So as mentioned in my previous blog, I made a pretty random gaming purchase the other day when I bought Condemned 2: Bloodshot. I did not play Condemned: Criminal Origins so I honestly don't know what compeled me to buy this game, I guess nothing else really stuck out. But regardless it now sits in my gaming collection. I wanted to buy the first one, but Best Buy didn't carry, just like they don't carry most older games, which aggrivates me sometimes, because I HATE going to Gamestop and EB Games. But I'll save that subject for another time, because I'm going off on a tangent.

Before I started the game I went to Wikipedia and read up on the story of the first game so that I wouldn't be lost. The story was pretty easy to comprehend via the plot summary on Wikipedia, and I felt that I was caught up enough to be able to enjoy the story in the second game.

Now first and foremost, before I get to my impressions, I'll straight up admit, I'm a coward when it comes to horror-based video games. Horror movies give me no problems, but something about controlling a character in a frightening environment makes me jittery.

The Resident Evil series used to give me the chills when I was younger, and still to this day I feel a little fear inside me when I play the older style Resident Evils, despite the cheesy dialogue that came from the characters mouths. Resident Evil 4 didn't give me the same horror the other games did, even though it was a far superior game than it's predecessors. I guess the 'behind the back' gameplay took something away.

I found the Silent Hill series downright horrifying, I could never drive myself to finish those games because they disturbed me so much. Even when I would watch friends play the games I would find myself frightened. But as with the older Resident Evil was a lot younger when they came out. Other than those two franchises I never layed my hands on any other horror games, because I had trouble completing them. Some people enjoy the feel of being frightened or scared, but I find it to be a downright uncomfortable feeling.

I heard that Condemned 2 was a scary game, but I figured with it being in first person mode, that it would take away some of the scare factor from the game... Oh was I ever wrong. This is without a doubt the scariest game I have ever played, and I was convinced nothing could top Silent Hill until now.

I believe the first person view makes this game all the more frightening, because you find yourself having to constantly turn around and check your back. The environment is what really sets the atmosphere for this game. I'm only on the third level, but so far every place I've walked into has me taking tiptoes. There is one part that stands out, is in the 3rd level at the very beginning, manaquens start appearing out of no where. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. I only imagine the environments getting more terrifying as I progress.

The enemies are pretty scary themselves. Most of the enemies thus far have just been psychopath human beings, but they still offer up just as much of a scare as a zombie or demon would. Just hearing their psychotic laughs, and moans in the backround is enough to send you running for the hills. What makes it even worst is they can come out of no where, when you least expect it, which makes me jump out of my seat most of the time. The black ooze covered enemies are the worst because they are the hardest to see, and can sneak up on you and start wailing on you without you even knowing they were there. Fortunately they only take one swing to kill.

For not playing the first game, I understand the story fairly well, and it's a good one so far. I'm very interested in what happens to Ethan Thomas, and what is the main cause for all of this craziness and terror. I'm also curious to find out who the hooded character is that you see throughout the game. If anyone knows, should I know who he is? Is he from the first game, or will I find out as I go through the game?

The gameplay is fun, but I find it difficult too. I'm playing on the normal difficulty and find myself getting my ass kicked a majority of the time. The biggest problem is I have a hard time timing my blocks, which causes me to lose good chunks of my health. The assortment of items you can use as weapons is very cool, nothing like brutally beating a man with a toilet seat or a prosthetic leg. The environmental kills are neat also, but I haven't been in a situation for a really cool one yet. I think the coolest one I've done was send a guys head through a TV screen.

One thing I don't like is the fact that you can't carry any extra ammo. It's a little funny when I can find 3 guns of the same type but can't take ammo from 2 of them, and am forced to only stick with the 6 or so bullets from the gun I'm holding. What is stopping him from dumping the bullets out from the other guns and storing them for later use?

The investigations give the game a nice twist, and a good change of pace. I think the system was put together fairly well, and really puts you into a CSI mode at some points. There's some parts that require you to really think. I never thought I'd have to determine what kind of pattern a bloodstain was in.

Overall I think the game does what it intends to do to a 'T'. I'm enjoying myself, but am ashamed to admit that it creeps me out. Hopefully that wont stop me from completing the game. The biggest reason I rarely complete horror games, is because I progress through them so slowly. I move through the levels like a snail because I'm always turning around to check my back, checking out every doorway, and hallway making sure nothing jumps out and scares the living bejesus out of me. And it comes to a point where I just want the game to be over with, but know it's going to take me forever so I just end up putting the game away all together.

But I guess we'll find out what direction I'm headed in the days to come. For a spur of the moment game purchase, I'm really pleased. I'll keep you updated!