Condemned

Dead Rising
$19.99
I played this game when it first came out, then decided to find it again recently because i remembered it being so much fun to play. My memory served me well. I really never get tired of "bowling for zombies", slicing them up with katanas or breaking ketchup bottles on their faces (so they wander around in circles). I find something new every time i play it too.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot
$19.99
This game has a great story. This game is compelling and interesting, and this game is one of the most irritating games I've ever played. Any game that relies on reflex button press sequences is just cookie cutter weak and stupid. WB middle management people who thought this would be a good idea should be summarily fired asap. Each fight is an irritating button press sequence. Too many stupid combos sends this game's play back to street fighter in the 90's. We've come a long way since then, but apparently not this game. This game has zero replay value. If you paid more than $5.00 for this game you wasted your money. I haven't even mentioned the complete lack of sound track music. For a game about sound, this game has the bar none WORST sound of any game I've ever played. I suppose it is supposed to be evil and disturbing, but I hate to inform the game developers, static and poor recording hiss is NOT evil and disturbing, its irritating and stupid.

It has been a long time since I've actually become angry at how bad a game is. This game shoots to the top of my list of most horrible games. I think the worst thing about it is the arbitrarily stupid limitations on what you can do. Like for example; at one point you are fighting a boss that's hurting you with an area of effect weapon, and you walked up some steps to get close enough to the AOE. When the boss actually attacks, there is nothing apparent stopping you from just backing down the steps and reassessing the situation, but no, that would actually make sense so you can't do it. Later after the boss is defeated you jump down out of the area in a cut scene, something you couldn't do before that. This kind of physics neglect is one of the worst offenses of the "Cut scene" programmer games like this one. The whole game is just a linear series of scenes and fights strung together with reflex button press sequences. It completely offends me. I'm guessing this type of game has become popular as movie people try and get into the game business. They desire to have the player play through a movie they've written, and so the forced scripting of your actions drives you through it. This has got to be the worst playing experience I've ever had. People who make games like this, take a look at half life, portal, half life 2 etc. These sublime games deliver the awesome story without forced action.

This game is the new Worst Game EVER!

Condemned Criminal Origins
$19.99
Sometimes I still try to play this game in the day time, but I still get spooked! It is a solid game; gameplay is good, though the gadgets you use are sometimes a little out of place, graphics are good, sound is scary, and the action is intense! If you have surround sound, a man cave, and a whole lotta time... pick this game up.

(Con: Not completely sure about the storyline still...)

Condemned: Criminal Origins (Dvd)
$39.99
Condemned: Criminal Origins was unlike any FPS/Survival horror game I've ever played. It wasn't a run and gun nor was it a typical limited ammo survival game. It was more like a run from your enemies and make every swing/bullet count type of game. The story starts out pretty straight forward, you're an FBI agent framed for murder by an unknown serial killer. As you progress through the story there are some twists and turns making things a somewhat convoluted but still understandable. The story however isn't what the key part of the game is but rather the combat. It's probably the most brutal and realistic game I've ever played when it comes to melee combat. Not for the player who is turned off by violence and in your face scares. Here's my take;

Pros

- Extremely scary and creepy atmosphere. I play a lot of survival horror and FPS games and I honestly don't think I've jumped/gasped/let out startled yells this much since I played the Silent Hill series. It's also the first game I've played where I've never been so afraid of an enemy with a gun. (If an enemy has a gun, get to them as quick as you can and get it out of their hands. Not only will you live longer but you'll be able to pick up more bullets as they won't be wasting them on trying to kill you.)

- Excellent ambient music and atmospheric sounds. Once again very Silent Hillesque with everything from whispered voices, screams, banging noises and labored breathing. The gun sounds are also very realistic. Do yourself a favor and play with all lights off and the sound turned up to fully experience what the game has to offer.

- Brutal melee combat. The combat is unforgiving and violent. You really feel like you're fighting for your own life against your attackers. They're absolutely merciless forcing you to tap into a primal urge just to survive.

- Insanely clever AI. Opponents will flank, use cover, gang up and outmaneuver you in any way they can. I've honestly never seen a game with enemies so clever it turns you into the poor AI that many games normally have.

- Superb and realistic physics. The way enemies attack and react to blows is amazing almost to the point of disturbing. I'd flinch EVERY time an enemy hit me with a pipe or some other object as you could almost feel it.

- Vast array of weapons or items to use as weapons. Everything from pipes, nail studded 2x4's, electrical conduit tubes, sledgehammers, fire axes and the occasional pistol or shotgun.

- Great graphics especially the environments and character models. The graphics did take a slight dip when it came to facial close ups during cut-scenes however and could have been a bit smoother.

- Hallucination scenes (very similar to those in F.E.A.R.) were tense and spooky. One in particular still sticks out in my mind which was in Bart's Department store. There was a sequence where you would hallucinate and constantly be surrounded by mannequins. It may not sound like much but it was incredibly creepy.

- Decent voice acting. Greg Grunberg (aka Matt Parkman - the police officer from the TV show Heroes) does the voice acting for Ethan Thomas, the FBI agent you play.

Cons

- Character movement was a bit too slow even when you were supposedly sprinting/running. And when you'd hit a section of stairs you stopped sprinting and walked up them normally. It would have helped to be able to move a bit faster but perhaps it was the developer's intention to add to the tension of the game.

- No jumping or crouching. These two options seem to be an industry standard in any FPS game and Condemned had neither. It wasn't a game breaking issue but it was frustrating when you're being shot at or are trying to get over an object. It made the game feel a bit too linear for my tastes.

- Repetitive level design. Even though you may be in a subway station, office building or department store they all felt the same despite the fact they were totally different environments.

- Story became somewhat disjointed and confusing at times.

- Tool use to collect evidence felt a bit too forced. More freedom using these tools would have been preferable.

All in all this was a great game a something quite different for a change. In an industry plagued with plodding FPS' this was a welcome and enjoyable surprise. I would highly recommend giving it a try if you're into the genre's of Survival Horror, FPS or CSI style games. I do have to confess that it took me a while to finish this game because I could only play it in small sessions. The stress of the scare factor got to be a bit much at times and as I said I love survival horror games. Just keep in mind it's not for the timid or faint of heart!