In Condemned: Criminal Origins, players assume the character of FBI agent Ethan Thomas from the Serial Crimes Unit (SCU). He is part of an investigation looking for The Match Maker, a serial murderer who kills people and then arranges their bodies with a department store mannequin. During his hunt, Thomas encounters another serial murderer who appears fascinated by Thomas and his crimes. You must figure out who the real serial murderer is and who is behind it all.
The game is played in first person, and you can assault your adversaries with various weapons. Thomas, who focuses on melee fighting, may take anything from the surroundings, such as signs, pipes, 2x4s, concrete, rails, pieces of wood, and even desktops and desk drawers. Other weaponry is available, such as the typical pistol and shotgun, although each has a limited ammo supply.
The hunt takes Thomas to various locations, including an abandoned office building, a subway station, an elementary school, and an apple farm on the outskirts of town, where he encounters insane characters. Combat is harsh, and Thomas has a lot of graphic finishing moves at his disposal. Most of the game takes place in a dark and tight area, with several horror aspects. Lighting is sparse. Thus, Thomas must always use his flashlight to illuminate the room. Enemies can even rip fuses to switch off lights and take advantage of the sudden darkness. Movement usually is slow, but Thomas can sprint for a brief period. Kits scattered around the map replenish health. Enemies engage with the same weapons and can also capture Thomas, which involves rapidly moving about until they let him, with a dark haze over the screen depicting the consequences of strangulation. The screen frequently becomes blurry when Thomas gets bizarre dreams about serial killers.
In addition to the combat, there are numerous instances where Thomas must examine the scenes, employing a variety of forensic instruments to uncover evidence and advance the plot. Use the UV light to detect blood traces, the sample guy to obtain a blood sample, and your laser light to see buried evidence. You also have a scanner for scanning certain goods and a digital camera for taking images. Most importation is handled at the bureau, and Thomas communicates with them via phone.
