While browsing my local store for budget games a few days ago I came along �Condemned: Criminal Origins�, a horror/survival-game that I�ve had my eye on before but was too rich for my blood on release. So at 10 bucks it was a steal and I didn�t hesitate to add it to my ever-growing collection of games. I don�t regret doing so: Condemned is a heart-stoppingly scary game that doesn�t shy away from graphic violence but �this is important- doesn�t go overboard on it either just because it has an 18+ rating.




It was developed by Monolith studios, the same guys who brought us that other frightening gaming experience: F.E.A.R. Not only that, but the games were developed pretty much simultaneously and were released within a few months of each other. Does that mean that Condemned is a F.E.A.R. clone? Not in the least. Apart from the fact that both games are creepy and will make you scream for your mom at least a couple of times they don�t have too much in common. Whereas in F.E.A.R. the horror element only really came from our favorite murderous little girl Alma it�s pretty much everywhere in Condemned. And conversely, there�s a lot less fighting in Condemned than in its bigger brother and you won�t be hauling around a weapons arsenal fit for an army. Even though there are definitely resemblances in style, presentation and design, the two aren�t much alike.

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