Condemned: Criminal Origins

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 241 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 152 out of 241
  2. Mixed: 73 out of 241
  3. Negative: 16 out of 241
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  1. Joe
    May 4, 2006
    4
    The whole game engine is awkward and practically on rails...you can't crouch or even jump(!) unless the game allows it at certain points (I know FPS veterans won't believe that one - try the demo and see). You can be carrying around an FBI lab's worth of analysis equipment (through devastated slums, no less) but you can't pick up health packs or hold more than one The whole game engine is awkward and practically on rails...you can't crouch or even jump(!) unless the game allows it at certain points (I know FPS veterans won't believe that one - try the demo and see). You can be carrying around an FBI lab's worth of analysis equipment (through devastated slums, no less) but you can't pick up health packs or hold more than one weapon at a time. The whole game is FILLED with the same kind of tired scare & "unreality" nonsense that F.E.A.R. already overdid...endless jump-scares from the dark, distant enemies who you can just glimpse but do nothing about as they scurry around a corner, meaningless "craziness" (like having reality shift on you for no reason, being suddenly surrounded by mannequins with no explanation, etc.) and so on. And what is probably the biggest disappointment considering the build-up, Condemned has an absolutely awful game backstory...one of the worst in recent memory. Why? Because no questions are even answered at the end...why does the protagonist pick up birds and metal pieces to begin with? Why has the whole world seemingly gone homicidally insane? Why are the birds dying? Why does reality shift so often for the protagonist and what does it mean? Is he insane? Why about all his so-called special abilities that the authorities are so interested in? Who/What is the final enemy? Etc.! Basically NONE of these very basic questions are answered...the game just opens up pandoras boxes of intruiging plot elements, then just...ends, with no plausible explanation for any of it and very few loosed ends tied. And I haven't mentioned the god-awful performance (which isn't worth it, if the game's visuals are anything to go by since most of it is in the dark). The only reason this game gets 4 at all, is because the hand-to-hand combat is exceptionally well implemented...revolutionary in fact. But other than that, this is an unbelievably overrated one-trick pony, except the developers forgot that the one trick has already been played out ad nauseum, and better, by the likes of F.E.A.R. and Doom 3. Save your money and time...I really regret wasting both of mine on this game.… Expand
  2. E.e.
    Apr 8, 2006
    4
    The controls are terrible and the engine makes you feel like you're moving underwater. The melee combat is not fun, and there's lots of that. I think investigating the crime scenes, while not great, is a whole lot more fun than the rest of the action.
  3. MattMckerroll
    May 21, 2009
    3
    like ppl have said before the engine doesnt let this game reach its full potential (which mind you STILL isnt that good) . the scares as mentioned before are cheap, copied from FEAR and lame, in some of the reviews they said "Even the hardened veterans of the world's best horror games will find this to be a fine addition to their collection" i coulndt DISagree more. this game was notlike ppl have said before the engine doesnt let this game reach its full potential (which mind you STILL isnt that good) . the scares as mentioned before are cheap, copied from FEAR and lame, in some of the reviews they said "Even the hardened veterans of the world's best horror games will find this to be a fine addition to their collection" i coulndt DISagree more. this game was not scary. PERIOD. it wasnt scary mostly because there were no reasons to BE scared, in FEAR for example u knew that it was alma who did the crazy rediculous things, and were afraid to die thus SCARY. DOOM3, stuff jumped out at u hurting u and u lost health, also stuff could be hiding NEWHERE in the dark there and could attack you from a distance thus SCARY. C:CO on the other hand had no reasson for the scares juts O LOOK SOMETHING MOVED BY ITSELF, why NO IDEA, but it wont hurt me cuz thats bad game design.
    also thats another thing that doesnt get mentioned like EVER. is the actual DESIGN of the game (which is bad VERY BAD) u cant run for more than 15ft (hes a cop c'mon, not some 400lb chain smoking obese couch potato) also the game feels very "disconnected" like there are levels and the game even says LEVEL COMPLETE or chapter finished w/e. this breaks the immersion of the game also what about the collecting of dead birds and metal pieces and the ON TVs just lame and campy. and of course combat = bad i wont go into detail mostly cuz many ppl already have. this next part made me brake my mouse: theres a part in the game (early on i think) you climb over some thing and then u get hit by a bad guy and fall down the escalater this is unavoidable, the worst part is that u ACTUALLY take damage from this so when i got to this part i had little health and DIED every time i though to myself that "theres no way the devs would do that, of course they thot of THIS problem no?" so i conuted to do that part 10-12 times and then FINALLY re-did the entire level, NOT FUN. all in all BAD GAME, i dare any one to contest this, theres no way after REALLY looking into this game ppl think its still fun. the combat's not even satisfying which is like 80% of a game, having satisfyying, good gameplay.    … Expand
  4. quentntarantado
    Sep 9, 2019
    0
    This is really horrible. I do not want to play this game. I'm glad i borrowed it before playing. Now I'm recommending that everyone save their money and don't bother buy it. Truly awful. It is boring, tawdry, and the story is so derivative. The acting is third-rate, amateurish. The effects look like they were drawn using crayon. A piece of godawful trash.
  5. stop9091
    Dec 13, 2016
    4
    A great waste. It starts great, but then it becomes boring and repetitive.

    It's a shame because the atmosphere and the ideas are good, but everything is wasted. During the first third of the game, there is just no plot; the main character just runs behind the enemy. Why do forensics if the enemy is 5 meters from you!? For the entire game you kill heaps of hobo-zombies The hob-ies    A great waste. It starts great, but then it becomes boring and repetitive.

    It's a shame because the atmosphere and the ideas are good, but everything is wasted.

    During the first third of the game, there is just no plot; the main character just runs behind the enemy. Why do forensics if the enemy is 5 meters from you!?

    For the entire game you kill heaps of hobo-zombies
    The hob-ies are just annoying; they all feel the same, and just can just kill them by rage-clicking (at least, on "normal" level), even without blocking. Again, a wasted idea.

    The forensic tools are again a great idea, which is again wasted. They're essentially used as mini-puzzles sprinkled though the game. They're not integrated in the plot or in the game in general; they're isolated. But wait, they're not puzzles either, as they're just trivial.

    Birds and pieces of metal are probably remains of a scraped idea. They're completely useless.

    All in all, it feels like a team of very talented people, lead with a very bland and clueless direction.
    Shame. This could have been a great game in the hands of a good lead.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best PC Game of 2006
33
#33 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
16
#16 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. GameSpot
    81
    This first-person action game hits you like a sledgehammer with its astounding, stunningly creepy presentation, but it sacrifices opportunities for more shocks and surprises by settling for repetition.
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  2. IGN
    85
    Condemned: Criminal Origins isn't a long game and it only has one game mode, but it's an unforgettable experience while it lasts.
    Read full review
  3. Cheat Code Central
    88
    CCO has all of the gameplay, story, visuals and atmosphere that you could possibly want in a mystery game and I think does them all to a proverbial "t".
    Read full review
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