Sega, Monolith Announce Condemned 2

Publisher Sega and developer Monolith Productions have officially announced Condemned 2: Bloodshot for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The sequel to Monolith Productions' gritty first person shooter Condemned: Criminal Origins (X360, PC), Condemned 2: Bloodshot will hit stores in early 2008. This time around, the story follows Ethan Thomas, a retired investigator brought back to action by the disappearance of his former partner. As stated in today's announcement, "disturbing events from Ethan's past have left him a broken man--a desperate burnout drifting aimlessly through society in an inexplicable decline." Ethan's dialog from the debut trailer shown at Sega's Gamers Day event reinforces the notion of a bitter, jaded individual filled with one-liners. "Life is funny, not funny like a joke, but funny like you just got kicked in the balls," he quips at the trailer's opening. "I believe in two things: they're both fists and they're both mine," Ethan adds. "People ask me how I feel that my whole life is flushed down the toilet, I say I feel the same as a sidewalk when a pigeon craps on it: nothing." Much like in the original, players will be forced to make do with whatever they can find--be it a firearm, nail-ridden board or lead pipe--but their efforts will be enhanced by a new combo system that emphasizes brutal offensive and defensive chains. Players will also have access to a variety of forensic equipment to help them gather clues as they investigate one disturbing crime scene after another. In addition to the single player campaign, Condemned 2: Bloodshot also includes a number of online multiplayer modes, including deathmatch--a first for the series.