Condemned: Criminal Origins

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2005
  • Also On: PC
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
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  1. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    8
    I loved this game as a teen. The maps were confusing as hell, and there were levels i never played because i knew i would get lost and annoyed. But, overall, fantastic.
  2. atyoukha
    Aug 1, 2022
    10
    Wow, this game is awesome! I loved every minute of it. The environment is creepy and always had me on edge. I would recommend this game, no doubt.
  3. fer5500
    Jun 19, 2022
    9
    I was expecting a 6th generation type of game playing on a 7th generation console, i really love the launch titles for both the 360 and the PS3 and that's exactly what i got with Condemned: criminal origins. Game is scary and the combat is simple and easy to learn, don't really use the block system much, graphics are ok for an early 7th generation game, i think if this game would'veI was expecting a 6th generation type of game playing on a 7th generation console, i really love the launch titles for both the 360 and the PS3 and that's exactly what i got with Condemned: criminal origins. Game is scary and the combat is simple and easy to learn, don't really use the block system much, graphics are ok for an early 7th generation game, i think if this game would've launched for the PS2, this game would be worth a lot of money right now, considering how expensive PS2 horror games are. On a additional note: I think this game resembles silent hill a lot but in first person .… Expand
  4. AmadeusE
    Jun 30, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Xbox 360's best launch title!

    This is basically F.E.A.R.'s survival horror brother, as opposed to the action horror. Made by the same company, made on the same engine and also came out the same year. And just like in F.E.A.R., the AI in this game is unbeaten by anything out there. There are many great things about the AI and I especially like the enemy's ability to hide, which can really catch you off guard sometimes.

    This game focuses on melee combat, instead of F.E.A.R.'s gunplay. The melee combat can get pretty satisfying when you get the hang of it and the animation for the enemies is amazing. Few games also manage to make finding a simple firearm with ammo in it as satisfying as Condemned. I also recommend playing the game without the taser, as it makes the game much more interesting and exhilarating when you don't constantly cheat and take the easy way out of a tough situation with the taser, like I've seen most players do...and instead just forget about it completely. There are many intense battles throughtout the game, but the most memorable ones can be the firefights. The feeling of trying to figure out how to deal with an enemy who's armed with a gun when you only have a melee weapon...made even better when you know the location of a gun to pick up and try to get to it. And the rare gun vs. gun battles.

    The story is very interesting. And the characters are good. I only don't care much for the Rosa character. She's fine for most of the story, but at one point she really stumbled into a hole when she told the main character that very few people can tell her to shut up and get away with it after he tells her to be quiet when she calls him during an intense hiding moment, almost getting him caught. That's Karen-level attitude.

    The game also has top class voice acting that shines especially when enemies are yelling with enraged voices in the distance. The game has great voice acting throughout, but the enemies during gameplay outshine everyone.

    Condemned: Criminal Origins is without a doubt the best Xbox 360 launch title, as nothing else in the lineup comes close to it. Truly an essential purchase for anyone buying at launch!    … Expand
  5. Mike251
    May 5, 2020
    10
    The game is a short, brawl/shoot em up thriller with low jumpscares. Like many games of its time that were of higher quality, it relies more on psychological horror than jumpscares. Which works perfectly for it!

    Brawling and shooting mechanics are top notch, you can only use melee (no fists) or guns and even in more shootouty sections it feels fleshed out and tense, gritty, powerful.    The game is a short, brawl/shoot em up thriller with low jumpscares. Like many games of its time that were of higher quality, it relies more on psychological horror than jumpscares. Which works perfectly for it!

    Brawling and shooting mechanics are top notch, you can only use melee (no fists) or guns and even in more shootouty sections it feels fleshed out and tense, gritty, powerful. Melee combat is meaty, messy, responsive and surprisingly authentic. You and enemies both react to each others strikes and almost have scuffles in believable ways. In other games you simply create a blood spot on an enemy or you square up and do a perfect, nice boxing ring match, but in this game, there's a VERY VERY visceral melee system. Rolling around in the mud and gouging each other's eyes out doing so wouldn't be at all out of place in this game's combat.

    Overall, I'd say worth 10 EUR/USD even today! Money well spent. Back when it came out, I'd say worth even 30.    … Expand
  6. 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.
  7. iddqd4
    Feb 13, 2018
    8
    Довольно мрачная игра про агента ФБР, поиск улик, с рукопашными боями от первого лица.
  8. 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 3rd Condemned... please make it happen!
  9. 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 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 itOne 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.    … Expand
  10. somethingguy912
    Aug 11, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the few 'nostalgic journeys' into the early launch titles of the Xbox 360, the unknown gem known as Comdemned: Criminal Origins. I hadn't been very full into the Condemned lore but I found initial interest in the concept behind Criminal Origins fundamentally for it's unique combat style and gritty urban sprawls, especially of the subway scenes. I finally managed to get a copy and dig into the world for Condemned, and overall got a satisfactory, if not so scary platter of atmospher and potato-shaped characters. Don't get me wrong that Criminal Origins tries it's damndest to add some scary imagery, what with the vision streaking and the whole conspiracy with the unusual death of crows corellated to gang violence, but the poor 2006 graphics usually throws you away from the experience of being scared. Although I do admit there was some parts where I jumped, but all of those were inherent jump scare moments meant to make you jump rather put you in perpetual fear for your own life. As I said with combat, all of the melee weapons have drawbacks and advantages as well as uses for advancing in the game, although for only a select few weapons, so don't expect to use a mannequin hand for any interesting segments. Guns are present but to keep balance you only have the ammo in the gun's clip which won't always be a full clip, but you get a taser that can also help you time your melee and/or gun shots and a 'judo kick' to keep those nasty vagrants back. As for the story, while it does keep the tension and tries to piece all of the other subplots togeter, they soon far apart as the mysterious Vanhorn becomes a antagonist out of the blue with some weird 'visage' that only shows up in the very end of the game and doesn't have any connection to the events beforehand. Although like with Far Cry 3 where Vaas was superior a villain than his upper man Hoyt, Criminal Origin's 'Serial Killer X' is indefinitely more interesting and better at pulling at the strings of the protagonist than this 'visage' that apparently is controlling him and the protagonist. The protagonist, while sometimes being deadpan and straight faced, can actually emote even for the shoddy graphics while adding subtleties to him being a part of the string of crimes going around. The enemies you'll face also have interesting attacks, being able to recoil swings from being hit and also able to perform fakies to break your defense, although none of the vagrants aren't any good with shooting, which probably helps considering how quickly they can kill you. Although the gameplay is innovative, the game itself isn't all to hard to accomplish as the ol' one-two with the taser and a fire axe or equally high-damage weapon will dispose of most enemies, even the bulkier and hardier ones in later parts of the game. Also the prevalence of health kits also doesn't help with the necessity to survive, with a somewhat shoddy sprint meter and sprint, often moving awkwardly at a speed walk rate rather than actually 'running'. A lot of the launch title gimmicks of the game are still prevalent, what with the unecessary collectibles around the various areas, and the almost spoon-fed achievements you can get in this game overall, as well as the really shoddy invisible walls of small pieces of furniture that otherwise shouldn't stop you from getting around them. Fortunately the final boss battle isnt a QTE **** although it is hard since the enemy can pull a bunch of samurai-esque moves and when you hurt him to the point to press the prompt you can **** up the prompt if you accidentally hit him, making you have to hurt him BACK to the point to bring back the prompt, resulting in many unecessary deaths. While this game is blocky, rigid, and a little bit boring, there is a lot of promise made in result of the combat mechanics and the well-designed environments as well as the smart AI.… Expand
  11. harryjc
    Apr 7, 2015
    8
    A creepy, story driven, first person shooter. You play the role of a detective gone rogue to solve a murder case involving multiple serial killers. Condemned: Criminal Origins' thrusts you into a chilling, mysterious world, where you must use your wits to survive. It is a worthwhile experience, and is one of Sega's best games.

    However, it is not without its flaws. Graphically speaking    A creepy, story driven, first person shooter. You play the role of a detective gone rogue to solve a murder case involving multiple serial killers. Condemned: Criminal Origins' thrusts you into a chilling, mysterious world, where you must use your wits to survive. It is a worthwhile experience, and is one of Sega's best games.

    However, it is not without its flaws. Graphically speaking it is not very beautiful, and there are bugs that disrupt gameplay. As well defense mechanisms are sorely lacking; this is probably the weakest area of the game. Your character's attributes are mainly offensive. While playing it becomes frustrating when it is apparent that you cannot duck, block, or zoom, and you get winded after a few seconds.

    But that does not ruin the game entirely. You should give this a try. The pros outweigh the cons.    … Expand
  12. herget
    Feb 23, 2015
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. Its one of those games for me that the graphics do not matter because everything else about the game is so solid and satisfying. I love playing through this game every couple of years. Totally reccomend playing this game still to this day. Definitely worth the $10 it will probably cost.
  13. fspring
    Sep 16, 2014
    10
    I actually was looking for a game that was similar to "Resident Evil" and stumbled over this one by accident. I must say that although it's really violent (too much for my taste) it has a very tense story and is really different to most shooters out there as the ammo is so very limited which makes it so real. Best thing is the atmosphere though!
  14. twos
    Apr 29, 2014
    6
    game was overall pretty enjoyable gameplay was a bit dull at times as it was quite repetitive in this sense, however the story, settings and atmosphere were not dull or repetitive. It had one particular chapter of this game which was unusually scary for a game and oozed the bioshock vibe this game did come out 2 years earlier though. I am giving it a six for lack of gameplay, also playinggame was overall pretty enjoyable gameplay was a bit dull at times as it was quite repetitive in this sense, however the story, settings and atmosphere were not dull or repetitive. It had one particular chapter of this game which was unusually scary for a game and oozed the bioshock vibe this game did come out 2 years earlier though. I am giving it a six for lack of gameplay, also playing it 9 years after it was released doesn't help it from a graphical point of view but gritty enough to not look too dated.… Expand
  15. HPSPhoenix
    Apr 23, 2014
    8
    I remember playing this game for the first time when I was just 6 or 7, and I can tell you, it's a truly terrifying experience. Possibly the greatest horror game of all time, although maybe a little outdated in 2014, the graphics were and are good today. If you're looking to be scared from your wits, buy this game.
  16. potatoes351
    Mar 24, 2014
    8
    Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of the best launch titles I have ever seen for a system. Its not only a great showcase of what the 360 was capable of upon launch, but it was a good game in its own right.
    You play as detective Ethan Thomas who when investigating a murder by serial killer 'The Match Maker' his partner is killed by a fleeing suspect and Ethan becomes the prime suspect for    Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of the best launch titles I have ever seen for a system. Its not only a great showcase of what the 360 was capable of upon launch, but it was a good game in its own right.
    You play as detective Ethan Thomas who when investigating a murder by serial killer 'The Match Maker' his partner is killed by a fleeing suspect and Ethan becomes the prime suspect for the murder. As Ethan begins to try to clear his name, serial killers from the past begin to show up dead causing Ethan to investigate who is killing the serial killers.
    Condemned is a first person brawler, a game that forces you to use melee combat over firearms and does so with great success. A game that really feels like you're doing damage with your hits and not just pushing buttons.
    My only real criticisms are that the forensic investigations are too handholdy and that once finished the game offer very little else for you, but besides that Condemned is a brilliant and sometimes relatively scary game.    … Expand
  17. coopert
    Jan 11, 2014
    2
    This game earns a two for it's ideas and for attempting something different using light effects well in a new generation but the truth is I owned this game and never completed it and I think that says a lot for the immersion I felt with this game. I thought the combat was sloppy and got really boring really quickly and there was nothing in the story keeping me gripped. If you can get alongThis game earns a two for it's ideas and for attempting something different using light effects well in a new generation but the truth is I owned this game and never completed it and I think that says a lot for the immersion I felt with this game. I thought the combat was sloppy and got really boring really quickly and there was nothing in the story keeping me gripped. If you can get along with the combat it may be worth getting in an Xbox Live sale for a quid or two.… Expand
  18. solo-kreep
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    use to play on 360 about 6 or 7years ago. just in 2013 got it for pc, and its always one of my favorite games. was one of the first games out on 360. still play it til this day.
  19. Rox22
    Nov 7, 2013
    5
    An OK-ish title that really failed to impress me. I got it a year after it came out and I remember everyone telling me it was really scary and so much fun. No it wasn't. There weren't really any scares, just a few weak mind f**ks that really were rather poor. The occasional jump scare that really were more annoying than scary. Combat was mostly boring and the enemies didn't feel thatAn OK-ish title that really failed to impress me. I got it a year after it came out and I remember everyone telling me it was really scary and so much fun. No it wasn't. There weren't really any scares, just a few weak mind f**ks that really were rather poor. The occasional jump scare that really were more annoying than scary. Combat was mostly boring and the enemies didn't feel that challenging.

    Story was decent and I will give the developers credit for making the game have a creepy atmosphere, a shame the rest didn't live up to it.

    Overall:
    Condemned is really a jump scare game aimed to scare people who are feint of heart. or not that emotionally developed (i.e. kids) kind of curious since it has an M rating (18 in the UK.) Still, the game is OK as a weekend rental if there is nothing else available, but you won't be missing anything major by skipping this game.    … Expand
  20. strontydog75
    Oct 7, 2013
    9
    Awesome game still after all this time, love it and remember it in my nightmares even now.
    One of the first 360 games i ever played, the sense of immersion is at times over powering and very intense.
    This game really feels like you are fighting for your life and at times will get under your skin if you let it. Again i cant praise this early 360 gem enough, if you haven't played it yet    Awesome game still after all this time, love it and remember it in my nightmares even now.
    One of the first 360 games i ever played, the sense of immersion is at times over powering and very intense.
    This game really feels like you are fighting for your life and at times will get under your skin if you let it.
    Again i cant praise this early 360 gem enough, if you haven't played it yet do it you will never forget it.    … Expand
  21. ThyRavenWings
    Jul 18, 2013
    8
    This is one of the very few horror video games that i have ever been genuinely scared by. It's feels claustrophobic, you always have this creepy paranoid feeling that someone or something is just around the corner waiting to kill you, and a very dark and at times unsettling environment. This game also has what is probably the best use of detective skill ever. A true gem of a game.
  22. hollowfication
    Jul 5, 2012
    10
    this game was overall most frighting game on 360 of all time i first bought my xbox 360 and i saw this game said hell why not i put it up i thought it would be crummy but i was left jumping out of my chair heart pound from being scared out of my mind but even know when it look like your safe boom something scary come running up to you. either to kill you or scary **** when u open locker ithis game was overall most frighting game on 360 of all time i first bought my xbox 360 and i saw this game said hell why not i put it up i thought it would be crummy but i was left jumping out of my chair heart pound from being scared out of my mind but even know when it look like your safe boom something scary come running up to you. either to kill you or scary **** when u open locker i suggested everyone to buy this game.

    if you want heart raising none stopping first person horror shooter game this up ur alley.    … Expand
  23. wesker2012
    May 27, 2012
    9
    A true underated gem! One of my favorite games this generation and of all time. This game is true survival horror that is actually fun to play! It contends with Dead Space for best survival horror series of all time. I've been wishing for a Condemned 3 game forever now! So many great moments in this game!
  24. BurningDesire
    Apr 5, 2012
    10
    if you dont own this buy it. dont pay rent dont pay the power buy this. Very freaky one of the most scary games of the xbox, it has that feeling bout it when you find a good horror game. cant say too much as it will spoil it but a must for every collection. Oh and buy a 12 pack of undies you will need them
  25. 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 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 bestThe 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.… Expand
  26. mvpReviews
    Dec 29, 2011
    8
    As â
  27. wastelander75
    Nov 26, 2011
    8
    Very atmospheric game, with a kind of "Fight Club" gritty dirty-ness to it. Constantly had that tense, scary feel to it all. the graphics are a bit rough, (think xbox kinda) but that's a small gripe when you compare it to the overall survival horror feel to it all. Good scary stuff here. Really.
  28. HeReDiA97
    Jun 17, 2011
    8
    Bueno pues este juego es bueno.
    El sistema de juego es un poco confuso, la historia es buena pero deja cosas sueltas.
    La dificultad es buena pero algo loca de repente.
    Comprenlo, rentelo, cambienlo , pidanlo prestado, da igual pero jueguen lo ya.
  29. Human
    Jan 16, 2011
    8
    If you want some scares and a generally terrifying atmosphere, Condemned is for you. So many moments of sheer terror come to mind when I think of this game, and it still has one of the best climaxes of any video game I have ever played. The minor complaints I have about the game are that combat is meh and the very last level feels unnecessary. What made it even more scary last time IIf you want some scares and a generally terrifying atmosphere, Condemned is for you. So many moments of sheer terror come to mind when I think of this game, and it still has one of the best climaxes of any video game I have ever played. The minor complaints I have about the game are that combat is meh and the very last level feels unnecessary. What made it even more scary last time I played Condemned was I accidentally had the brightness setting all the way down, so if you want an even more intense experience I suggest that.… Expand
  30. Higher_Standard
    Aug 23, 2010
    5
    This game was pretty dull. But there was one scene that literally caused me to **** myself. Other than said scene it's pretty dull, repetative, and grind like.
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. IGN
    87
    An unforgettable experience. At no point in the game will you be calm or feel comfortable, and that's the best part about it.
    Read full review
  2. 1UP
    80
    Ultimately, what really makes Condemned worthy of your sleepless nights is its relentless pursuit of total ambience, a design quality that's intrinsically tied to the power of the Xbox 360. Survival horror has simply never looked this good.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpot
    80
    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.
    Read full review
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