Preview: Condemned 2 (360)

Considering its position as an Xbox 360 launch title, 2005's Condemned managed to trace a fine line between rough, violent action and intense atmosphere, garnering a strong 8/10 from Gamestyle back in the day. A surprise choice for a franchise product, it's never the less managed to generate a sequel. Subtitled Bloodshot in the US, it hopes to run with the early success, arriving on PlayStation 3 as well as Xbox 360 this week. The recent release of a short demo for the former system has given series newcomers and platform-agnostic series fans a chance to see if the CSI-meets-Silent-Hill gameplay of the original still provides scares.

Taking a darker, arguably less mature turn in the story department hasn't diluted the sense of dread and forboding that the game proper provides, though the near-ubiquity of oily, nightymarish creatures that spawn from nowhere and seemingly at random detracts somewhat. Human opponents a more terrifying proposition, often seen in the distance well before they are encountered, and brilliantly animated. The brutality of hand-to-hand combat is a given, but quick-time events and repetative attacks don't bode well for the long-term entertainment value of the fighting. How many times can hammering someone's face into a television set be fun?

The Lithtech engine is put to great effect on the new console, blurring and post-processing effects adding atmosphere and texture to simply walking through the desolate streets, despite some noticable pixelation in the dynamic lighting and bloom effects- hopefully merely a result of an early build. Controlling surprisingly well on the legendarily awkward Sixaxis pad, the game also supports the new Dual Shock 3, bringing the port pleasantly close to the Xbox edition. The multiplayer modes will likely show up the difference between the two, but an in-depth analysis of the releases will have to wait until a future review.

Words by Colin Whiteside