CONDEMNED: CRIMINAL ORIGINS (XBOX 360)

Okay, when Nerdy Victim and I started this site, we wanted to focus on the worst horror movies imaginable and that will continue to be our main focus.  However, when the opportunity arises to review a unique series (Masters of Horror) or a different medium (video games), we are not above (or below) it.  When I picked up my XBOX 360 system in November (yes, I waited 15 hours in the rain at a Manhattan Circuit City), I was excited to see what the next generation of gaming had to offer.  I picked up the war fighter CALL OF DUTY 2 and an NBA basketball game NBA 2K6 among others, but the game that piqued my interest most was SEGA’s horror game entitled CONDEMNED: CRIMINAL ORIGINS.

CONDEMNED places the gamer in the shoes of Ethan Thomas, an FBI Agent, who has been set up by a serial killer who, curiously enough, preys upon other serial killers.  In true Silence of the Lambs fashion, Thomas is drawn into the world of a psychopath who gets his jollies off of trapping other psychopaths and toying with Thomas’s emotions. 

Very rarely have I seen or heard of a game that is truly scary, but CONDEMNED comes very close to reaching that bar.  First of all, the graphics (in HD) are superior to anything that you can find this side of a $2500+ computer.  But graphics aren’t enough to truly terrify.  Where SEGA truly shines is in its creation of a creepy and unsafe environment.  Thomas enters many a dark hallway, abandoned warehouse, etc. with no luminary aid, except a flashlight.  Trust me, the first time you are in a dark warehouse and out of your limited field of view you see an armed, crazy addict dash across your field of view into the darkness, you will gasp.  And speaking of weapons, CONDEMNED is very realistic in that you have the ability to pick up just about anything on screen and use it as a weapon.  Grab that fire axe, 2x4, lead pipe, wooden crate and bash that crazy homeless person on the head.

My favorite level is where Thomas finds himself in an abandoned department store where he walks amongst creepy mannequins, clothes racks and Christmas decorations.  If that wasn’t warped enough, over the loudspeaker, distorted Christmas music plays.  Of course, some of the derelicts hide behind the mannequins purposefully and attack Thomas from the darkness.  Awesome!  Another level, you find yourself on a farm and you are able to grab torches to light your path.  It is pretty creepy to see, off in the distance, a bad guy holding a torch, who, upon seeing you, extinguishes his torch and disappears into the darkness.

Play this game in the dark and you will be genuinely creeped out.  Who knew that a video game could be scary like a movie can be?  The only drawbacks of this game are that it is fairly linear and it is a quick beat.  However, the game has great replay value as the storyline is so interesting and compelling.  One bonus item is that the game has multiple endings.  After playing through the entire game, you are asked to make a decision within 5 seconds, which changes the ending entirely.  Great fun and a reason to buy an XBOX 360 if you are a horror fan.

RATING:  *** (out of four)