s any fans of horror movies know, what is truly scary are the things that could be real, rather than the films that delve into the realms of the blatantly supernatural. That’s why The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will always be scarier than Pumpkinhead or any of the thousands of other creature features out there. It’s also why Condemned: Criminal Origins is so successful. Although it is far more closely related to The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay than Resident Evil, Condemned still manages to be scary as hell because of the way it grounds its thrills in the real world.

As Ethan Thomas, an FBI agent on a case that quickly goes bad, the player is tasked with tracking down a killer in order to clear his name of crimes he didn’t commit. To do this, he must progress through some of the most sinister real-world locations ever seen in a game by finding clues with forensic tools that locate biological and chemical compounds, detect gasses, and sample DNA. These tools add an adventure game-like element to the exploration and move the player forward in a way that is far more believable than the "find the key" puzzles of traditional survival horror games. Of course, Condemned doesn’t feature the glacial pacing of Myst – in fact, quite the opposite. The dilapidated structures Ethan explores are populated by deranged vagrants, people who have been driven to madness by a mysterious force tied to the game’s underlying mythology. Although there are firearms in the game, most of the derelicts must be engaged with melee combat, which is fast-paced and brutal. Blocking is key to survival, and any foe you encounter can take you out if you’re not careful. Your enemies are smart, vicious, and bloodthirsty, and walking through a burned-out basement knowing that these crazies are waiting for you puts you constantly on edge.

Obviously, a lot of tension is generated by the environments, which are simply gorgeous in their ugliness. Each level simply oozes atmosphere, with beautifully ugly textures everywhere. Condemned simply masters atmosphere, and those who have said that the 360 doesn’t seem like a big leap from the current Xbox will be singing a different tune when they see some of Condemned’s environments.

As much as I enjoy this game, I certainly can’t say that it’s flawless, although my complaints are largely minor. The character models don’t look quite as impressive as the environments, and the interaction points are a bit touchy. The game is a bit on the short side, and even after completing it, I think some players will still have questions about the plot. But even with some complaints, I have no qualms about recommending Condemned to horror fans grabbing a 360 at launch. It packs some true scares, a fresh approach to its genre, great graphics, and fun gameplay mechanics. In short, Condemned: Criminal Origins is the start of the next great horror series.