Have you ever heard your heart pound so loud it felt as though it was going to rip right out of your chest? Have you ever had to take a break from playing a game because it was just too scary? Have you ever had the joy of grabbing a shovel and having the fulfillment of beating someone so badly with it, it felt great?! If you answered ‘No’ to all these questions, play Condemned. If you answered otherwise, still play Condemned!

Graphics: 9 / 10
Stellar visuals. The cutscenes and gameplay are sharp. You can tell Monolith (they also developed Fear for PC) worked very hard to give the player one of the greatest atmospheric designs ever. It’s difficult to explain, but the world created is so dark and scary, it’s beautiful. Many objects can be kicked around and knocked down, which gives the world a life-like experience. The attention to detail throughout the game is jaw dropping, whether it's disturbing or visual bliss. At times there will be some odd texture issues, but I hardly noticed them. This is the best looking 360 game at launch, period.

Sound: 8.5 / 10
You can hear the sound of a bucket’s drop to the floor echo from a distance. This will hint you’re not alone. Some of the objects in the environment do not make a sound, for example, when I kick or bat a pail off a table I hear nothing. Although this seems picky, it’s definitely an area that could use work in this new generation of gaming. There isn’t much music, but what is there adds to the experience. A 5.1 Dolby Digital will also make for a more immersive feel, but it isn’t mandatory.

Controls: 9 / 10
Overall, the controls work very well. The analog sticks are treated much like any typical FPS — walk and look around. The face buttons are used to interact with the world. The R-Trigger is used to swing or fire your weapon (action) and L-Trigger is used to block.

You cannot hold the block button and maintain a consistent form of defense, so make sure you learn to practice your timing as it will come in handy as you progress. The biggest button mapping issue I found was the right analog click (push down) to run. It’s just too difficult to run away when you’re trying to hold the click of the analog, which is the same button you use to direct where you’re going. However, aside from the running it’s great.

Gameplay: 8.5 / 10
The game primarily revolves around melee combat, some puzzle solving, and a lot of action. At times it feels slow paced, but it will only be your fault if you get too comfortable. BAM! It’s the unsuspected blow to the head with a metal subway sign by a psychotic killer.

You can pick up many weapons scattered throughout the levels, whether they are ripped off the walls, recycled from other materials, or dropped by an enemy. You have a taser at your disposal and it’s a great tool to take advantage of, especially if the enemy is using a long range weapon to hit you.

The long range weapons come as a .455 mm, a shotgun (sawed off, two-barrel), and a machine gun. Very little ammo is available, so use these powerful weapons wisely. The further you go in the game, the more weapons become available, so don’t get upset if you notice on the first level the variety is lacking.

The play mechanics of the game are very original and work extremely well. The game truly gives you a sense of being there, as it is presented in the first person prospective. You're a detective that tracks down serial killers, so you will also get to use tools that will help solve puzzles and find clues to catch the murders. Although you can't use them freely (only in certain areas), it still gives the gameplay a nice change of pace.

Oh, did I forget to mention you will have chairs and other office appliances thrown at you? The scripted A.I. events much like the one I just mentioned happen often, and seem so natural it’s creepy. The Computer controlled enemies will hide for cover, chance you when the opportunity is available, or hunt you down in groups. The only downside is the game may seem linear, but the levels begin to open up more as you progress. Everything comes together very well, from story progression to fresh creative game mechanics.

Longevity: 5 / 10
There may not be a lot of incentive to go back. Throughout the game you can collect secret birds, metal pieces, hidden treasures, and eventually unlock achievements for gamescore points. There are different difficulty settings, so that may be enough reason to return a second time. There are also leaderboards, if that’s your fling. When you consider the game runs at about ten hours, without Xbox Live support, the replay value is limited.

Overall: 8 / 10
The game is incredible, plain and simple. Every Xbox 360 owner must at least rent this title. It does start off somewhat slow, but quickly begins to pick up the further you delve. The story is one of the best I’ve ever experienced in a game, even if it does borrow from some popular horror flicks (Seven, Silence of the Lambs).

I refrained from explaining more of the story, as it’s so good I didn’t want to give any details away…yes it’s that good. The action is intense, exciting, disturbing, and very scary. I recommend you do what I did — play at midnight with all the lights off and your speakers full blast. It’s quite an experience which no one should miss, even if it is a bit on the short side.