I’ve finally downloaded and played the Condemned 2: Bloodshot demo from PSN. I also queued up the Turok demo since I’ve never tried it either. By the time I’ve blown through the Condemned 2 demo, the Turok download was still stuck at 37% and it was already growing dark.

I guess that meant people were starting to wake up on the other side of the world and PSN has just gotten a little more crowded. Well, there’s always continuing it next day.

The Condemned 2 demo is visually sick in a good way. The city is appropriately dark, the environments look decrepit, the framerate is buttery-smooth, and all the trailers that you’ve seen does not give the game any justice. I wasn’t too pleased with some of the other textures used in the trailers, but seeing it all in action is very different.

Black goo is slick
One particular imagery that’s quite prevalent in the level I’ve played is the black goo that covers a large portion of the environment. When you zoom in real close, the black goo’s texture still looks fantastic. If you walk over it, there’s that appropriately thick sound of stepping over something gooey.

For that added freaky factor, humanoid creatures covered in slick gunk crawl out of the black slime. It takes just one blow to dispatch each, but they’re pretty quick so it can be tricky to finish one off without taking damage. Fighting mano-y-mano with the “regular” thugs were more entertaining because you can pull off devastating combos. Executing these moves weren’t as simple, however. Timing had a lot to do with landing more bone-crushing blows so button mashing is definitely out of the question. One can pick up a lot of items strewn about in the environment for that extra edge. However, if you use something too often, it would break soon enough.

Short and sweet
Unfortunately, the Condemned 2 demo was over too soon. The download took longer than the actual playthrough. While the experience was short, one would realize that this first-person game isn’t the typical 10-hour action title. The pacing is very different, there’s a forensics feature that I have yet to try, and a fresh emphasis on melee.

I’m willing to believe that you (yes, you reading this right now) have better internet speeds than I do, so I recommend you give Condemned 2 a spin—it’s quite fun. Just beware of that wanting feeling because the demo is short and sweet. I just hope I can get my hands on a complete version soon.

Image of Condemned 2: Bloodshot is courtesy of Sega, Monolith Productions, and Lunch PR.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hands on: Condemned 2 demo is short and sweet

I have yet to watch a Yahtzee review with no complaints about a particular game. In the earlier part of the clip, everything Yahtzee said about Condemned 2 was quite positive. At least until some weird game-related stuff reminiscent of Indigo Prophecy, a creepy adventure game, started popping in.

From experience, I usually don’t take Yahtzee’s word when it comes to his negative comments because of his very strong preference of story over gameplay. But when the guy starts talking positive about a game, you know there’s something good in said game because Yahtzee is very difficult to please.

I wonder what the Englishman has to say about Metal Gear Solid 4, GTA IV, or Fallout 3 when they come out. I think MGS4 fans should steel themselves for a rant. GTA IV? Can’t say, since even the curmudgeons at EGM are gushing over it. Fallout 3 just might get accolades from Croshaw, but we can’t really speak too soon.

Does this video review of Condemned 2 merit a purchase on my part? Frankly I had to think twice just now, but I’ve decided that it’s still a no because I don’t expect Condemned 2 to have a long shelf life. However, the game is definitely a priority rental in my book.

Post from: EveryJoe

Weird: Yahtzee gives semi-positive review for Condemned 2

Others may consider Condemned 2 as a good purchase, but I’m not like the others. I’m cheap. Definitely a rental for me. What sold me to the game’s multiplayer is the idea of an all-melee deathmatch. This should be fun.

Post from: EveryJoe

Watch the Condemned 2 video review

Developed by Monolith Productions (makers of F.E.A.R.), Condemned 2 puts you in the unenviable shoes of “special crimes” investigator Ethan Thomas. Interestingly, there’s a change of lead voice actor in the sequel. The Ethan Thomas in the first game was voiced by Greg Grunberg, who’s also known as Matt Parkman in Heroes. Condemned 2, on the other hand, is taking on an “edgier” tone.

Cough *Prince of Persia* cough.

Was the move a good idea? We’ll never know until we’ve tried Condemned 2 out for ourselves. Until then, watch and see how the sequel’s gameplay works. See all the new videos after the jump.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Condemned 2 videos show different sides to gameplay

What is the sequel like? More of the same, and hopefully even some more. Enjoy the crimson splatters.

I can’t say I enjoyed the voice acting for Ethan Thomas. Quite distracting, really. I just hope I won’t hear much from him while playing the game.

Post from: EveryJoe

Condemned 2 video looks worse for wear in a good way