Condemned: Criminal Origins

released on Nov 16, 2005

Investigate crime scenes, collect evidence, and bring to light the murderers terrorizing the city as Detective Ethan Thomas. With danger lurking around every corner, you’ll need whatever weapons you can find to stay alive. What twists the mind of an ordinary human into a serial killer? Assigned to the Serial Crimes Unit, Agent Ethan Thomas must answer this question, and bring the worst of society to justice. His solve rate is the best in the bureau....perhaps too good.


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This city is an even bigger shithole than Gohtam.

maybe if it didn't have an awful Steam port that wouldn't require me to mod it it'd be fun (I'll buy it on 360 and maybe update my review)

I found a lot of horror to love in Condemned. The combat is weighty enough, but we have since seen far better first-person combat systems. For one this old, however, it holds up well enough. I've an issue with some of this games bland feeling level design, and a bigger issue with the games final two chapters. Chapters one through eight all feel completely standard for this era in gaming; ruined city blocks, subways, sewers, abandoned school, library - it's all here. The last two chapters, however, made me want to drop the game. I didn't, I stuck it out, but it was close. The supernatural elements that get revealed right at the end after only being hinted at through visions fell very flat to me. This game at it's best is about clubbing vagrants with blunt objects you pull off the wall in a scary setting; at it's worst it throws boring encounter after boring encounter at you while you trudge through a dark field.

I am a 45 year old woman who walks her kids on a leash and I think this will happen to me

Good atmosphere with somewhat janky but punchy combat. Not particularly scary but I did find the sound design to be very well realized, and very strange but I like the way the flashlight works in this game. Unsure how to elaborate further on that, just play it and you'll notice the difference from most games.

very original horror game, interesting investigation mechanics. lighting, atmosphere and sound-design are superb, compelling plot and voice acting, melee and firearm combat feels crunchy and satisfying, Monolith was cooking some serious heat back in 2005/06.

there is some ocassional jank regarding the blocking and investigation mechanics though, my first few hours were a bit frustating because of these two things.

unfortunely the game does get repetitive rather quickly, the combat while enjoyable falls into the strike/block loop, movement speed is slow considering the often large levels, the level design itself doesn't offer enough variety to keep the player entertained after a long while of play.

I still recommend giving an shot, I miss when Monolith was still around to create these original games with good gameplay, influences and technical prowess instead of being stuck with estabilished IPs, shame that the sequel is not on PC but I will definitely try it once I get the chance.