Luckily, there are a few good things to say about Condemned 2. The soundtrack is awesome. The “fright noises” really enhance the scenery and situations, and the orchestral score features some interesting tracks during gameplay. For a horror-game-phobe like me, the soundtrack is what really did me in.
The game mechanics are well suited for the PS3 controller. Combos are easily executed by means of the L1 and R1 buttons, and the menus are very accessible. The camera is touchy, but provides a great 360 degree view of your surroundings at all times. The environments are also well done. For this game to work, the dark and gloomy mood really needs to be set. Exploring dark abandoned houses, stores, and streets enhances the feeling of never knowing exactly what is behind you.
The characters in the game are not scary looking, but having one attack you from nowhere gets interesting. Additionally, much of the environment is available for your own manipulation. Almost any object in a room is at your disposal for a weapon. Sadly, just like in real life, if you hit someone with a spiky 2×4 repeatedly, eventually it will break and you will have to find a new one. Oh well, there’s an old crappy TV nearby…
Overall the graphics are passable. The blood isn’t as interesting as it could be. Instead of spewing everywhere, it simply darkens clothes to show where you’ve hacked at someone. The characters look plasticky, and the “demons” aren’t anything other than albino guys with rotting teeth.
