There's a good reason Condemned 2 carries the subtitle "Bloodshot." Sitting in a darkened room with grizzly images of murder flashing across a high definition display and the psychotic rants of bloodied criminals pumping through a set of speakers, it's difficult to not strain your senses. The game aims to be more than just a worthy sequel; rather, it promises an experience tinged by a mature breed of interactive storytelling. In short, the game looks extremely promising.
A year after the events of the first game finds protagonist Ethan Thomas relinquished of his duties at the FBI, his days now spent drinking away twisted memories of the deranged Serial Killer X. Alcohol-induced hallucinations and a bad attitude get him ousted from a drab bar and it's in this moment that you take control. As Ethan gets his bearings in this first mission, you're given the opportunity to learn the basic mechanics of the game. A friendly neighborhood bum walks you through changes to the combat system, as well as a couple new gameplay elements.
First up is an emotional response system that allows you to react to characters by tapping the A button at specific moments. For example, hitting the A button after the bum complains about Ethan's alcoholic aroma triggers a flip of the finger. You're only given a few short seconds to press the button, otherwise the opportunity goes missed. As Producer Constantine Hantzopoulos puts it, ”…the emotional response system heightens the level of interactivity in the game even during normally static cutscenes.
Even more, it contributes to a sense of body awareness unique to Condemned 2. You're not just playing the game through Ethan's eyes, you have to constantly be attuned to his body's position in physical space to combat enemies and solve puzzles. Following the bum through the bar's back alley, for instance, requires squeezing Ethan's body past stacked crates.
Body awareness plays an enormous role in hand-to-hand fighting, Hantzopoulos tells us--one of four layers to the game's remarkably deep combat system. Punches are dealt with presses of the triggers; more specifically, tapping the left trigger yields a left-handed jab, whereas holding down the right trigger executes a right-handed hook. Varying your punches results in a combo that deals extra damage. The trade-off is that landing a combo can be difficult, especially when you're surrounded by a group of enemies. In that sort of situation, blocking incoming attacks by simultaneously holding down both triggers is the best tactic.
Three additional components round out combat: weapons of opportunity, finishing moves, and chain attacks. Weapons of opportunity are a hold over from the first game, referring to the ability to pick up objects in the surrounding environment and use them as weapons. Condemned 2 packs in even more weapons than the original, each rated along four attributes: damage, speed, reach, and condition. A lead pipe pulled from a wall might have more damage potential, but doesn't have the reach of a wooden 2x4 for example. Paying attention to a weapon's condition is particularly important since some weapons, like a wooden plank, can break.
Successful blows with a weapon or landing a punch fills up a chain attack gauge in the upper right corner of the screen. Naturally, you can execute such an attack once the gauge has been filled. These incredibly intense attacks put Ethan into overdrive where he's able to pummel enemies relentlessly, breaking their arms and legs, even potentially snapping their necks. When triggered, you're prompted to press a series of buttons to nail the attack.
