Condemned 2: Bloodshot was (obviously) the sequel to the critically acclaimed Condemned: Criminal Origins; the fact that this is a sequel goes to show how well the original was received. However, since Condemned 2 was released, there’s been next to no movement on the franchise.
Throughout the two games in the franchise, players are taken through a psychological horror that knows almost no peers. We see horrors of the human condition, both physical and mental; players are forced to step back and try to get a grasp of reality.
A Solid Premise
The original game set up a solid premise with some interesting characters. Set in a foreboding city, the story follows detective Ethan Thomas as he investigates a string of serial killers being murdered, all by the means in which they, themselves, murdered people. The plot revolves around a cult trying to take control of the country by seemingly extra-terrestrial means.
That being said, Condemned 2 follows this up with a darker tone, following the disgraced detective as he’s after descending into alcoholism and despair after the events of the first game. After the death of a friend, he’s brought back into the police force and taken down an even darker road. Throughout this journey, Ethan travels further down into despair. However, we also see him set up his own road to redemption. Ethan starts on a road to vindication.
Unfulfilled Story Arc
With that premise, it’s hard to fathom why the developers didn’t finish what was planned as a trilogy; Condemned 2 sets up a third game with its near-cliffhanger ending, so many fans have been crying out for the third entry for years. This is one of those video game sequels that many players were expecting but never got. Between the first two installments in the franchise, we saw Ethan Thomas’ downfall and the start of his progression to vindicated hero. However, with Condemned 3, we never got to see his full arc. This is something that many fans are crying out for; Ethan Thomas being brought back full circle.