Once you're out of the woods and looking for some action you'll be pleased to know Condemned 2 still delivers. Combat is incredibly visceral, but has been greatly refined to include new features such as a block and parry system, combos and hand-to-hand combat. While Monolith has done a great job implementing these features, they really screwed the pooch when they decided to treat us to the sin of breakable weapons.

Let me make one thing absolutely clear, breakable weapons are not fun. Period. Sure they're a necessary evil at times to keep the player from being too powerful, but in Condemned 2 they just force you to resort to using your fists. This wouldn't be a problem if your fists didn't do a pathetically small amount of damage, as it stands they can't compare to even a conduit. Perhaps if your punch had a little more oomph I wouldn't have this gripe, but as it stands breakable weapons are just a burden.

Thankfully forensic investigations have been polished as well. In the first game they were merely a glorified distraction, but in Condemned 2 they've been expanded in to a full series of puzzles that can have a real effect on your experience. The best part is your hand isn't held this time around. The game expects you to make logical conclusions about blood splatter and trails and rewards you accordingly. There's no real penalty for getting it wrong, but if you get it right you stand a better chance of getting good rewards at the end of your mission.

When you tire of hunting down unknown evils and feel the need for a little more fun, Condemned 2 offer's a host of multiplayer modes. From death match to serial killer investigations there's a lot of variety to be found, but unfortunately any altercations fall victim to the game's poor handling of multi-person combat. Basically it's a little too easy to be bum-rushed.

At the end of the day, Condemned 2 leaves me feeling a bit confused. On the one had the last half of the game is great, but on the other hand the first half is painful and will probably shy many people away. I really do think it's a game worth play, especially if you've played the original, but know what you're getting into. You have to be with it for the long haul or you'll never get a chance to enjoy it.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language and Use of Drugs and Alcohol. This game can also be found on: PS3.