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Ah, beating junkies with pipes brings back some memories

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 28, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Condemned: Criminal Origins (C:CO) is probably really only for survival horror fans of a certain kind - probably those that are also obsessed with tactical shooters. That's not to say that C:CO is in any way a tactical shooter, but there is something of a spiritual similarity, in that the beauty of this game is not a continually developing and complex set of game mechanics that one must master to progress in the game, but more the continuing application of a simple set of play mechanics that must be critically applied in different ways to progress.

Skirting the boundaries between melee and firearm combat makes this almost unique in the first-person genre, in as much as firearms are the exception, rather than the rule, and attempting to close with a bad guy who has a pump-shotgun when you're holding a 2x4 with nails in it can generate some pretty great pucker-factor.

Plus, you get to beat the living hell out of junkies, bums and other lowlife types with pipes, 2x4s and crowbars. High-larious.

The "investigation" parts of this game are tacked on, and laughably simple, so if you're looking for a puzzle-solver, this isn't it - but its an awfully entertaining game. Attempting to get the Gold Melee Master award (complete the game without using a fire-arm) on the hardest difficulty is plenty of fun.

You could easily play this through in a long session, and thus to some, it might seem a rental, not a buy...but I'm very glad I bought this game, and can't wait for the sequel.

great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is worth buying and it is scary as hell . I've added it to my collection of games. And worth the price too.

A little on the short side, but still worth the money, or at least a rental if you're cheap.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game, is one of those games, that reminds me why I still play video games. The graphics may seem outdated to elitists but I find them to be great. The sound effects are spot on, it could be something falling over making you turn around, or your own footsteps making you wonder if someone is following you, either way it will leave you spooked. The use of lighting is fantastic, it never gets old when you're walking around and all of the sudden an enemy pops out of a dark corner, and I swear I couldn't see him before. The A.I. is awesome. One of the scariest moments in the game was when I was walking in a subway and there's what looks to be a homeless guy sleeping on a bench, and he jumps up and charges me with an axe! There were several moments in this game that made me yell oh god! The developers effectively build suspense until all of the sudden someone pops up or shoots you through a window or something. Best of all is the combat, some of the situations were so intense I literally felt like I was fighting for my life, partly due to the first person perspective I think. I have to say, this brings that terror of the Silent Hill series together with realism and better, more innovative combat. Best of all, I bought this used for $14.99. Best 15 bucks I've spent in a while.

The Dark Path To Righteousness

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Survival Horror. A lot of games claim to live up to this grand title. Few deliver. Condemned definitely frickin' delivers. You will be worried about your chances of survival. You'll be on your toes. Scared? Probably not. Tense? Definitely. Supplies are few enough and foes strong enough to really up the ante on you. There is no sense that "Oh, this is just another generic bad guy coming at me." No, you see everyone as a real threat--and they could be. A couple of badly-timed moves or a poor decision can lead you to a quick reload, no matter how many similar baddies you've downed. They can all kill you if you're not careful--hence, the anxiety I mentioned.

This is one of those games where you're torn between two ways of looking at it. Half of you is playing a video game. The other half is watching a creepy supernatural crime thriller. What some other reviewers--doubtlessly motivated by a sense of instant gratification--have described as "dull" or "repetitive" is--in reality--atmosphere and pacing. Your character moves slowly--you're always aware of your surroundings. There's no rushing through halls to engage the next enemy. Instead, you move cautiously about, checking dark corners with your flashlight, and listening intently for the sound of any footsteps that might alert you to the presence of a foe.

Really, this is an incredibly cinematic experience. If you're a quick enough cat to follow the story (reading reviews, it seems like not all are), you'll get sucked right in. There's a crime spree going on, and you're an FBI agent assigned to a serial killings division. The game picks up on your most recent case--a murdered woman posed with a mannequin in a rotting building. Get used to the decrepit surroundings. The entire game takes place in creepy urban (and one rural) locales.

You will periodically make use of your forensic tools to discover evidence and advance the story. Since it wouldn't be too exciting to spend time in a lab just to process it, you're equipped with a neat set of tools. Half of them work to identify evidence, and the other half collect said evidence. Once you've collected it, it's sent via cellphone to a lab and processed in mere moments (okay, so you have to stretch your suspension of disbelief for that). You're then briefed by your Bureau forensic nerd on what you've discovered.

But you're not just any FBI agent, as you find out. You have certain talents. You have visions. Sometimes, you'll see the past, other times, the future--and sometimes you'll see things you didn't think existed. These vision sequences are the best moments in the game. You'll hear whispers muttering your name and the lights will seem to shine out brighter (think The Green Mile). Sometimes the visions are even quite useful. They'll show you where you need to look for evidence--if you pay attention--and give you clues about the story.

This is the first game since Resident Evil that managed weapons properly. I could never abide games that bill themselves as "Survival Horror" and then give you a machine gun with 300 rounds five times per level, or let you carry one of every offensive weapon you encounter.

In this game, you have one weapon. That's all you can carry with you. What you take is up to you--you'll find various implements laying around. Each has strengths and weaknesses. There are firearms, but (and get this) you can't reload them. Whatever ammo is in them is all you get. I LIKE this. It really adds an element of danger when you check your revolver and realize you only have one bullet. The best part is--and this is unlike any other game I've ever played--you will KEEP that revolver with the one bullet over any melee weapon laying around. Trust me. You'll want the power and range. And don't worry--one bullet is useful, if you aim it properly. One bullet in the right spot will take down most enemies in the game. It's realistic like that.

The only mechanic that's a chore to master is blocking. It's not like usual--hold down a button and be blocking the whole time, no sir. When you hit the block button, you will block for half a second, then lower your weapon. If the block is poorly timed, you'll take full damage. This really adds to the tension of a fight scene. There's no way to be sure you're protected from an incoming attack. You're always on your toes.

I agree that this game is a little short. I finished it the same day I purchased it. Still, that didn't seem to detract too much from my experience. I was just as satisfied at the roll of the credits than if I'd just seen a top-notch thriller in a theater somewhere.

Oh, and let me say that the ending is actually worth the time you spend playing. It's a good five-minute-long scene, with a moral choice thrown in the middle (I won't spoil it, but here's a hint: to shoot or not to shoot, that is the question.)

Allow me to reiterate one more time the power of the atmosphere in this game. During the next-to-last level, as I was making my way through the home of a serial killer, I kept realizing I was doing two things: holding my breath so I could hear better, and wondering out loud just how messed up this killer was.

If you come into this game expecting a first-person shooter, forget it. It's first-person, but it's no shooter. Likewise, don't expect an RPG or anything. This is one of those games that's hard to categorize. The gameplay is different enough from most of its contemporaries that it falls into a category all its own. I made a comparison to Resident Evil before, so let's run with that. Imagine Resident Evil. Now make all the bad guys criminals and crackheads. Next, reduce the inventory space to a single item (don't worry; you don't need more than that). Finally, change the perspective to first-person. Throw in just a splash of futuristic CSI. Bam. Condemned.

First person survival horror? Who knew.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This was quite the experience. Yes, experience. I seldom use that word when describing video games because I like to save it for the truly special ones.

I can't help but feel like this game slipped under the radar and didn't get it's deserved praise, so maybe this review will help a tiny bit with that.

What I like about the game is that it's realistic. You're not chasing zombie aliens from planet X in the year 2059... you're chasing a serial killer, and every location you visit is a real, dirty place you or I could walk to any time we wished. That's what makes for a scary game, IMO. Sure, there are some unexplainable sci-fi elements to it, but they don't get in the way of the story too much. You're still visiting real local and dealing with real, human enemies.

One part that stood out for me was towards the end of the game when you're inside a house. There's a piano blocking the way and before you can take care of it you have to fight a wave of enemies because you need one of the items they are carrying. So, what I did was back into a dark closet and watch as they ran around a corner, chopping at the bit to kill me. It was epic and I'll always remember that moment when I think of this game.

Of course there were many more scary happenings, but that one stands out for me personally.

You should give this game a chance, no matter what. I don't care if you hate first person games, scary games or fighting games... it's an experience.

If you like it, the second one has more of the same.

Too scary!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you love scary games, then this is the one for you! It was very hard for me to play it in the dark (especially since the entire game is in the dark) but it got done. There's plenty of things in the game that will make you jump and maybe scream. It's a very good game overall with a good plot and ending.

Fun Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Very challenging, and nothing like I thought it would be from the cover. The story line is very good.

boring

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

could have been a good game, but too much time is wasted just running up & down corriders with nothing in them. maybe condemed 2 is better? I can never figure out why video game companies spend so much time and money on games that are just Boring

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