Zero Punctuation: Condemned 2: Bloodshot
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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I believe I am one of the dying breed who somehow still cling to the idea that Condemned is about a descent into madness.
I can't disagree with anything Yahtzee has said about this game.
I once almost thought the Condemned story was quite clever, but lately my faith in the game's writers' storytelling abilities is faltering fast.
It is just getting too frustrating picking through all the far-out garbage seeping into the game's story in order to find the curious bits dealing with psychology.
Even if it turns out Ethan is slowly going absolutely bonkers since before the first game started, the writers did a sloppy job of telling that story. Fight Club meets Don Quixote? Sorry Monolith. I can hardly even buy into that as an explaination anymore.
I can't disagree with anything Yahtzee has said about this game.
I once almost thought the Condemned story was quite clever, but lately my faith in the game's writers' storytelling abilities is faltering fast.
It is just getting too frustrating picking through all the far-out garbage seeping into the game's story in order to find the curious bits dealing with psychology.
Even if it turns out Ethan is slowly going absolutely bonkers since before the first game started, the writers did a sloppy job of telling that story. Fight Club meets Don Quixote? Sorry Monolith. I can hardly even buy into that as an explaination anymore.
My mate just bought this game and we played trough 80% together.
I 100% agree with what you said
As we were bouth high it was fucking scary first half of the game
After that guy with the freacky mouth and eyes died in what I must say was the most pitiful "boss" fight in history (he was just a normal enemy:S).
All the shit you said about the gun fights was 100% true, mostly ebcause we were figting normal people.. and the atmosphere just whent to a straight foreward shooter:S
Havent seen the last few lvls though, so cant comment on that.
Enjoyed the game but got mediocre after the halfway mark ike you said.
Keep up the good work
I 100% agree with what you said
As we were bouth high it was fucking scary first half of the game
After that guy with the freacky mouth and eyes died in what I must say was the most pitiful "boss" fight in history (he was just a normal enemy:S).
All the shit you said about the gun fights was 100% true, mostly ebcause we were figting normal people.. and the atmosphere just whent to a straight foreward shooter:S
Havent seen the last few lvls though, so cant comment on that.
Enjoyed the game but got mediocre after the halfway mark ike you said.
Keep up the good work
oh (***)... I even looked when he said HE"S BEHIND YOU RIGHT NOW BUT DONT LOOK CUZ THAT WILL RLY PISS HIM OFF -_-... but brilliant as usual lol
It's a bit late to be replying to this but I only completed the game on Friday (after getting it on Wednesday). After playing it I believe that Yahtzee made more of the change in combat style then is actually there
firstly his superpower
- Ethan is first given hints that he is different with attention to his bone structure and lack of vocal cord x-ray in the first game and there is a substantial build up to the discovery of powers in the second game. They are not just pulled out of his arse rather revealed after a lengthy process
- They are first revealed in cutscene and you can't actually use them for the first time untill you've completed the second to last level. Therefore while the Peninsula has a large focus on your vocal ability it is the only level that could be said to do so
The guns
- there are only two levels at most that make Condemned 2 feel like a FPS, the Black Lodge level and once again the last level (the Peninsula)
Investigations
- While they are less frequent this matches with parts of the story where he isn't required to do as much and the investigations that are in the level are all quite important with valid contributions to the plot
The cult
- Now I agree that cults are cliche. But they fit purpose and they are the best type of thing to serve the needs of the story that they serve.
I personally found no problem with the plot but thats just me. Though warning lights did flash when I had a fight with a clown girl that consisted of us throwing explosive baby dolls at each other
Great review, and once again I know this is a bit late to say anything but once again I only recently completed it
firstly his superpower
- Ethan is first given hints that he is different with attention to his bone structure and lack of vocal cord x-ray in the first game and there is a substantial build up to the discovery of powers in the second game. They are not just pulled out of his arse rather revealed after a lengthy process
- They are first revealed in cutscene and you can't actually use them for the first time untill you've completed the second to last level. Therefore while the Peninsula has a large focus on your vocal ability it is the only level that could be said to do so
The guns
- there are only two levels at most that make Condemned 2 feel like a FPS, the Black Lodge level and once again the last level (the Peninsula)
Investigations
- While they are less frequent this matches with parts of the story where he isn't required to do as much and the investigations that are in the level are all quite important with valid contributions to the plot
The cult
- Now I agree that cults are cliche. But they fit purpose and they are the best type of thing to serve the needs of the story that they serve.
I personally found no problem with the plot but thats just me. Though warning lights did flash when I had a fight with a clown girl that consisted of us throwing explosive baby dolls at each other
Great review, and once again I know this is a bit late to say anything but once again I only recently completed it
I bought this game a couple of days agao and after finishing it I have to say your "review" is miles off.
Especially the rant about the story makes this review seem rushed and makes me believe Yahtzee didnt spend much time paying attention to it.
> The "powers" are not pulled out of the ass. Ethan's physical abnormalities were known in part one already. This power (A sonic scream, no kamehameha beam or whatever) is only available in the last level and is mainly used as a key ability to specific enemies (Oro sonic's and the final boss).
> While the cult does become know in the second half of the game. It does make certain things in the story fall into place. The only thing lacking is a "true motive", one wich will most likely be saved for another sequel. (the ending has "join us next week for another episode" all over it.) To me there seemed to be nothing mystical about it apart from the fact that the cult most likely witnessed the birth of Jesus. (being over 2000 years old)
The medieval enemies in the museum had nothing to do with it though. Those were hooligans wielding armor and weapons they looted from the exhibits.
Especially the rant about the story makes this review seem rushed and makes me believe Yahtzee didnt spend much time paying attention to it.
> The "powers" are not pulled out of the ass. Ethan's physical abnormalities were known in part one already. This power (A sonic scream, no kamehameha beam or whatever) is only available in the last level and is mainly used as a key ability to specific enemies (Oro sonic's and the final boss).
> While the cult does become know in the second half of the game. It does make certain things in the story fall into place. The only thing lacking is a "true motive", one wich will most likely be saved for another sequel. (the ending has "join us next week for another episode" all over it.) To me there seemed to be nothing mystical about it apart from the fact that the cult most likely witnessed the birth of Jesus. (being over 2000 years old)
The medieval enemies in the museum had nothing to do with it though. Those were hooligans wielding armor and weapons they looted from the exhibits.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
oh thank god, the serial killer behind me went to get a drink T_T
XD
great review as usual
oh thank god, the serial killer behind me went to get a drink T_T
XD
great review as usual
The serial killer who lives under your bed and is standing wright behind you but dont look that will relly piss him off. Awsome condemnd 1 literliey made me poop my self a little didnt play 2 becausae it looked kinda stuoid
As much as I see that the sci-fi elements ruin the game, they aren't always so poorly implemented. For example, Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth plays like an adventure into pissing your pants after you've taken 4 hits of acid and imaged cockroaches crawling in your brain. In spite of that, probably one of the best ZP reviews out there.
Sorry to be so late to the party, and double sorry if someone else mentioned this, but there were some very strong hints dropped on the loading screens in the original (at least on the Platinum Hits version.)
Hmm actually in the end of Condemned: Criminals Origins it was ME chasing the serial killer (i was invincible). Didn't really like the story or combat in Condemned 1, but if i may buy Condemned 2 for curiosity.
I can't believe I'm posting in this like a year later but I just have to say it:
Nowhere in the game do any of the characters use the phrase 'ancient mystical cult'. And the way he describes the dolls make them sound like little robots that run up to you at full speed and just explode.
There, that feels better.
Nowhere in the game do any of the characters use the phrase 'ancient mystical cult'. And the way he describes the dolls make them sound like little robots that run up to you at full speed and just explode.
There, that feels better.
I made the mistake of buying Condemned 2 before playing through the first game. I'm almost certain the suckage in the last levels of Bloodshot were because developers were pressured by the game being overlooked the first time around.
I'm suprised you didn't mention the "Magic Man"... what a blantent rip-off of Bioshock, he's this game's jump the shark moment for me, it could've just ended in the Trenton stage and been much better off for it.
I'm suprised you didn't mention the "Magic Man"... what a blantent rip-off of Bioshock, he's this game's jump the shark moment for me, it could've just ended in the Trenton stage and been much better off for it.