Since Sega is absolute rubbish at marketing this game I took it upon myself to inform people of how fantastic this game will be.
Gamersyde Diaries
The 1UP Show
On the Spot demonstration (18:10)
Interview with non-stupid questions
Further bits of info stolen from NeoGAF.
CLIFFNOTES CONDEMNED 2:
- Developer that showed us the game and whatnot: lead game designer.
- He showed a bèta that still had to go through a polishing phase.
- Despite the above point, it looked noticeably improved when compared to the latest footage seen on GameTrailers and the like.
- For instance: screen tearing has been reduced by a lot, though I don't remember if it was completely gone.
- Framerate has also been improved: did fluctuate from 30 to 60 fps occasionally (like Stranglehold) in the multiplayer. Could easily be fixed in the retail version.
- The game's darkness levels aren't as exaggerated as in 1 (based on what little footage I saw) anymore. You can actually see things now!
- Bloodshot is still pretty dark mind you, more so when you're inside a building.
- Things that have been improved the most in comparison to 1: the A.I., the combat and the forensics.
- A.I.: more able now with guns, can catch **** you throw at them and return the favor et cetera.
- At one point, some angry bum even threw TV sets at Ethan.
- Melee system has been improved by quite a lot: it's been finetuned, there are more moves, multipliers and combo's, ...
- Left and right fists now mapped to their respective triggers. Blocking is done by holding both. One of the bumpers -> some kind of hook punch, I think.
- The better you fight, the higher your multiplier and the higher it is, the faster you'll replenish a bar on the top of your screen.
- Different kinds of normal moves depending on which button combination you insert, such as an uppercut.
- Blocking: if you time it right, you can perform something that resembles a parry / counter.
- Enemy temporarily loses his balance, obviously leaves a window of opportunity to lay down the smackdown.
- Aforementioned bar is used for Chain Attacks: a 'special' move that can be used for massive damage.
- Chain Attacks are frikkin' visceral and really satisfying! Game slows down a little (on purpose) and sound becomes louder too.
- Another Chain Attack: breaking a guy's arm. Screaming ensues.
- Finally, the environmental kills. After an enemy received enough beatings, you can finish him off in a more spectacular fashion.
- You grab him by the neck and see multiple skulls, which are indications of the kind of kills you can perform in a certain environment.
- For example: bashing the guy's head through a TV (coincidentally unlocked an achievement during the presentation) or in a toilet.
- Items: short list of vague statistics (endurance et al) immediately visible. All of them break at some point, sort of like Dead Rising.
- Can be thrown, enemies might catch it and throw it back.
- By the way: Condemned 2's balance between melee and the use of fire-arms = 80/20.
- Using fire-arms has supposedly also been improved by a lot though. To the point that you can unlock an 'FPS Mode' when you've finished the campaign.
- What does it do? It flips the balance between hand-to-hand combat and gunplay so that it can be played as a 'regular' First-Person Shooter.
- Forensics: vastly improved. "The power of observation" of the player is key to solving them.
- For example: fellow officer asks Ethan his exact position, which can be partially be deciphered by looking at a nearby road map.
- A more specific address is found elsewhere and if done correctly, you get a maximum rating (5/5).
- Another example: identifying the kind of containers in the next room and how many of them there are. Look for official documents.
- More tools at your disposal this time around: a UV light, a spectrometer, a GPS and a camera.
- NOT a pixel hunt, multiple options to choose from, solving them unlocks bonus content and they're mostly optional.
- 30% of the game consists of these researches, according to the lead designer.
- Fight Club: has additional challenges that may or may not be attached to achievements.
- Funny detail: one of them is called 'Streets of Rage'.
- You can also customize it: what kind of enemies you'll fight, what kind of weapons there are, how many of them attack you at the same time, ...
- The further you go in the single player, the more Fight Club content you'll unlock.
- They got rid of the 'Hobo' before the 'Fight Club' and replaced it with 'Bloodshot'. :(
- Favorite items I've spotted: a bowling pin and a fake arm... with hooks!
- Side stuff... Ethan can express himself now if you press A on time (optional). It's clear when you can do this.
- For example: flipping a bum off after being called a smelly drunk.
- Gone are the pigeons, in are the sonic emittors that hurt Ethan when he gets too close to them.
- These emitters also unlock content if you find them them, but they're also completely optional.
- I'm not too sure, but I think the Colonel from Metal Gear Solid is the chief of police in Condemned 2.MicVlaD
To be released in three weeks. I sense AAA potential, although it'll probably score an 8.5 here since again, Sega is advertising the game poorly.
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