. The lighting and shadow effects offer some
stunning visuals that will make you believe that you are playing a next
generation title. The character models are just as amazing as the rest of the
visuals. All of the characters are in striking detail and the enemies are just
as creepy and spooky as the rest of the graphics. Even the weapons in the game
will show damage and blood after using them during combat. Some complaints have
been made that few of the 360 games offer next generation graphics but I would
argue that Condemned is another exception to that criticism.
Even with all of the excellent parts
of the game there are a couple of issues that need to be mentioned. One is the
repetitive nature of the gameplay. Each level in the game is similar to each
other because of how they play. You battle through the early parts of the stage,
investigate some clues and then battle your way through the rest of the
level. This pattern repeats itself through all of the levels. The next issue is
the lack of any multiplayer options. The only Xbox Live option in the game is a
leader board that shows you how fast other gamers have completed the game. You
could almost categorize the game as a First-Person Melee Combat (FPMC) and some
multiplayer options would have helped pushed this game over the edge.
For gamers looking for something
different for their Xbox 360 they should definitely look into Condemned. It’s an
original title that offers a great experience in keeping you guessing as to
what’s going to happen next. Seeing an enemy running in the distance and then
jumping out of your seat when something attacks you out of nowhere is always a
thrill. The look of the game will have you hooked if you love survival horror
games or atmospheric FPS games. The storyline is top notch and will have you
guessing all the time. Even though the gameplay can be repetitive Condemned is
still an experience that shouldn’t be missed by 360 owners.
|
Review Scoring Details for Condemned: Criminal Origins |
Gameplay: 8.3
A First-Person Shooter with melee combat meets Survival Horror. How many games
can you think fit that description? But then throw in the CSI elements and you
get a great mixture of intense action and investigative drama. The melee combat
is easy to control and the ability to use the wide assortment of everyday items
as weapons never gets old. The only concern I have with the gameplay is the
repetitive nature of how the levels play out. I mentioned before it’s a repeat
of combat, investigation and combat (and played out in that same manner on each
level).
Graphics: 8.7
This is an incredible-looking title that should definitely impress anyone with a
360. The lighting effects are incredible and the shadows are amazing. The
characters models repeated frequently during the majority of the levels.
Sound: 8.5
The music in the game is used to set the overall tone of the game. It’s not so
much music as it is atmospheric tones. The sound effects are where the game
truly shines. You hear noises in the game that will have you on the edge of your
seat. My favorite sound effect was the sound of enemies running above you while
playing through the first level. I could hear the footsteps but I never knew
where the enemy would show up even though I knew the enemy was coming after me.
Difficulty: Medium
Take your time and get used to the different options of the melee combat such as
kicking and blocking. If you just run through the game like a regular FPS then
you’re going to be in for a long day. Taking your time helps keep the difficulty
at an acceptable level.
Concept: 8.5
I’ve mentioned it before but need to say it again; Condemned is a great
combination of FPS and Survival Horror. But the FPS segments are thrown for a
loop since the majority of the action is done via melee combat. The
investigation segments assist in explaining the story and establishing the
unsettling tone of the game. If only the gameplay wasn’t so repetitive during
the majority of the game. The bulk of the levels play out almost exactly the
same: combat, investigation, combat.
Overall: 8.5
Being one of the first titles for the Xbox 360 is a tough challenge. Our
expectation for a new system is sometimes higher than the final results.
Condemned might not exceed all of our expectations but it’s still a quality
title for the Xbox 360. For anyone looking for a creepy, original title for
their shiny new 360 look no further than Condemned.
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