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| Condemned; Launch title for the 360 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 29 2005, 05:44 PM (503 Views) | |
| Gamer122 | Jun 29 2005, 05:44 PM Post #1 |
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Resident Evil/Rant goddess
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Hanging from the crumbling ceiling, the light above you flickers and dies. In the dark, your other senses perk up, trying to help you navigate the dilapidated area around you. A drop of water falls nearby, The roof is leaking. The hair on your arm stands up as a cool breeze flickers over your skin. A crack in the falling walls leads outside. A foul smell fills your nostrils. The smell of death. He was here-he used this space to work on his victims. You reach into your bag, pull out a small device, and switch it on. It throws out a sickly green beam, which quickly reveals a previously unseen handprints along it’s length. He went this way, steadying himself on the wall as he carried his victim into the night. You start down the same path, following the footsteps of a killer. Ahead of you, the shadows shift, and a soft cackle cuts through the silence. You are not alone. This is the opening paragraph to GameInformer’s (GI) nine page article on a new, upcoming game for the X Box 2. (Yes, I am writing an article about a new X Box game. I’ve lost mind.) However, it will be ported to the PS3 and PC. Anyway, let’s go on with this. It’s called Condemned and is published by Sega, developed by Monolith. It’s a single player survival horror/ FPS but yet…isn’t. Monolith says that it’s a new kind of scary experience and from the screen shots I’ve seen and read…not even Doom 3 and RE4 put together in one game could top this. The game combines the first-person perceptive and horror together to create a terrifying experience. According to GI, Monolith’s goal is to is to create a tense and unnerving thriller that can only be found in reality which is something new for a game. Condemned is not going to force you to fight the undead. Instead you’ll be going against human monsters. Do you miss those zombies now? You play as Ethan Thomas. A member of the FBI’s Serial Crime Unit who has been sent in to track down serial killers. Of course, it won’t be easy. You’ll have to face many disturbed individuals to find your culprits. While on your journey, you’ll discover what makes them tick and will look at the face of madness yourself. The plot is said to contain many twists and turns. The game is rooted in reality and Monolith is planning on keeping it that way. I quote, “Thanks to the abilities of X Box 2, Monolith has managed to create a world that feels just like our own-which is exactly what makes it so terrifying.” People have been wondering what the next-gen consoles can do graphically. Condemned is a nice example of what to expect. Areas are filled with rich textures, lighting that sets the atmosphere, and creepy environments. Expect to find yourself in dark, gritty, blood stained locations. You’ll visit subway stations, factories reduced to nothing but ruins, abandoned department stores, failed youth centers, and other locales. Each location looks real and is full with day to day items (mattresses, Tvs, chairs, etc…) given you the feeling of really being there. Cobwebs and dust cover the rooms. One problem with the amazing graphics is that it is hard to tell what is part of the environment and what isn’t. They are seven different maps used for Condemned made from eight million polygons. There’s a normal map, a colored map, a specular map (lighting information), and some other maps. Each level and the characters are very detailed. Making this game impossible to play on any of the consoles out now. The lighting effects act like they should in real life. Light from window diffuses the darkness in the room and the light from the flashlight fades with distances. Condemned is about solving the mystery. So players have been encouraged to explore the areas. Matt Allen, Condemned’s art lead says, “In previous generations, you wouldn’t want someone to walk up to a wall and look at it, because you’d notice that it didn’t look real. We want you to look around.” (quote GI). He also had this to say about his team’s work. “The slower pace of the game forces us to create more detailed environments, and we want to show off what our engineers can do. There are all these little things that we’ve added to make crossing a room cool. We let you experience things more.” (quote GI). Monolith has done an excellent job with adding a sense of dread to the game. It feels like something is always moving around you even if you are alone. The Havok 3.0 physics are feature for every item and sounds have been added to each object. For example, trash from a trashcan can be spread out through out the area due to the physics. The audio itself is enough to send chills down your spine. Disturbing cries and laughter will fill silent rooms while you walk through the game. Why even walking sounds wonderful! Each footstep is audible and you can tell what surface you are walking on. Movement also changes with the surface. You can really tell when you’re walking on flat ground or stairs. The flashlight is clipped to Thomas’s jacket like Leon’s flashlight was clipped to the strap over his shoulder. This allows you to somewhat see what might be waiting for you in the shadows. As you come closer, the enemy might run off forcing you to follow it thus leading you into a trap. Attacks can be detected or can as a surprise. “The anticipation of battle is just as important as the battle itself,” says producer Dave Hasle. “This game is about tension.” (quote GI) Throughout the game, you’ll encounter “condemned people” or the people who have been marginalized by society and are mentally disturbed. They hide and live in areas that normal people wouldn’t enter. So they will not be greeting you with a warm welcome. They will attack and are far from being idiots. How smart are they? At times they will charge at you with lumber or pipes. Or they will try to sneak behind you and knock you down. Or maybe they will just crush you with a heavy shelf or grab you and throw down flights of stairs. They will run from you is you have a powerful weapon but they tend to fight in groups and ambush you. Oh and did I mention that they will get better, stronger weapons if needed? Because they will. What do you have to use? Melee weapons. Since the object of the game is to discover why the killers do what they do and not kill them, Thomas isn’t a fighter. So he must use items around him to protect himself. You can use any of the twenty different melee weapons. Like a shovel, locker door, or bar stool. What about fire arms? Sure, they’re there but you aren’t going to find ammo just laying around. Monolith wanted this game to feel real and that is what they are accomplishing . There are six tool that can be used to make searching easier. A laser light detects clues like footprints. A UV light is used for uncover organic evidence like blood or other fluids. A Gas spectrometer to detect odors and gases. A 3D scanner collects the data and transmit it back to the lab. (To name a few.) So whenever the player enters a new room, prepare to use the tools to check the room out. Once you find something interesting or helpful, transmit it back to the lab for it to be analyzed. Then you will receive the information on it. All in all Condemned is shaping up to look like a good, solid title and a very decent launch title for the X Box 2. At some point, it will be ported to the PS3 and PC. The next-gen consoles are still a ways off and so is this games but it’s one to keep an eye on. ~Gamer122 (source: GameInformer issue #143 March 2005) ![]()
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| MR_Strife | Jun 29 2005, 06:58 PM Post #2 |
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bronze
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yet i am disapointed in the 360 i think the future looks bright for it and the game looks cool |
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| Z-mighty | Jun 30 2005, 12:19 PM Post #3 |
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diamond
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Just one reason i'm getting the 360. |
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| Gamer122 | Jun 30 2005, 12:25 PM Post #4 |
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Resident Evil/Rant goddess
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This might the reason I get a 360. |
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| Z-mighty | Jun 30 2005, 12:30 PM Post #5 |
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diamond
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You're gonna have one anyways, daddy has got to share. |
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| Gamer122 | Jun 30 2005, 12:30 PM Post #6 |
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Resident Evil/Rant goddess
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Thank ya |
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| Stitchlips | Jun 30 2005, 03:04 PM Post #7 |
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bronze
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Does anyone know if Condemned is going to be a launch title? Because I'm getting the system when it comes out and I heard that Elder Scrolls and Gears of War are suppose to be launch titles, so if this one is too then I will get all three the day I get the system, come home, and HAVE FUN! |
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| Z-mighty | Jun 30 2005, 03:06 PM Post #8 |
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diamond
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Most of the games you have seen for the 360 are in the launch period (first three months). |
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| JLEJ | Jul 1 2005, 07:07 PM Post #9 |
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Leader of The Escape
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looks like a solid title. |
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| Z-mighty | Jul 5 2005, 04:07 PM Post #10 |
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diamond
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Gameplay videos and trailers galore! |
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| ~Squall_Leonhart~ | Jul 5 2005, 04:14 PM Post #11 |
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I went and saw the Devil. Now it's your turn.
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After I get elder scrolls 4 this might be the next 360 game I get. |
GT:Ninjamaster907
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| Z-mighty | Jul 5 2005, 04:17 PM Post #12 |
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diamond
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I have Perfect Dark: Zero, Kameo: Elements of power, Condemned: Criminal origins, Gears of War and PGR 3 one my must buy list so far. |
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| JLEJ | Jul 11 2005, 06:29 PM Post #13 |
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Leader of The Escape
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looks good. i think im going to get a ps3 first.(after it drops in price, im not getting it as soon as it comes out) |
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9:44 AM Jul 11