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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