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Condemned was one of the launch games on Xbox 360, and garnered much respect from gamers who were looking for an alternative experience away from first person shooters and racing. What made Monolith's (the developers) creation stand out from the norm was its eerie combination of insane horror, with a clever use of lighting and sound. You played the game as FBI agent Ethan Thomas, sent in to investigate a series of grisly murders; however from the offset the game thrusts Ethan into a psychological melting pot which grabbed you from the start to its conclusion. I have to concede, the ending did deviate into the realms of implausibility, but still the overall experience was unique and highly entertaining.
Well that was just over 2 years ago and since then, Xbox 360 has come along way in terms of the number of games it has under its wing. I would say that Condemned was a very underrated title, and perhaps the fact that it was different meant that not as many people played it when perhaps they should have.
Condemned 2 is due out in March 2008 and follows the story of a broken Ethan Thomas, who has hit the bottle and lost all sense of his former self due to the fact that at the end of the first game his mind was left, shall we say, rather unstable. The game begins with Ethan pretty much a bum in some grimy back alley, and after coming to his senses is reawakened to carry on the investigation as best he can. Throughout the course of the game, he will re-establish contact with the FBI and regain some semblance of normality.
Having enjoyed the first game, I was glad to see that Monolith have kept the dark moody atmosphere intact, and of course the realistic pacing. Yes, that's right, the game speed does chug along with the ferocity of a three toed sloth, but this is part of the charm, and of course a huge factor in the pant wetting creepy moments the game has in spades. Nothing beats the fear of having some crazy thug, jump out at you from within the darkness, and smack you around the head before you have time to react. Or the finer moments where your health is low and the hunt for health packs becomes an integral part of your survival. It's these elements that made the original so rewarding and immersive as a gaming experience, and I'm pleased that this hasn't been lost to cater for more action orientated gamers.
Condemned 2 isn't just a rehash of the first game set within a different part of the NYC. Monolith have given the game a distinct overhaul. What was very unique about Condemned, was the melee combat and the fact you could salvage weapons from practically anywhere. Lead Pipes, Conduits, pieces of Wood (with nails in), Iron Bars, Crowbars, firearms (although these were very limited and ammo was scarce) and much more were available. Well, Condemned 2 features the same element,although this time there are a lot more weapons to find and use. Most noticeably, you are now able to throw weapons at opponents, enabling you to stun them and then move in for the KO or kill with your fists. What's more, and is an interesting addition, is the fact that weapons will now break after extended use. This adds an element of uncertainty to the combat, and where as in the first game, you could hold onto weapons for as long as required, now you'll have to be a little more diplomatic in dishing out punishment. Ethan is now pretty slick with his fists and feet, he has a wide array of additional moves available. For starters there's a combo system in place and a new parrying system which enables him to unleash some more aggressive attacks. There's even some QTE style attack sequences (called chain attacks) you can initiate for some added maniacal element to the Ethan character.
Having looked through the list of possible moves in the menu, there is certainly a lot to sink your teeth into which is a stark contrast to the very limited attacks of the first game. There's almost a fighting game flavour to the combat now, and this means those encounters can offer gamers the chance to show off individual flair. That's not to say Ethan is now super powerful, because he isn't, and is still very fragile - especially when being attacked by multiple opponents. One thing that I found useful and this will no doubt please a number of gamers who perhaps weren't so keen on the feature in Condemned; you can now hold the left trigger and block continuously. The new parry system means that the timing is still there if you want to get an edge, but whilst you are learning this nuance of combat, you are not severely punished if you block a little.
Another addition to the combat is the fact that you can now grab dazed opponents and perform the same finishing moves as before - you know, like face slams, neck breaks and the like. Well this time you are also able to use the environment more, which means you can drag a dazed victim and perhaps smash his head through a TV set for example (interactive objectives are highlighted by skull images). These are very satisfying and highlight the game's focus on a more interactive environment. In fact with the TV sets you can actually fiddle with the antenna and try and tune in to a rather spooky channel that speaks to you. I guess Ethan's mind is still rather "doo-lally" to the point that those voices have become fully fledged apparitions.
Condemned 2 offers a more comprehensive forensics element this time which is a far more involving experience than its predecessors offering. Condemned seemed to hold your hand too much, and was a case of pointing in the right direction and bingo! Condemned 2, actually offers a more investigative approach, where the player has choices to make, and depending on how thorough you are, there are several outcomes - (the forensics element is also an optional component this time). This is a welcome feature and what is more, your detective skills have a bearing on how much Ethan can upgrade his character, yes that's right upgrade! The upgrades from what I could see are things like attack power with left or right fist, and no doubt will also include things like stamina and weapons proficiency.
The single player portion of the game feels like a familiar experience but with so much more depth to it. There are lots of things to interact with (including some mysterious sound emitters that need destroying before they drain your health). The added bonus of picking things up to throw and a general diversity of the combat, makes for a thrilling gaming experience that goes beyond the original. I for one can't wait to get my teeth into the game and see some closure in the story, which was left rather open in the first game.
Condemned 2 features a component that was absent from the first game, and I am not sure whether its inclusion is a good thing or not. It appears Monolith have excelled themselves with the single player portion of the game, and so we can breathe a sigh of relief there. However, they have included a multiplayer mode, which seems to be a fun albeit tacked on affair. I actually had a pretty decent play of the multiplayer, and when there is a room of about 5 players things do get rather manic. I am really not sure how true skill translates in a game which is based primarily of melee combat, because you don't have to aim as such. The problem lies in the fact that the multiplayer retains the slow pacing from the single player, and although you can sprint briefly (as you can in the single player), movement is rather awkward when there are four other enemies all attacking each other. What I found tended to happen was people would attack each other randomly and then one guy would come along and join the fray with full health and steal the kills. There's no reward for sneaking up behind someone and knocking them out either, the hit detection seems off, and it all feels a bit random. I think gamers will enjoy short rounds of the multiplayer, but in general the single player is where it's at, and where gamers should spend most of their time. Sadly, the inclusion of the multiplayer means that various achievements are associated with it, which means you'll be forced to play if you want to max out the 1000/1000 gamerscore this time.
In defense of the multiplayer, I did have a one on one game and I found this to be a much more tactical and enjoyable experience. I can see that this would be a preferred mode of playing for a lot of gamers, but I doubt you'll be able to set up obligatory ranked matches with just two combatants, lets hope you can. Like I said, with any more than two people, then it becomes an unfair experience, even if you are a master of combos, this skill won't stop you from being attacked from behind and ultimately being killed or having your potential kill stolen from you. There were some other modes besides the deathmatch, but unfortunately I did not get a chance to investigate these, perhaps the other modes will provide a more balanced offering?
Condemned 2 is out in March 2008 and is a game you should certainly keep an eye on. If you've not played the original, then I suggest you track it down or rent and get into the mood because Condemned 2 is going to be a blast.
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