Condemned: Criminal Origins - Final Thoughts

Well, time to finally give my thoughts and put this game to rest.

The game is about a FBI investigator who is tracking down serial killers. It starts off with him chasing someone who he has been after for a while, "The Match Maker." While investigating the scene, someone arrives and mucks things up. He steals your gun, and shoots the guys who were with you. And since it was your gun, the FBI now thinks you are the one who pulled the trigger too.

So you go on the run, trying to figure out who took your gun and framed you. And on the way, you come across "The Match Maker," but he has already had his "match made," and was killed in the same way you were killed. You, with the help of your person in the lab, figure out there is a serial killer of serial killers. So, you go to find him, before he finds his last victim, The Torturer.

While this is going on, things are going crazy. Birds are dropping out of the sky dead or dying. People are going insane. And you are finding the answers to it all while you investigate.

The way you find this information out is by collecting. It isn't too bad, but it is really tough sometimes... and I had a guide helping me. The collecting aspect is fairly cool though, since it unlocks videos and pictures of stuff relating to the game. It made collecting more worth while (other than the massive amount of gamerscore gained.)

The gameplay is ok. The enemies have an insane reach, even if they are holding a small weapon. And blocking isn't always easy to sync up, regardless of the weapon. But the taser is damn fun, I recommend using that every second you can.

The graphics are a little funky. I can respect that it is early 360, so they aren't perfect. But there are times where it looks like everyone is perspiring out of control. And the voices are pretty good, don't have much to complain about there.

All in all, it's a decent game. Despite the possible game breaking glitch, it's good. Worth a rental, since you can easily beat it in a couple nights.

Culdcept SAGA - Day 1

Well, my new game is Culdcept SAGA. From everyone I have read and heard from (including Chad from Gamercast Network's Video Game Show), it's been described as "Monopoly mixed with Magic: The Gathering." And, that is pretty much what I have seen from it... so far.

The system is that there is a path, with a Castle starting area (like "Go" from Monopoly) and squares that are different areas (Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Neutral, Multi.) These squares can be used to place creatures on, and have them guard. All the creatures have an Attack and HP. And their HP doesn't regenerate (with the exception of creatures that actually have regenerate on their card) unless you pass the castle, or heal them yourself. Beyond that, you have a hand that not only has creatures, but spells and items for use too.

And, the games are not short. The first fight you get into took me about an hour, and I had to retry once because I was about to lose. It feels like Monopoly from the "Go" area, and just having 1 match be 2 hours long (potentially.)

I have a feeling that this will be a game that will take months to completely review. But for now, I will end this post.

Achievement Progress - Culdcept SAGA
0 of 50 Achievements

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Day 4

Well, I finally finished it today. This post won't be too long, since I was pretty much at endgame.

And, yes, that was a bug I encountered with the game. Apparently, if you hit the final boss instead of doing the desired action, you will lose weapon privileges. How I found this out you ask? Well... after the first encounter, I got to chase him down. And once again, I got to trigger happy. And so, when I got through the second part, I had 1/4 life left, and no weapon. And, I was directly put back into the action.

There are 2 redeeming qualities to this though. First, there was a health kit which brought me back to roughly 2/3 health. And secondly, even though my weapon was gone, my feet still worked. Yes, I got to live my dream of booting a monster in the head. The whole time that I was fighting (especially when I finally got to beat it,) my friend and I were laughing at the idea. And, when the guy went down, our jaws dropped.

Endgame isn't too much to say. It can change depending on how much had been collected before. And, you choose whether someone lives or dies. I chose dies, and would tell you the differences... but I really don't think I can pull off ANOTHER kill using only my "feet of fury."

Final thoughts will be in a day or two, depending on how my work goes.

Achievement Progress - Condemned: Criminal Origins
42 of 50 Achievments
720 Gamerscore

New Achievements - Condemned: Criminal Origins
Revenge Award - 50 GS
Gold Game Completion Award - 10 GS

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Day 3

Almost finished Condemned this morning (or last night, however you want to look at it). Got really close, but I think the game glitched. But this is all for later, since there is more stuff to talk about that happened earlier in the game.

Like being hit from enemies from really far away for no reason. It wasn't like they had a locker door and I had a meat cleaver, no this was each of us had flaming 2x4s. And they had a reach unlike any that I had seen in a game before. Kinda took away from the game when someone could run up, swing from China, and be able to hit through my perfectly timed block.

Which was also something else I had noticed last night. I could time a block perfectly sometimes, and hear the block sound; yet I would still take damage from the attack. I'm still wondering how that one works, but I am dealing with it.

Since I haven't touched on it yet, I will do so now. One of the cool things this game does with its achievements, is ties them in with the story of the game. For unlocking the Bronze Detective Badge achievement, you see some behind the scenes footage of early gameplay. Or if you collect enough metal pieces, you unlock reports that tell you about what has been going on the whole time in the city.

I don't know, maybe I am still bitter at the way I died last the time before I turned off my box. I had taken a few tries to get to the point where I could fight the boss the first time. But as soon as I could finally take off part of him to continue on, I smack him. And that happened a couple more times. Finally, when I get to do it, the guy screams and runs off. Which is fine, I expected something like that. What I didn't expect is that I was left weaponless, and unable to pick any up. I was just running around going "What the fuck?! WHAT THE FUCK?!!" Needless to say, I have to start back over for that little section, before the point I could fight the boss.

I might do it tonight, I might not. Got another game in the mail yesterday, which I am really interested in playing.

Achievement Progress - Condemned: Criminal Origins
40 of 50 Achievements
660 Gamerscore

New Achievements - Condemned: Criminal Origins
Chapter 8 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Test Pattern TV Xbox 360 - 10 GS
Chapter 8 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Chapter 8 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 9 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Chapter 9 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Gold Detective Badge - 50 GS
Chapter 9 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 10 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Third Propaganda Award - 20 GS
Fourth Propaganda Award - 20 GS
Chapter 10 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS

Some of Gametaps "finest"

Well, I had taken some time off from Condmened since lately I have had nothing but night shifts, and Condemned needs to be played in a room that doesn't have much light in it. So, I loaded on Gametap and decided to try out a few of the games on there. And, since I am so cheap, these are all free games on Gametap.

Baseball Stars 2: One of the podcasts I listen to said how much fun they had playing Baseball Stars, so I decided to try it out. I don't know if they meant the first one though, since this second one seemed unnesicarily hard to me. I could barely hit the ball (since the fastballs went from pitcher to catcher in almost half a second.) And when I could hit it, the ball just flew right to someone. Then to top it off, the computer would hit most of the things I threw at it. I honestly didn't like the game much.

Metal Slug 2: A classic arcade game. I know there is a Metal Slug that is to be gotten on Xbox Live Arcade, so I won't go into too much detail. But, the game is fun, and its nice to connect with my friend online to play 2 player... even if we were lagging in the game the whole time.

2020 Super Baseball: I remember playing this game a long time ago, so I felt like I should get it again. Its fun, definately not as bad as Baseball Stars 2, to me. Computer can get some amazing hits/catches at times, but that is to be expected. Its worth looking at if you want a baseball game, and don't mind robots being in it.

Shock Troopers: Playing this felt a little like Metal Slug, except far more Japanese. There are about 8 characters to choose from, all with different special attacks. It's a top down scrolling shooter, much like how the old space shooters were, except you are on foot the whole time. To beat the game, I think I had to use about 10 continues. A bit short, but its always fun to go back later and try a new person out.

Morning's Wrath: *Groan* I should have guessed that at a rating of 3.7 that this game would be awesome. Yea, it wasn't. The instructions for the game are basically non-existant on Gametap, and if you want to see the controls, Gametap says "You use your mouse... I think. You might want to check with the game on that." Too bad the game doesn't have ANY kind of tutorial, and just throws you in the middle of anything. And seeing the graphics, reminds me of when my sister would go to the "make your own doll" sites. Not a good game, just avoid it.


So far, those are the only games I have loaded on. But I will try more, and possibly endure more pain so you all can benefit.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Day 2

It's kinda depressing when you know you can beat a game in only a couple days. I didn't think Call of Duty 4 would be as quick as it was, but I guess I should have since it IS geared toward multiplayer more than single player.

So, my initial theories were wrong about the story of the game... especially when I came across the body of the "Match Maker." Apparently, I am supposed to chase down a serial killer of serial killers. Yes, some vigilante who is making the police look bad by taking out serial killers. Except, this "vigilante" is bat-shit crazy, and only going after the guys your character has investigated before.

I've started getting down blocking better. It took a while for when I was using a fire axe (all the while, pretending I was Fire Marshal Bill... lol) since lifting the axe to block apparently takes all of your strengh to do so, making you go really slow.

I have upgraded my tazer though. Now enemies fall beneath my electrified wrath. And if they still survive, I finish them off with a boot to the head (or a weapon to some part of their body.)

Even though my guide I got with the game (package deal, couldn't resist) is great, it fails to point out birds to me fast enough. 2 times, I have ended a level with 5 of 6 birds. And beyond that, I think I missed a couple points of hidden evidence that I could have grabbed. Nice way to drop the ball Prima. I think I will make sure my guides come from Brady Games from now on. I have had good experience with them (Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey, both helped a lot.)

For now, I rest; knowing that tomorrow (assuming I am up to it), I can probably finish the game off.

Achievement Progress - Condemned: Criminal Origins
28 of 50 Achievements
450 of 970 Gamerscore

New Achievements - Condemned: Criminal Origins
Chapter 5 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Chapter 5 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Bronze Melee Master Award - 20 GS
Chapter 5 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 6 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Silver Detective Badge - 50 GS
Chapter 6 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Chapter 6 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 7 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Bird Bath Xbox 360 - 10 GS
Second Propaganda Award - 20 GS
Chapter 7 Completion Award - 10 GS
Silver Melee Master Award - 20 GS

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Day 1

So my next game that I ordered came in today. I heard good things about it, and figured I would give it a shot.

Initially, I thought it would be more like Manhunt; where you were the criminal, going around killing people. Instead, you are an FBI agent that is investigating murders committed by "The Match Maker." Which, is kinda cool... but I would rather be on the other end of it.

The controls in this game are a little sluggish. Sidestepping and going forward seem to be 2 different commands to the creators, and not able to be done by ANYONE with ease. And looking around is a little slow, but I know I don't have the sensitivity turned up all the way.

So far, the game is interesting. I am running through tunnels, breaking into things with fire axes and crowbars, and tazering crazies. I don't like how it seems that the guy you play gets knocked out at least once every chapter. But, I do like the intuition mode to let you know when clues are nearby.

As for combat, it has its good and bad moments. I like how accurate the tazer and guns are. It really helps to stun, then kill someone. But the blocking with melee weapons takes some really good reflexes. I have nearly had my ass handed to me a couple times (and a few from getting shot by hobos with guns.)

I just can't believe I am halfway through already. It didn't take me too long to get here too. And, the collecting isn't as bad as The Darkness was.

Achievement Progress - Condemned: Criminal Origins
15 of 50 Achievements
230 Gamerscore

New Achievments - Condemned: Criminal Origins
Chapter 1 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Bronze Detective Badge - 50 GS
Chapter 1 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 2 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Ripple TV Xbox 360 - 10 GS
Chapter 2 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Chapter 2 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 3 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Chapter 3 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
First Propaganda Report - 20 GS
Chapter 3 Completion Award - 10 GS
Chapter 4 Bronze Bird Award - 10 GS
Static TV Xbox 360 - 10 GS
Chapter 4 Silver Bird Award - 20 GS
Chapter 4 Completion Award - 10 GS