Product reviewsCondemned 2: Bloodshot (Sony PlayStation 3, 2008)

Solid game

First Person Brawler is how I would describe this game,
while there are firearms that you can use and some areas
that undeniably require the use of them, such occasions
are rare and ammo locations are limited to some checkpoints.

Timing is crucial in Condemned as it's the only way to
successfully survive attacks and open an enemy up for
further combo beat-downs.

The enemy A.I. in this game, are challenging in the erratic
sense. They often give the appearance of being "stunned," only
to throw a counter-attack to break your combo and will change
their attack patterns individually based on the current situation
and behavior. They don't even use discrimination with their
violence, as they often could potentially attack others that
happen to get in their way. Opening the idea of creating a
temporary diversion. Though likewise, a downfall of the game
is that certain scenarios have you facing against multiple
opponents and being trapped in a corner or immediately
surrounded guarantees a cheap death. As the combat is only made
for one-on-one, granted the segments with firearms were made for
taking on several foes.

Though what breaks up the monotony of continuous fighting,
is detective work. As you investigate murders in a CSI-like
fashion, using UV lights and a camera to notice the finer
details, that open multiple choice options of interpretative
observation. You essentially collect your best answer of
possibilities for submission, which is analyzed and given
a rating based off how successful it was or how it could of
been. Not all too difficult if you take the appropriate time
in investigating, the most trouble is with trying to read the
on-screen text at times. The font size could be more legible
if bigger in size.

The game is fairly enjoyable for it's unique gameplay in
the genre and a definite play through for fans of survival
or action themed horror games. Completing all secondary
objectives and earning perfect investigation scores give
upgrades as an award, that enhance combat abilities and
earns you a Gold rating. Unfortunately, they do not
ultimately change the overall experience and unlike the 360
Achievements, the game does not come with trophies. The 8-10
hours play-through is average and the linear experience also
limits the re-playability. Though online and multiplayer modes
do stretch the entertainment additionally, somewhat.

7/10Read full review...

Condemned 2 Bloodshot

Featuring new fighting mechanics and online multiplayer functionality, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is a first-person action thriller immersing players in a world of psychological terror. Following a string of gruesome murders, players must use their deductive skills and brute force to track down sadistic serial killers. Players assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who has been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. The disturbing events from Ethan's past have left him a broken man – a desperate burnout drifting aimlessly through society in an inexplicable decline. Fighting inner demons throughout his one-man investigation into a sinister conspiracy, Ethan needs to use anything and everything in the environment to survive as he unravels the mysteries shrouding the city in darkness. As Ethan, players engage in visceral combat using a variety of firearms, blunt instruments and a new fighting system complete with defensive and offensive combo chains, as well as grapples and holds. To help track the killer and solve the mysteries behind Condemned 2: Bloodshot, players crack open an all-new set of high-tech forensic tools. Using wits and brute strength, murders can be solved a number of different ways to keep players guessing throughout each suspenseful investigation. Condemned 2: Bloodshot introduces a variety of online multiplayer modes, including deathmatch. [Sega]
PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Monolith Productions
GENRE(S): First-Person Action, Adventure, Horror
PLAYERS: 8
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2008Read full review...

FPS survival horror game that gets close and personal

Condemned 2: Bloodshot puts a unique spin on the survival horror genre. It forces the player to get close and personal with the enemies using various melee weapons. These weapons are often taken straight from the game's environment. Weapons like: toilet seats, bricks, pipes, and others can all be used in combos to put some serious hurt on your enemies. The first person combat is surprising deep and fun. You can even block and learn new combos as the game progresses. The rewards that you obtain depend on how well you do in the game's many missions.

Pros: Condemned 2 is a very scary first person experience. You are encouraged to play well by numerous character upgrades, all of which enhance the gameplay. The close and personal melee combat is both fun and brutal. The criminal investigations sections add variety to an already solid FPS horror experience.

Cons: The game is very linear. More often than not something in the environment will change preventing you from going back. Also, while melee weapons are fun the actual shooting weapons feel too forgiving. Thus, the majority of your shots will end up being headshots even if your aim was off.

Side Note: Not for the kids or the faint at heart. Its a very brutal and violent experience, also memorable.Read full review...

Disappointing, but still good.

I like this game, and kept liking it untill i reached the near end levels, which were ridiculous.

I loved Condemned 1 because it was basically, about a guy, who's screwed up in the head. It didnt try to be something great, something of EPIC proportions. It WAS something epic in its own small form.

They tried to take the epicness too far in this one... "World is in danger, one hero has to rise" Bullocks!. I loved everything about this game up untill the later parts.

Still worth a buy or a rent imo. story is alright, gameplay is great. Still creepy as hell. Kinda repetitive though, not much replay value, probably would worht replaying 3 times and thats it. And its not that long either. I finished it in a little over a day.

The first and mid levels are great. Like i said before...its not until you reach the later levels where it gets a wee bit silly. Hint; the dump cargo ship thing level.

Graphics are great though, and the gameplay is magnificent, melee fighting has never been this brilliant, Gun fights are also some of the most realistic ive ever seen in a game.

Verdict, out of 10?. Id give it a 8.7. Could have been magnificent, but the devs chose the cliche of "One hero saves all" Bullshit.Read full review...

Gore, blood, fights, violence, scary!

This FPS game is pretty good, it's pretty scary too I nearly shat in my pants a couple of times lol, lots of weapon/objects you can use or throw at people, fights are BRUTAL, graphics are really nice, lot of details and it's REALLY dark, AI sucks balls but hey you're playing this game to be scared and be brutal so whatever, the game also seems a little short (I haven't finished it yet) but it has a multiplayer option wich I haven't tried yet neither. Puzzles : being a huge Silent Hill fan I would say these are the easiest / most stupidly confusing puzzles I've ever seen but as I said, buy this game if you wanna be scared the sh*t out, be brutal and have a little fun. It is not a grade-A complex game (like Silent Hill ones) but it is fun and it suprised me enough it's worth the buy.Read full review...

Good game for a scare, play it in the dark.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot is a dark, bloody, gritty game with the emphasis on survival. As the player you are Ethan Thomas, a homeless and violent drunk that is on a downward spiral who suffers from paranormal visions, as he is taunted by an antagonistic alter-ego that constantly plagues him.

His former boss summons him to aid to investigate the murder of his one-time mentor. As you go deeper into the game you are thrust deeper into a horrorific nightmare where you must investigate all the while protecting yourself with whatever you can use to defend against the dark streets and nightmarish environment.

The game can be buggy with some lock ups and frame rates issues, however the biggest bug is when you go to install the update on a PS3 system. On some systems, the game reboots itself when you initially try to install Version 1.01.

The workaround for that is as follows... Shut you system off, and then restart. Next you will load the game, count to five slowly and then press the "X" to install V 1.01. Your system will reboot and bring you to the install screen, again count to five slowly and press the "X" button again where you can then install the update. If it does not work try it a couple of times and it will work.

All in all, if you are looking for a good survival horror game with a twist, this it the game for you. It is in the first person perspective but you will be using the environment as opposed to using just guns.Read full review...

Interesting but flawed

This game was very engrossing. It pulls you right into the action and uses the first person perspective well. The only problem is the fighting system. It is hard to see who you are fighting at times and it is very hard to tell when to block. I also find that the weapons break far too easily when you use them to block attacks. It was interesting to see the bad-guys fight themselves when left unattended, and the character design is top notch. All in all a very good and scary game. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. Play it with the lights out and your speakers turned way up so you can catch all of the subtle background noises.Read full review...

Cheapskate Gamer: Condemned 2: Bloodshot review

This being my first step into th realm of horror survival games (a land I saw no reason o enter before) I entered with some trepidation. However I found Condemned 2 to be an excellent choice for this first excursion.

Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics in this game are great on just about everything. The characters are painstakingly detailed and I offer up many thanks to the people who designed them. Individual hairs exist in this game instead of the solid hair coloured lumps you get in some other games. The splatter effects are great. Enemies are extremely disturbing. If you play this game you will definitely be freaked out when you are attacked by your first meth-head. Graphics are essential for a horror game and this game got them right.

Gameplay: 8/10
Like any game where you have enemies, this game is built around its fighting system. If you buy this game expecting to casually run through blasting anyone who comes at you like you would in some games change your expectations now. This is not a hack-and-slash or a run-and-gun. If you treat it as such you will die. A lot. The combat system definitely takes some getting used to so the first thing you should do, before ever setting foot in any level past level one is to head to the Bloodshot Fight Club. This is essentially a practice arena. It will at least let you get the gyst of it before you have to have any real fights.
The fighting system is essentially a boxing game but you are allowed to use weapons. Lots and lots and lots of weapons. Occasionally you can get a gun but when ammo is limited to what the gun can hold you end up using melee combat again pretty quick. You are in the slums of a town and so there are bits and pieces of buildings everywhere. This means you can beat the various pieces of human filth with everything from a piece of electrical conduit you've pulled from a wall to exploding doll grenades to pieces of wood with nails in to toilet seats.

Story: 7/10
The story here seems interesting enough but it's just mysterious a first. It is revealed in little bursts via level beginning and end cutscenes and the occasional random tv/radio.

Writing: 7.5/10
The writing here is far better than most other games I have played. You won't groan at a cliche more than every once in a while. The lines are believable. The characters are mostly believable. All in all very basic but good writing.

Voice Acting: 6.5/10
The voice acting here is hard to judge. The actors do a good job with their lines but whoever was doing the casting must have been confused. The voices don't sound like they belong to the people on screen. The main character is a weary, beat-down, ex-cop who is now a bit of a drunk/bum and definitely looks the part. He sounds like a guy in his twenties who doesn't really have any problems. Well Acted but by the wrong people.

Overall: $16/$16
If I didn't have this game but knew what I know about it I would easily spend the full 16 on this game. It is definitely worth the play.

(Games rated on how much the author is willing to pay for them. Adjust to your max payment scale to find your own price.)Read full review...

in fairness...not too big on 1st person games

I got this game out of morbid curiosity. I got it cheap (Under 10 bucks) and I would be upset if I spent much more....I tried to play it, I really did, but I just couldn't get interested. You are a drunken ex-cop (which is supposed to give it a gritty sin-city feel...didn't work for me, but I see where they were going, so whatever)You start off with no weapons, just a flashlight (which because the game itself is really dark..visually..) you Basically push the circle button and leave it on the entire game... the fighting system takes some getting used to, weapons pickups get annoying (most weapons break after a few hits, and they're all the same..basically clubs, some are 2x4s, some are pipes, electrical conduits, whatever...they all are functionally the same..no tactical advantages for switching...repetitive and annoying) guns are handy but hard to come by, the first-person aspect was jarring, but I don't often play first person games so that may just be me...overall, if you can get it cheap, and you dig first person games, then scoop it up...don't bother.Read full review...

condemned two bloodshot

excellent condition excellent game love it I just forgot how hard it was but fun all the same great game love it

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: p-bass