Thursday 02 Aug 2007

Games such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil have already placed themselves in the hall of Survival Horror “greats.” What could Condemned possibly do that “The Suffering” and “Siren” could not? Well, quite a bit actually.

Don’t ask me why, but for some reason the movie “Seven” comes to mind when playing Condemned. It could possibly be that it starts off with a crime scene that resembles this movie. Ethan Thomas, an F.B.I Agent, visits the crime scene and realizes that a serial killer is on the loose after sending some DNA samples to the lab to be analysed. You feel extremely important as you scan for fingerprints then send a photograph to the lab yourself. You then start tracking this serial killer and trying to find facts in the building you are currently in.

Setting the mood

Previous classics, such as those mentioned above, had you feeling secure with a handgun or shotgun in your hands while fighting off your foes from a distance. Condemned changes this concept in two aspects, firstly by placing the player in a “first person” perspective and secondly by providing guns at very rare intervals. In fact, the possibility of you actually finding a gun is something to cherish as it is rare in this game. The shortage of ammo makes every fight feel desperate, but believe me, it is what adds to the mood Monolith Productions are trying to set.

Silent Hill tried but Condemned has succeeded in “pipe-beating”…conduit-beating, pitch fork beating, shovel beating, sledge-hammer-beating, axe-beating and when things get a bit tight you have the opportunity to use your tazer (which takes about 3 seconds to recharge after each shot) to paralyze your enemy for a short time while taking care of others. You can also use your “L” trigger to block off any attacks against you as the enemies all have some excellent AI, so beware! There is hardly a bit of this game that isn’t set in a crime scene, crackhouse or squat, and the entire experience is designed and lit to maximize the creepiness.

Great graphics and sound

Graphically this game has its moments. Things such as your weapons and facial details on the enemies are of very high quality. Seeing that this was a launch Xbox 360 title, the lighting effects are also really well done and it is clear that they most definitely had a look at Silent Hill 2 before developing this game. There were times when I actually turned around and randomly swung with my pipe to only hit thin air after seeing a shadow creeping up from behind me…only problem is that is was my own! The backgrounds and overall environment details aren’t as well polished as you might expect, but it is good enough to be scared when the lights go off.

The sound in this game is honestly amazing. For those of you with a 5.1 setup, get ready for some of the best use of sound in a game for some time. The sound is done so well that if you hear an enemy running up behind from the left rear corner you know exactly which way to turn. Bump a soda can and you jump out of your sofa. Yup, the sound effect is very freaky and the soundtrack itself makes you believe that you are actually in “Grim City.”

Pitfalls

With so many good things going for the game, what could be wrong? Well, it comes down to some important parts in a game that makes the good stand out from the greats. The puzzles in the game are non-existent and finding the right door to progress through the game is straight forward as most doors are just there as graphical “extras.” Swinging the melee weapons can also become a bit tiresome after 10 hours of play and a bit repetitive at the same time, but, smacking someone on their head never ceases to excite.

It is a game I would recommend to anyone that has any interest in survival horror games. For those that like guns, stay clear. It is not about blasting but rather about strategic planning of how to batter someone with a sledge hammer. Gore is also something that is plentiful so if you are weak at the knees ensure that you never play this game as you might feel condemned thereafter.

Pros: Using melee weapons to destroy your enemies is bliss; the enemy AI is really good; the sound has to be experienced in 5.1 – it’s well worth it!
Cons: Some of the background graphic details aren’t that hot; lack of any puzzles.

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Contributor:	Dawid

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