Condemned 2 (PS3)

Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3) Review

Released: March 2008
Developer: Monolith Productions
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Condemned 2: Bloodshot is a dark, gritty, and brutally violent first-person horror game that builds on the foundation of the cult classic Condemned: Criminal Origins. It takes everything that made the first game a sleeper hitmelee combat, psychological horror, and forensic investigationand amps it up with more action, more insanity, and a twisted descent into madness.

What Works

Visceral Melee Combat

• At its core, Condemned 2 delivers some of the most intense first-person melee combat of its time.

• Improvised weapons like pipes, boards, toilet seats, and even mannequins make every fight feel raw and personal.

• There's a satisfying weight and crunch to every hitit's not just violent, it's ugly violent.

Grimy Atmosphere and Worldbuilding

• The environments are grimy, decayed, and unsettlingfrom abandoned hotels to blood-soaked alleyways.

• The game oozes atmosphere, leaning heavily into urban decay and madness.

• Lighting, sound design, and level layout all build constant tension.

Improved Forensics System

• Investigations are more interactive than in the first game.

• Instead of just pressing a button to collect evidence, you're tasked with analyzing crime scenes, answering questions, and choosing the best tools.

• Its still mostly linear, but adds welcome depth and variety.

Unpredictable, Psychological Horror

• The story blends serial killer detective noir with supernatural weirdness.

• The protagonist, Ethan Thomas, is mentally unraveling, which adds hallucinations, unpredictable enemies, and some truly creepy set pieces.

• Certain sequences (like the doll factory) are nightmare fuel.

Multiplayer (Kind of)

• It includes several combat-focused multiplayer modes, though none gained much traction.

• Mostly a novelty, but worth a mention.

What Doesnt Work

Controls Feel Clunky by Modern Standards

• Movement and aiming can feel stiff, especially in gunplay segments.

• Not unplayable, but definitely dated.

Gunplay Is Underwhelming

• The game introduces more firearms than the first entry, but the gun mechanics lack the polish seen in FPS-focused games.

• Melee remains the star; guns feel tacked on.

Story Gets Wild (Not Always in a Good Way)

• The plot starts grounded but dives headfirst into the bizarre.

• The sci-fi/conspiracy angle may feel like a tonal shift too far for fans of the first game's more grounded horror.

Lack of Replayability

• Outside of higher difficulties and some collectibles, theres not much incentive to replay once you've beaten it.

Final Verdict

🟠 Final Score: 7.5/10
Condemned 2: Bloodshot is a brutal and atmospheric horror experience that thrives