When a game tries to be scary, it either falls into one of three categories. It can be just jumpy rather than scary with moments that make you leap from your seat, not scary at all but rather just dark and gloomy looking or on the rare occasion it can unsettle you and genuinely strike fear into you as you desperately try to find the courage to continue playing. Condemned: Criminal Origins is the latter and a game those with courage should definitely give a look.

Condemned sees you taking the role of an agent called Ethan Thomas as you are called in to investigate a murder scene in a rundown old apartment. After discovering the body and searching for more clues you begin chase of the killer only for things to take a dramatic turn for the worse. Unlike most horror games (*cough* Resident Evil *cough*) the story here is very engaging and the cut scenes and voice acting all sound and look great. You’ll want to sit through dialogue and learn more about the mystery between each mission.

The entire game is played in the first person view. Even as you make leaps and go through gaps in fences you never leave the eyes of Ethan which definitely keeps you in the feeling that you’re “in his shoes.” You can walk and run but that’s about as far as Mr. Thomas’ athletics will go. While weapons will take over most of your time, there are moments where you’ll use your forensics equipment looking for blood traces, causes of death and taking pictures of crime scenes. It can be fun, but it just feels added on and isn’t explored as well as it could be. You are a forensic investigator after all so more situations using your gear would have been better.

Rather than being a typical shooter, Condemned relies on melee attacks as your main primary source of fighting and defending. At the press of a button you can pick up lead pipes, axes, wooden boards and so on to block and swing at enemies throughout the game. The combat is fairly simple but surprisingly satisfying as you knock a guy’s brains out with a crowbar to the temple. Guns do play a minor role in the game but since each may only contain six or so bullets maximum, you will likely focus on the objects you find lying around more. It’s odd not using firearms all the time (since this is from a first person viewpoint) but the combat system makes this feel unique and far more tense as battling up and close with your enemies is tougher and more on edge than simply pulling a trigger.

The game is very linear with missions simply taking you from point A to point B but the variety in stages helps keep things from getting dull. Starting in an apartment before later moving to a rundown high school and finally ending up on a farm you’ll see plenty of sights along your journey.
Environments are creepy and littered with drug users and criminals who lurk around every corner but one area that is by far a standout in any horror game for me is when you enter the department stores with mannequins who suddenly step out from their stands and begin to attack. Several moments also occur where Ethan begins to question his own sanity. One minute you’ll look down an empty corridor only to look away for a split second before several extremely creepy figures will be there staring right at you should you dare look back. They don’t necessarily make you jump, but they are frightening which is tough to do in video games.

Visually the game is decent, but it is definitely showing its age especially when compared to the likes of Gears of War or newer titles. Animations are fluid and the environments look dingy and are high in atmosphere. The voice acting is great. Matt Parkman from Heroes voices Ethan! Enough said. The sounds too help tremendously with the atmosphere with every knocked over shelf, creak and murmured voice keeping you on the edge of your seat and nervous.

Once you’ve finished the main story there isn’t much else to do. Other than hunt the secret objects or repeated playthroughs to nab more achievements, you’re pretty much done. At only around eight or so hours this isn’t the longest game, but at the price you could probably pick this game up for now it is definitely worth it.

Condemned: Criminal Origins offers something unique in a time where shooters are crowding the industry. Setting guns aside has proven a successful risk, as Monolith has not only created one of the most engaging first person adventures I’ve tried recently, but also one of the scariest. A real gem and one everyone should try... if you have the bottle.