| Condemned 2: Bloodshot | |
|---|---|
 North American cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Monolith Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Frank Rooke |
| Programmer(s) |
|
| Artist(s) |
|
| Writer(s) | Frank Rooke |
| Composer(s) | Nathan Grigg |
| Engine | LithTech Jupiter EX |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror, action, first-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Condemned 2: Bloodshot (released as Condemned 2 in Europe and Australia), is a 2008 first-person action and survival horror video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Developed by Monolith Productions and published by Sega, it was released for both systems in North America and Australia in March 2008, and in Europe the following month. It is a sequel to the 2005 game Condemned: Criminal Origins.
Set eleven months after the events of the first game, former FBI agent Ethan Thomas has become a violence-prone alcoholic plagued by hallucinations. As violence continues to escalate throughout the city of Metro, Thomas's former colleague, Rosa, elicits his reluctant assistance in tracking down the missing Malcolm Vanhorn. Learning that Leland Vanhorn (aka Serial Killer X) may still be alive, Thomas soon finds himself at the centre of a vast conspiracy and must do all he can to evade the powerful cult who want him dead at any cost.
In making Condemned 2, Monolith looked closely at the reception of the first game, focussing on what was popular amongst fans and critics and what was not. With this in mind, they specifically set out to correct the two most frequently criticised elements of the original; the implementation of the forensic tools and the lack of depth in the melee mechanics. At the same time, they attempted to enhance or expand upon every aspect of the original; from the graphics and cutscenes to the AI and overall gameplay and game mechanics. They also hoped to take the story in unexpected directions by making Thomas a much darker figure than in the previous title.
Condemned 2 was well received by critics, who praised the graphics, AI, sound design, atmosphere, the overall improvements to the game from the original Condemned, and, especially, the enhancements to the combat system and the introduction of combos and chain attacks without betraying the core of the original. Critics lauded Monolith for listening to fans and attempting to address their grievances. Common points of criticism included the storyline, an overuse of firearms, and what was perceived as a pointless online multiplayer mode.
- ^ a b "Condemned 2: Bloodshot". Xbox Games Store. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (March 10, 2008). "Shippin' Out March 9-14: Smash Bros. Brawl, Condemned 2". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Purchese, Robert (March 11, 2008). "Condemned 2 slips a week". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ Dunham, Jeremy (March 18, 2008). "Condemned 2: Bloodshot Now Available on PlayStation 3". IGN. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.