Sega is a company that is well known for being innovators and not imitators they took platform gaming to new heights with Sonic the Hedgehog, they even took fighting games to the 3-D world with Virtua Fighter. Sega has now done it again with their first new title for Microsoft’s new console, the X-Box 360 in Condemned: Criminal Origins. In this game you take a new spin in the survival horror genre, first off the game plays in the first person view. I personally believe that the game should have been in third person. Second you’re not fighting a bunch of Zombies and other creatures of the night. Third the story does not take place in some weird town that goes from normal to hell in the matter of mere seconds. Nope none of that this time you take the role of a F.B.I agent by the name of Ethan Thomas who is a member of the C.S.U Crime Scene Unit.

This is another new twist on survival horror because instead of just fighting your way through the city, you have to investigate and I’m not talking about looking for a flashing object that catches your eye from across the room. I’m taking about C.S.I. type of investigating you need to uses UV lights and scanners, you have to take pictures and then download them to you cell phone that also doubles as a PDA (personal data assistant). This is just the tip off the iceberg, when it comes to defending yourself against the psychos your up against it isn’t about the bigger gun you have and the amount of bullets. It’s all about the environment, that’s right, your surroundings you find an axe on the wall use if you can rip a pipe off the wall that is rusted and heavy use it. If you find a piece of wood that has nails in it. Use it now don’t get me wrong you also have handguns and shotguns and rifles that you come across but the great part is if your out of ammo just pick the nearest stick or shovel and go to town on whoever is attacking you. O.K the cool thing about the concept of the use of anything around you as a weapon has a different amount of damage and level of attack or defense. Example if you have a short heavy lead pipe it will do great amounts of damage but if you have a long wooden stick that has nails in it, it will do a decent amount of damage but will also be more effective when defending against attacks as the heavy lead pipe will not be effect to defend as well.

Ethan Thomas while investigating an unusual murder that the F.B.I believes is link to recent attacks in the city realizes that this is the work of a serial killer. During the investigation they realize that the serial killer is still in the area watching and they begin to chase after him. This is where things get crazy because during this chase Ethan gets attack from behind and loses his gun. Ethan then watches the serial killer use his gun to kill to officers. Like I said crazy because Ethan is now framed for murder and on the run, he has the F.B.I. on his tail the local police are after him and the serial killer is not making things any easier. Now a fugitive and on the run you have to try to solve the crime and clear your name and find out the truth to this whole mystery.

So, like I said if you’re a fan of the series of C.S.I the television series then you will definitely love this game so great work Sega keep it up with the changes and always trying to lead in great new innovative games.