Condemned: Criminal Origins

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2005
  • Also On: PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 72
  3. Negative: 0 out of 72
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  1. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    72
    The combat is startlingly visceral if a bit tricky to master, but your thumb may ache after hours of pressing in the analog stick to sprint. It's not a survival-horror revolution, but it's an adventure worth experiencing.
  2. GamePro
    70
    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.
  3. Eurogamer
    70
    It's a sign that next generation gaming may offer a wonderful audio visual experience, but it needs to be a tad more ambitious in the game design stakes.
  5. Total Video Games
    70
    Virtually caving people's skulls in with a crowbar or snapping their necks is brutal and the game wholly deserves its 18 certificate from the BBFC. Having said that the gameplay is quite repetitive with seemingly endless searches for the correct blunt instrument does get a bit tiresome.
  6. games(TM)
    70
    It may short as hell, but it’s a sweet, scary treat for horror fans and never pretends to be otherwise. [Christmas 2005, p.122]
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  7. GameShark
    67
    While it is a worthy first survival horror game for the Xbox 360, Condemned: Criminal Origins is a bit of a one-trick pony. Once the campaign is over, the player can go back to unlock more extras, but the game is pretty much done, and it has probably gotten repetitive to the average player by then anyway.
  8. Edge Magazine
    60
    A scary, vicious, visually progressive if rather hollow next-gen showcase that doesn’t outstay its welcome. If you want to spend a night or two in the company of the future of horror videogaming, you could do a lot worse. [Christmas 2005, p.94]
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  9. The Sydney Morning Herald
    60
    Frights are common as disturbingly psychopathic vagrants lunge at you from the shadows. The violence is raw, barbaric and unsettling.
  10. 360 Gamer Magazine UK
    60
    Squanders its potential with poor level design, repetitive gameplay and no Live content. [Issue #2]
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  11. Computer Games Magazine
    50
    The combination of slow pacing and boring, nondescript environments makes for too many dull stretches. [Feb 2006, p.86]
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2005
5
#5 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2005
5
#5 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 182 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 182
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 182
  3. Negative: 8 out of 182
  1. Spaceacer2012
    Dec 28, 2017
    10
    This is one of my favorite games ever, along with the 2nd one. I play both once a year, and enjoy them every time. Still waiting for a 3rdThis is one of my favorite games ever, along with the 2nd one. I play both once a year, and enjoy them every time. Still waiting for a 3rd Condemned... please make it happen!… Full Review »
  2. BaronMonaco
    Feb 10, 2016
    8
    One of the first 360 games therefore it's obviously not a very good looking game but if you put it back in its context it looked average atOne of the first 360 games therefore it's obviously not a very good looking game but if you put it back in its context it looked average at the time. No major bugs during my playthrough only some minor problems with the hit box of some weapon but nothing serious and the game plays itself very well. In fact its melee fights are really impressive and I'm surprised no other games copied it you can really feel the strength of a punch with also realistic gun aiming where you can't headshot every bullet.

    The game offers a nice horrific story and most importantly in horror games a great mood, every location is spooky, great sound design, some jump scares a really good horror game. In hard difficulty it took me about 9 hours to finish the game (looking for collectibles in the mean time), it's a little short and it ends on a cliffhanger, I would have loved that the game offered a second part to its story, even more now that I know how Condemned 2 starts, there is clearly a blank space that could have been filled.

    All in all Condemned is a good horrific game with an original combat system, but a short length, average graphics and some minor hick-ups in the gameplay the defaults that doesn't make this game great.    … Full Review »
  3. TTW107
    Feb 10, 2012
    8
    The best 360 game that hardly anyone has played. Others are complaining about it being boring because you just walk around with a pipe and hitThe best 360 game that hardly anyone has played. Others are complaining about it being boring because you just walk around with a pipe and hit people but seriously that's what this game is. You have to use your environment to your advantage, they aren't going to through you a AK47 so you can just blow through the game. Take the game for what it is and enjoy it. The atmosphere is the best part about it and it was very rewarding to play all the through to the end. Amazing.… Full Review »
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