Gamespot UK's Review

Bear in mind that if you wince at violence or get nauseous at the sight of blood, this is not the game for you. It's brutal and often disturbing, and certainly not appropriate for everyone. However, assuming you are prepared for the intensity of such a gory undertaking, you'll find that the fierceness of the carnage is paired with compelling gameplay so that each benefits the other. It may take you nine hours or so to finish up the main story, though you can return to it at higher difficulty levels, or take on some of the simple unlockable challenges and compare your scores to those of others via online leaderboards. But the reason to play Condemned 2: Bloodshot is to be scared, to be shocked, and to explore the secrets of a slimy world where the natural and the supernatural become intertwined.

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Team Xbox's Review

If you really dig the fighting mechanics, then there’s a Fight Club Mode that should keep you happy and enjoying the game for a long time after you beat the single-player mode. But the multiplayer games are, unfortunately, fairly disposable. They feel a bit tacked on and their mediocrity stands out against the otherwise finely crafted feel of the rest of the game. Single player is where it’s at, and the story is mostly compelling. There are a few groaner moments when the plot falls apart a bit. If you’re one of those people who dissects movies for not making narrative sense, then parts of Condemned 2 will leave you scratching your head. But if you can look past the gaping plot holes, Condemned 2’s story feels like a wild and satisfying cinematic ride.

In more ways than one, Condemned 2 is an improvement over the original game. It does falter in some arenas, but the experience of playing through the story line felt very satisfying to this reviewer. Monolith has a history of making some pretty awesome games (oh, won’t they please make another No One Lives Forever?) and if it keeps up with the improvements of this sequel, then maybe we look forward to another one down the road. But, please, no more evil dolls or mannequins, okay? My feeble heart can’t take it.

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IGN's Review

Condemned 2 doesn't make as big of a splash as its predecessor, but it does everything necessary to make a quality sequel. There are more features, fan complaints are addressed and it's still as spine tingling as ever. The story, though less akin to Swiss cheese than the first one was, is not as gripping and the game feels as if it lost its focus in the latter stages. As a sequel, the game doesn't have the originality the first had going for it and, as such, the shortcomings are more noticeable. The gameplay improvements are strong enough to overshadow these for the most part and you're still left with a wild ride.

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GameTrailers's Review

The first Condemned was a fairly impressive-looking launch game, but the standards have risen considerably since then. There is a slight bump in fidelity, but it’s not easy to tell the difference between the first game and this sequel. The good news is that you’re still kicking around dilapidated, bum-infested slums, and buildings so dark and dreary that you’ll be praying for open air. It can be oppressively creepy. If you liked that about the first game, you’ll love it here. If you’ve never experienced it before, be warned.

The original Condemned was really the first of its kind. The first-person pugilism, investigative challenges, and somber tone have been expanded for Bloodshot. Still, the experience remains relatively the same—just more supernatural and less plausible this time around. The anything-is-a-weapon aesthetic is still ace, but the combat system is too unwieldy when tackling multiple foes. It’s a game of ups and downs, but horror fans will be more than satisfied with its bleak and gloomy disposition.

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