He was a good boy...A Condemned: Criminal Origins Review.
Opening Statement:
Earlier this year I didn't even know this game existed, but as I was looking through my Game Informer I read a preview about this odd game called 'Condemned 2: Bloodshot' and I was extremely hyped up for it. But as I was going to pre-order it I noticed there was a 1st game already out called 'Condemned: Criminal Origins', so I decided to buy the first game (For a grand total of 15 USD), and then decide if I would even want the second game.
So here's my opinion about this gory, survival/horror FPS that focuses on brutal close combat. I know this was a launch title for the Xbox 360, and that I am REALY late with this review, but please don't beat me too badly. And please excuse my lame jokes that come with the pictures...
Game Play:
As said above, it seems the developers (Monolith) were trying to get away from their firefight packed title F.E.A.R, and wanted to do something a little different, well they certainly achieved that.
Condemned: Criminal Origins focuses on melee combat, and while this sounds boring if you automatically think Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4 melee combat (Mostly for Call of Duty 4, but Halo 3 tries to spice it up with the Gravity Hammer and Energy Sword.), but Monolith takes it to a deeper, even strategic level.
There are many weapons for you mess around with, from 2X4's (Including those of the flaming variety) to Locker Doors. Each weapon is defined by different stats (Power, Reach, Speed, Block, did I miss any?) so each weapon has their own strengths and weakness, and you can even compare them to each other before you pick them up. I love this feature as it almost seems to be combining an RPG element into the game, and it is a nice feature. (Imagine shooters that would do that with guns!*Points at Army of Two*)
Each weapon, thanks to the stat system, has their own character, so pretty quickly you will find a weapon you like the most and grab it at any chance you get (Even if you are carrying a fully loaded firearm!). My personal favorite was the electrical conduit if in case any readers were wondering.
You can sense Monolith firmly placed the screaming-and-kicking jealous and spoiled firearms in the backseat in this game, the guns are not that cool looking, and they don't do that much damage as the melee weapons, and most of the time I would rather pick up my melee weapon and go crazy with it. Something I have to give Monolith credit for is that they let you choice between using it a melee mode and shooting mode, but sense firearms break easily on contact, and do lame damage, I rather just run away from any enemy and search around for a better melee weapon.
Each impact with melee weapons feels satisfying and brutal (Yet again, firearms fail here to; the bullets don't even slow them hobos down!), but one MAJOR problem I have with melee combat is the blocking. Even with weapons high in the blocking stat, you move about as fast as Bigfoot when you block, and most of the time your timing is off so you get hit A LOT. Also even if you hold down the block button, it goes up then back down, so you can't even be a n00b and block the whole time. I found it is just easier to strife and dodge attacks then actually block.
Another problem I have is sprint; it is mapped to pushing down the left stick and forward to actually sprint. I have always hated this feature in most games (*Glares at Call of Duty 4*) and you actually can't sprint that long so there really is no point expect if you are rushing an enemy, and it doesn't recharge that fast either so you be walking very slowly for most of the game.
One thing that I found broken right away with the melee system is the taser, it automatically stuns enemies for a large amount of time, and recharges ungodly fast. Soon you will completely rely on the taser, so when it takes taken away at the end of the game, you suddenly find that you actually have to play with SKILL.
Overall I loved the things Monolith try to go after with the melee system, and they still did a great job, but some of the things just didn't turn out as well as they sound.
Art:
Even for an older game, Condemned: Criminal Origins looks good, but it sadly it never tries to take advantage of this and exploit it to its fullest. You will get one beautiful glance at a sunset in the beginning of the game, but there will be the only time you see the trick. For the rest of the game it is dark and gloomy environments that are all too familiar with other horror games.
I suppose you could argue me down by saying that Condemned: Criminal Origins IS a survival/horror game, and one of the best ways to create a horror atmosphere is with dark and gloomy environments, but it would have been nice to see something new every once in a while.
The repetitive bloody walls and dirty floors soon get all jumbled up, so it is hard to tell where you are. This problem reminds me of Monoliths other game, F.E.A.R; it would have been nice to go into a forest, or a zoo or something, just something else then the old walls over and over again. And the one time the game tries to take the fight outside, it STILL looks familiar and repetitive.
The character animations are superb, and really make you feel like you are in a real, no rules fight-for-your-life melee combat. No much over-the-top which is nice. (Expect for one monster that I am thinking of, but that thing is too cool to put down.)
The monsters and angry hobo's models are designed extremely well, and the blood and teeth that fly out when you smack them in the face is quite satisfying.
Audio:
The audio is extremely well done, when you hit somebody it sounds almost pretty close to what it actually sounds like. Each melee weapon sounds a little different which adds to their character, and the enemies make the correct grunting and screaming sounds when you smack them around.
The music is well done as well, sometimes you can't even hear it but you know it's there, that is how well it mixes with the rest of the game and its dramatic moments. One place the audio fails is the guns (Monolith, why!?) they sound boring and under powered, like a badly done WW2 shooter.
Content:
The story is superb in the game; you play as SCU Agent Ethan Thomas and follow him in his adventure to clear his name of the murders of two police officers, and to get his damn gun back. The story is just deep enough so you love the characters, and so it is interesting, but not deep enough thankfully to steal the show and put the quiet and shy Melee System in the backseat with the little brat Firearms.
The ending is well done (Actually one of the best endings in most of the games I have played in awhile *Shakes fist at Assassins Creed.*), and sets it up for Condemned 2: Bloodshot. One of the things I didn't like is the alternate endings; they all end the same way so there really isn't any point. (Expect for two shameless achievements that take advantage of this.)
After you beat the first game, there is not much reason to go back expect to get the collectibles (In the forms of dead/dying birds or metal pieces.) and unlock the rest of the achievements. With its sort single player mode you should breeze past it pretty quickly, and then turn your back 6 hours later wondering why it was so short. But you could argue that the game lasts just long enough so it doesn't overstay its welcome.
Final Thoughts:
Condemned: Criminal Origins is a great game, which unfortunately has a lot of flaws, some major, some not that might distract the player from the fun brutal melee combat. Some it steals from its big brother F.E.A.R, and some it grew for itself.
But overall nice game, now I will be going to pick up Condemned 2: Bloodshot, hopefully here is to major improvements for the sequel, and a satisfying journey through a world that seeks redemption.
Game Play: 7.5 out of 10
Art: 7 out of 10
Content: 8.75 out of 10
Audio: 9 out of 10
Technology: 8.5 Out of 10
Final Score: 8.5