Condemned: Criminal Origins

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, especially when you start thinking that yours is about to go bad. Meet Ethan Thomas, a hotshot FBI agent growing disillusioned with humanity. While hot on the trailer of a serial killer, he loses his gun, has it used to kill his cop partners, and then must go on the lam and try to track down the real murderer. Did we also mention that the entire time e's also starting to lose his mind, or at least he thinks he is? This isn't your typical day at the office.

The City Is Going Crazy

Perhaps the most intriguing and terrifying aspect of Condemned: Criminal Origins is the enemies that inhabit your world. Instead of supernatural beasts or zombies, the game pits you against human beings who have gone crazy. But despite their lunacy, they still possess enough intelligence to react to you like a real person. The A.I. for all the enemies is highly tuned, and foes will seek cover, actively look for weapons, and even run away from you if you're toting around a stronger weapon than they are.

Melee combat, which is the primary means of fighting off the crazed denizens of the city, is both a blessing and a curse. Being able to rip the blade off a paper cutter and whack a poor enemy in the head is satisfying. However, when you consider the melee combat mechanics basically consist of a strike, block, and counter-attack, you end up with the makings of a system that loses its luster quite quickly. You can pick up some firearms, but they run out so fast that they're almost worthless.There is no such armor here as, for example, in Fallout 4 (https://ranktopten.com/fallout-4-best-armor-14140), but it is not needed here.

The Image of Madness

Thanks to the sheer processing power of the Xbox 360, the world of Condemned is as gritty and realistic as you could ever wish. Most of the action takes place in tight and claustrophobic areas, such as an abandoned school or department store, leading to a prolonged experience of wondering what just may be around that next corner. However, the lush world around you also tends to become quite repetitive, with some areas in the game looking far too similar.

Losing Your Mind Is a Quick Process

While much of the Condemned experience will leave you sleeping with the lights on for months, the actual game itself will last you little more than a handful of hours. Our first run through the game clocked in at little over four hours, which was quite disappointing. The game does have a ton of collectibles to find, including some cool Xbox 360 Achievement Awards, but just don't expect an epic 20-hour experience.