http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/condemned2bloodshot

So far:

80% (Official Xbox Magazine UK)
*An all-out assault on the brain, a gruesome spectacle to behold. A horrific beauty has once again been born by Monolith.

80% (X360 Magazine UK)
*Condemned 2 takes every weakness from the original and desperately attempts to eradicte it. It can become difficult to take, but persevere. It's worth it.

based on what I've read, I'll give it an 80%

The first is an amazing title. Easily the best horror game out there. Nobody can walk those halls without an elevated heart rate!

I'll be buying this on day one...the first was an excellent game, my favorite at launch.

I never thought I would like survival horror but I played the first Condemned and loved it. However, now I am again thinking I wont like it based upon what was said in those brief synopisys. I guess I should give it a try since I liked the first one but if this is more on the "monsters" and less on just creapy people in a creapy part of town then I may not be as interested. Somehow the first Condemned didnt seem to follow they Silent Hill type formula (but then I admit I never actually played that game).

mmm...I forgot about this game. I played it a launch but never finished it which is unusual for me because once I start a game i usually finish it. Maybe I wll revisit it in prep right before part 2 comes out.

The first one is the first time I ever played a game where I jumped and screamed outloud. I was in an intense area of the game. Somehow my dog was able to get on the couch without me knowing or feeling her. She brushed her tail against my back and it was at the same time something happened in the game. Freaked me out. :)

The first one was scary and tense but the storyline sucked. I finished the game more confused then when I started.

The first one was scary and tense but the storyline sucked. I finished the game more confused then when I started.

+1

It was the first game I had ever finished all the way through, and I had absolutely no idea what was going on. And I still don't.

First one was a good launch title, but there was plenty to be improved upon. I wish it had been more open in terms of where you walk and accomplish stuff. Much if it was really just a tiny path you followed from bad dude to bad dude.

If they can fix that up and make it a bit more open of a world, it would be much better. And the fighting has to be improved a bit over the 'stun, hit with club' routine that could pretty much get you through the first game.

I'll be looking forward to trying this new one out.

It amazes me that 11 people have cast a user rating (5.1 on Metacritic) on a game which has not released yet. :confused: I realize this happens all over but it sure is silly.

I do plan on getting this game as well. IMHO, the original was good, but not great.

I need to get away from FPS for a bit, so I do look forward to this release.

Mark

The original Condemned was one of the first 360 games I ever played and even though I'm not much for horror games, it was very effective and really got under my skin (that department store level was particularly spooky). I was so creeped out by it that once I finished the game I sold it right away so that I wouldn't have it lying around.

About my only disappointments were that (1) your character moved way too slowly and (2) the ending (and I'm talking the very last thing you see before it all fades to black) made the game kind of pointless. I'll be curious to see how those issues are addressed in part 2.

One thing I'm not wild about based on the pics and movies that I've seen so far is that everything seems to have a washed out almost monochromatic look to it. Its been a long time, but I thought the first game was a bit more vivid in that regard. Still, I'll definitely have to check this one out at some point.

loved the first one, can't wait for Bloodshot. I just read the EGM review, solid scores around 8.0's. In a nutshell, they said it lived up to the original on all aspects, but felt the storyline was leaning more towards the "supernatural" than the original.

We can't wait for this one!

The first one is the first time I ever played a game where I jumped and screamed outloud. I was in an intense area of the game. Somehow my dog was able to get on the couch without me knowing or feeling her. She brushed her tail against my back and it was at the same time something happened in the game. Freaked me out. :)

Great story! The game really freaked me out as well, I originally was playing it with headphones but eventually took them off...sometimes the coughs and grunts were so realistic on my headphones I'd tear them off and walk around my apt, making sure someone hadn't crawled in a window!

I'm looking forward to this game. I really enjoyed the first one.

Is there a release date set Bloodshot?

-JR

Is there a release date set Bloodshot?

-JR

should be coming 3/11 so in-stores 3/12.

should be coming 3/11 so in-stores 3/12.

Awesome, thanks JoeBel!

-JR

According to the CircuitCity Sunday ad....

You get Condemned 1 for free with the purchase of Condemned 2 (Xbox 360 only) for $60.

Not a bad deal but the key is to get a hard copy of the ad and have Best Buy do a competitor price/offer match. We all know that CC won't actually have any copies of Condemned 1 in stock. Don't expect them to have part 2 on Wednesday, 3/12 either. This time saver worked perfectly when CC sold COD4 with COD3 for free when it was first released.

This deal is also on-line:

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/201508/bundleId/17704/rpem/ccd/bundleDetail.do

Good luck to those trying to pm with BB. Not saying you wont get BB to that, but it's not within in their pricematching policy to include additional free items like that.

Good luck to those trying to pm with BB. Not saying you wont get BB to that, but it's not within in their pricematching policy to include additional free items like that.

Not only that, but BestBuy doesn't carry the original Condemned game anymore, online or instore, so I don't see them matching this offer.

lol circuit city and their deceptive ways. Pushy bastards too...

BestBuy doesn't carry the original Condemned game anymore, online or instore

Thanks for pointing that out. That's actually great news. Instead of C1 which we all have played, there is a slight chance that BB will throw in any $30/greatest hits game of choice instead. I've been able to get BB to do a lot more than that in the past with little or no hassle. It helps when all of your local BB's are across the street from CC.

I don't want to buy on-line or hunt down the last copy of C1 in Florida now then return and repurchase it with C2.

Is this out yet? Local Gamestop says today but I feel that info to be suspect:rolleyes:

Is this out yet? Local Gamestop says today but I feel that info to be suspect:rolleyes:

"in-store" date for the 360 is 3/12. PS3 version on 3/19 (due to duplication issues). Since I have to wait a week, I'll be looking for some AVS impressions here.

The first one is the first time I ever played a game where I jumped and screamed out loud. I was in an intense area of the game. Somehow my dog was able to get on the couch without me knowing or feeling her. She brushed her tail against my back and it was at the same time something happened in the game. Freaked me out. :)

The first one was one of those games that I could not play more than like 15-20 minutes of out of sheer terror. I don't know but I think having grown up watching my older brother play Resident Evil and Silent Hill that I have turned into a total nancyboy when it comes to survival horror. I know its sad. I might have to restrict play on this to daylight hours only!

"in-store" date for the 360 is 3/12. PS3 version on 3/19 (due to duplication issues).

Thanks, man. :) It comes as a shock to no one that the GS salesguy was off :p

Some more reviews (from Metacritic):

83%--Electronic Gaming Monthly
"With rock-solid gameplay and plenty of creeps, Bloodshot finds its soul by making your heart race."

84%--Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
"If Condemned was the starter, this is the main course. Gory, dark and great."

50%--Edge Magazine
"It’s too fantastical, its violence occurring anywhere and everywhere to ever-decreasing effect."

According to the CircuitCity Sunday ad....

You get Condemned 1 for free with the purchase of Condemned 2 (Xbox 360 only) for $60.

Not a bad deal but the key is to get a hard copy of the ad and have Best Buy do a competitor price/offer match. We all know that CC won't actually have any copies of Condemned 1 in stock. Don't expect them to have part 2 on Wednesday, 3/12 either. This time saver worked perfectly when CC sold COD4 with COD3 for free when it was first released.

This deal is also on-line:

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/201508/bundleId/17704/rpem/ccd/bundleDetail.do

Awesome, thanks for the heads up, I'll see if I can get FYE to do a match cause I have a ton of credit there.

Joe

Couple more review, via Metacritic:

80%--IGN
"As a sequel, the game doesn't have the originality the first had going for it and, as such, the shortcomings are more noticeable. The gameplay improvements are strong enough to overshadow these for the most part and you're still left with a wild ride."

88%--Game Informer
"Probably the best survival horror title we’ve seen this generation. The online multiplayer modes aren’t going to blow your mind, but they are a thoughtful addition. It’s got a higher level of action than its predecessor, and some gorgeous horror backdrops."

86%--Games Master UK
"Brutal, shocking, gruesome - a horrific adventure let down by iffy level design."

More reviews....

Gametrailers - 8.0

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31738.html

1up - A-

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3166885

Side note...I do like EGM/1UP's new letter grading scale.

So does anybody have it yet , impressions ?

--- Jason

I have credit at FYE but none of them have it yet in my area, bah!

I don't know what possessed me to actually go to CircuitCity and look for their Condemned 2 + 1 for free deal today but I did.

Great news, they did not have any copies of C1 in stock of course but I talked them into a $30 gift card instead. Not bad considering next week will be very expensive....RSVegas2, Hot Shots Golf (PS3), Blu-Ray: I am Legend and Enhanced (daughter).

Good luck to the rest of you...never pay full price...

Add one more review: TeamXbox - 9/10

http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1487/Condemned-2-Bloodshot/p1/

Actually received the deal at CC today with Condemned 1 free with Condemned 2 purchase, they had both in stock. I was very surprised. This was at 7:00 pm as well At first the guy did not bring the first one but I had him look for the free one. This was in So Cal Vista CC.

This game actually scares me. Im not sure I can handle it :O

I played about 45 minutes last night.

It seemed like a nice, polished upgrade to the first one. Combat has been refined a bit and now includes combos and and some special moves. The story appears to be told mostly through small clips on tvs you find as you go.

The first level didn't really seem to expand the level design more than the first one. It was still a fairly tight path that you followed. Hopefully that opens up a bit as I get into the game.

I will agree with some reviews I read. The first one was fairly creepy and playing late at night was pretty fun because of that. Now, it seems like I know what to expect. It's still a bit creepy, but not as much since I've been through it once already. New players to the series will not have this problem.

I didn't try the new modes like online or Fight Club. I'm not the biggest fan of the combat in this game, so the online stuff probably isn't for me.

Still, from just the first hour, I'd say this looks like a pretty solid game. I'll certainly be playing it a bit more to see how the levels shape up. Graphics are a slight upgrade, but the enironments so far seem similar to the first one. There's hasn't been a huge graphical leap during the first level. From memory, it appears the character models are a bit better here.

Hate it. Man, I am so dissapointed. The graphics do not look any better then the first game. The head bob when you walk seems to be more pronounced in this game, no one walks like that, it is so distracting. The flashlight seems to have some seriously weak batteries in it, thing is basically useless. I can't stand that they took the game to all this stupid combo button fighting. And to top it off, you cannot kill some people/bosses unless you do the combo exactly right.

The game is not scary at all. It makes no sense. You are walking through the city and people created from huge piles of tar like substance are running around, they explode on you when you hit them, you take damage. Wouldn't there be more of a back story as to why these things are here. Shouldn't there be news stories, information. The city has tar people running around it, I don't think things would be business as usual.

Nothing in this game is scary at all, the combo scripting ruins it. You are not drawn into the battle, worried, scaried what is around the corner. Everything slows down and you hit the buttons in the right order. Oooh real scary. It lost its ambience with background noise. Now I see the people come out, run to the side and hide behind something.

One positive, the sprint option does not have a stamina bar tied to it anymore. On and the health bar fades away so you don't have an annoying hud.

Very dissapointed.

Sounds like you haven't played much, your comment on the headbob is the only thing I can agree with. I find the graphics a good step up, arguably some of the best on the 360. The tar is just part of a dream sequence, of course the flashlight doesn't work very well when everything is covered in black tar. Enemies take more damage from combos and such but they aren't required to kill them exept obviously in the fighting tutorial section, and the slowdown part is during the chain attacks rather than the combos. Also, there are plenty of news sequences to watch after that dream part, and while sprint doesn't have a bar anymore it is still time limited.

Anyway, having apparently played a good bit further in the game than you, I am very pleased with the single player. I got sidetracked playing the crime scene multiplayer mode though, that game is a blast once you get the hang of it.

X-Play gave it 4/5.

Sounds like you haven't played much, your comment on the headbob is the only thing I can agree with. I find the graphics a good step up, arguably some of the best on the 360. The tar is just part of a dream sequence, of course the flashlight doesn't work very well when everything is covered in black tar. Enemies take more damage from combos and such but they aren't required to kill them exept obviously in the fighting tutorial section, and the slowdown part is during the chain attacks rather than the combos. Also, there are plenty of news sequences to watch after that dream part, and while sprint doesn't have a bar anymore it is still time limited.

Anyway, having apparently played a good bit further in the game than you, I am very pleased with the single player. I got sidetracked playing the crime scene multiplayer mode though, that game is a blast once you get the hang of it.

I am about 6 hours in and the game feels just like I reported. I was unable to get past a certain boss battle until I did the combo like it said, this was after you caught up with the guy you are chasing, etc. Tried for a long time with regular weapons, hitting, etc. nothing. Oh well, just not enjoying it like you are. Have fun with it.

I picked up my copy yesterday at CC.. They also gave me the 1st one for free so i can't argue about that.

I played for 30 mins last night and was enjoying it.. the graphics were pretty good IMO and the headbob thing isn't too distracting.. I hate games where it seems like your floating with no bob at all.

I'll have to play it this weekend with the lights all off and the surround sound cranked...

Bryan

The first was good enough graphically and gameplay wise that I'm personally glad that this one seems to be more of the same with some minor changes. I honestly don't see why people would complain about graphics not being any better from one sequel to the next unless the first one has atrocious graphics just my opinion though.

Got the C.C. deal today. I'll check out the new one later on this weekend.

I got the CC deal last night, as I was going out to help a friend work on his Ducati.

I got home half past midnight.

Put in the first one.

Man, I was so creeped out by the time I went to bed, I may not play until daylight anymore.

And if the second is as good as the first, I am in deep trouble socially for at least two weeks!

:p

I am prepared to offer 7-10 bucks for a used copy of the first game if anyone is looking to unload. PM me

I played through the first level last night and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Damn the antennas and emitters! I have no fun looking for them, but can't keep myself from doing it though (a little OCD, I guess). Takes me out of the game's atmosphere.

Hmmm, Started playing this tonight. So far I dont like it as I did the first one. The first one started out with people and slowly worked in the charging monsters later and they seemed to use them sparingly until almost the end. This game pretty much starts you off with stupid charging monsters.

I have not felt the creepy tension I did with the first one, just annoyance and was ready for the first level to end so I could turn it off. The first one I never wanted to put down. This game seems to lack the atmospher the first one had and the combat seems not to work as well, and the headbob seems worse. The guns are still useless which in the first game actually made it better so thats fine.

I hope this game picks up. I see from the acheivement menu there are actually quite a few of chapters. I dont really care about getting the achievements at this point and just want to get the game done. My heart sank a bit to see how many chapters there are. At this point I wish I didnt buy this and would have gotten RB6 or Vikings instead but my opinion could change.

Does this game start to feel more like the first one or is it just all monsters all the time?

That first bit with the tar monsters is just a dream sequence, hardly representative of the majorty of the game. And once you get the swing of the combat, try Fight Club and then online.

I have not felt the creepy tension I did with the first one, just annoyance and was ready for the first level to end so I could turn it off.Very true. And the atmosphere gets less scary as the game goes on. About half way through, it becomes pretty much just a run-of-the-mill FPS.

My heart sank a bit to see how many chapters there are.Huh?
Condemned 1 = 10 chapters
Condemned 2 = 11 chapters
That's a difference of one chapter!
And both games are roughly the same length: 8-10 hours on normal.

Does this game start to feel more like the first one or is it just all monsters all the time?Doll factory level is cool, and improves on a lot of what the first game did. Otherwise, no, it's nowhere near as atmospheric and "oh ****!" scary as the first game.

Very true. And the atmosphere gets less scary as the game goes on. About half way through, it becomes pretty much just a run-of-the-mill FPS.

Huh?
Condemned 1 = 10 chapters
Condemned 2 = 11 chapters
That's a difference of one chapter!
And both games are roughly the same length: 8-10 hours on normal.

Doll factory level is cool, and improves on a lot of what the first game did. Otherwise, no, it's nowhere near as atmospheric and "oh ****!" scary as the first game.
You know, I never actually paid attention to how long the first game was. Seems like a lot of games now a days are like 5-8 chapters (but then if I am having fun I am not really paying attention to those either). I guess since I didnt have fun with the first chapter that seeing I had 10 more to go seemed kind of daunting. Its good to know that they wont all be like the first chapter but sort of sad to hear it wont have the same atmosphere of the first, which I think made it really stand out to me.

It's not as good as the first but it's not far off. The first first one was one of my all time favorites.

The way the story plays out isn't quite as good as the first, but the combat is notably better as are the investigations. And the multiplayer Crime Scene mode rocks.

How is this combat the least bit good?
I was ok with level 2 until I had to fight three $%^& guys and all you do is punch and kick and it does nothing to them and then they kill you. If the fighting is this crappy at the beginning of the game how can it get better when you actually face "tough opponets". I had to stop playing before I threw my controller through the TV. Then I come here and read about how "good" the combat is... I have no freaking idea what you people see in it.

The first game rocked, this game is crp (so far, but since I cant get past these three guys, and dont care about the story the chances of me finishing it are getting slimer by the moment. Especially when there are actual good games out there).

I was ok with level 2 until I had to fight three $%^& guys and all you do is punch and kick and it does nothing to them and then they kill you.
I can imagine that just punching and kicking would be very frustrating. Parrying, combos, and chain attacks are where it is at. Have you looked though the combos list in the pause menu? I recommend checking it out as well as the Practice Arena in Fight Club mode to get the swing of the combat.

Honestly, try the game on easy difficulty, which is about inline with normal on the original if I recall correctly. I had a lot more fun once I did that. Isn't that what games are all about? Guess not, as a few people tell me I don't get the full experience playing at that difficulty, which makes no sense to me. If your time is limited, I see no reason why that would give you any less of an experience. That's why developers put the difficulty setting in there to begin with.

The combat system is wonky, though. And as far as investigations go, the first game was a lot better in that regard as well.

-Brad

How is this combat the least bit good?
I was ok with level 2 until I had to fight three $%^& guys and all you do is punch and kick and it does nothing to them and then they kill you. If the fighting is this crappy at the beginning of the game how can it get better when you actually face "tough opponets". I had to stop playing before I threw my controller through the TV. Then I come here and read about how "good" the combat is... I have no freaking idea what you people see in it.

The first game rocked, this game is crp (so far, but since I cant get past these three guys, and dont care about the story the chances of me finishing it are getting slimer by the moment. Especially when there are actual good games out there).

I found the combat with more then 1 person to be overwhelming... but then again... i think that's how it should be. If you were on the street and 3 guys started fighting you, you'd most likely get hurt/die in real life. I found the best tactic is to run arround and use combo's. So... run away from the 3 of them and then turn around, do a combo on the first guy that shows up, then run again and re-peat until they're all dead.

The combat system is wonky, though.I don't think I'd call it "wonky." Dealing with a single foe, it works great. Dealing with more than two, and yes it gets pretty wonky.

Combo system is the first of its kind for first person (that's done this well). But it just isn't as "scary" of a combat system as the first one. When you have to string together combos, you lose the visceral fear of the first game where all you could do was swing frantically at your enemies. It made for a much freakier game. Combos are not scary.

And as far as investigations go, the first game was a lot better in that regard as well.Whoa! Really?! The "investigations" in the first game could hardly even be called "investigations." You just had to do what Rosa told you; it was stupid. But in Condemned 2, you actually have to "investigate" and use some inductive reasoning skills. Coolest part of the game, IMO.

I can imagine that just punching and kicking would be very frustrating. Parrying, combos, and chain attacks are where it is at. Have you looked though the combos list in the pause menu? I recommend checking it out as well as the Practice Arena in Fight Club mode to get the swing of the combat.

Oh I block and parry and do the combos (which seem excruciatingly slow). The response time on the trigger presses...well it seems non existant. It just seems unncessarily combersom compared to better games such as the first one or Chronicals of Riddick.

I will try the punch and run, though running is not that easy either as I get hung up on walls and tables and such.

I thought the first investigation where you had to pick the questions to ask was cool. Though I am used to games like Oblivion or ME where you can actually ask all the questions eventually so I messed up on the first quetsion (I know what I would pick, but I figured I would ask the first one and go down the list...oops).

I can't help but think that those of you complaining about the combat simply haven't bothered to understand it. Taking on 3 enemies can be handled smooth and quick, and doing so makes for a more thrilling experience than any part of the combat in the first game. Again, I recommend practicing in the Flight Club mode, there is even a challenge which consists of simply taking out 3 enemies that all come out at once, as quick as possible. My personal best is just bellow fourteen seconds, the leader boards show some killing all 3 in under seven.

I understand alright, I just don't see the need for a combo system. It takes the scary and visceral feeling out of combat. Now it just feels like a boxing game.

As far as investigations go, what I meant to say was that I enjoy the new system, but there aren't as many investigations in Bloodshot as there were in the first. Those were my favorite part of the game. However, I don't care for the grading system. Most of us aren't CSI investigators, so sometimes choosing the right question will get you a bad score. That's my only beef.

-Brad

condemned 2 for $40 at CC this week...

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g237/missinglinxs/deals/CircuitCity41308.jpg