Monolith

There is a school of thought that suggests that if a work of art is able to affect someone, whatever that effect may be, then that art is successful. So it's possible that the mere fact that Condemned: Criminal Origins made me feel like a significantly worse person for playing it is proof of its effectiveness.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

The outline of last year's hit first-person-shooter (FPS) F.E.A.R. (short for First Encounter Assault Recon) reads like a poignant satire on the immature state of big budget videogame development.

According to ESRB this game contains: Blood and Gore and Intense Violence.

Game Description: F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) is an intense combat experience with rich atmosphere and a deeply intense paranormal storyline presented entirely in first person. Be the hero in your own spine-tingling epic of action, tension, and terror… and discover the true meaning of fear. Hyper-stylized combat for breathtaking cinematic quality action Gripping supernatural storyline for spine-tingling intensity of play Multi-player action with multiple gameplay modes and all single player capabilities Advanced graphics and physics for visceral movie-like experience Enemies with special abilities and A.I. so intuitive it’s like battling living, breathing players.

Lately I've felt the Japanese RPG has stagnated, which is a difficult admission for this diehard fan of the genre. But I think Xenosaga stands out as one of the best PlayStation 2 (PS2) RPGs. Xenosaga made me truly care about its world, by being a good game that tells a great story well.

If Xenosaga is any indication, then Japanese game developers aren't yet ready to end their tawdry love affair with the cinematic effects pioneered in games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil. Rather, they seem to love these effects more than ever.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Violence

Game Description: Thousands of years into the future, humanity exists only in deep space, facing an uncertain destiny as it unlocks the secrets of the universe in search of the ultimate truth. Brutally opposed by the Gnosis—a mysterious and hostile alien life form—the Federation works to expand humankind's reach throughout the universe... even by force where necessary. Based on Friedrich Nietzsche’s controversial theory of mankind’s "will to power," Xenosaga delivers a captivating message through its seamless story and character development. The stimulating graphics and attention to detail make Xenosaga the one role-playing game all gamers must own.