Achievement Highlights

You're Xbox Live® means different things to different people. For some, it is a perpetually raging battlefield where the world's toughest cyber soldiers can test their reflexes in tournaments, matches, and events ranging from real-world sports games to war simulations to fantasy escapes. For others, Xbox Live Marketplace is where it's at for music, video, and game demo downloads.

Walk on the wild side in Condemned.

Regardless of your leanings, there is one facet of the premiere online gaming service that can be used and enjoyed by all. That feature is the achievements system.

Every title published for Xbox 360™ has its own unique set of achievements laid out by the game's creators. Depending on the type of game, you can unlock and earn up to 1000 points through various feats of mastery. These accomplishments can vary greatly between genres.

Some of the more common ways to unlock an achievement are:

• Finish the single-player story mode
• Complete the game on the hardest difficulty level
• Play X amount of games, online or off
• Perform feats of mastery (three-pointers in basketball, headshots in first-person shooters, etc.
• Find every collectible or secret
• Finish every optional side mission or quest

Ultimately, it's up to the developer to break down the total number of gamerscore points and assign them to different achievements for that game. As you pass each in-game milestone and accrue more points, you may unlock secret achievements that are only revealed to you when a required action is performed.

This element of mystery rewards players of a persistent and adventurous nature and encourages them to explore every nook and cranny laid out before them.

Join us as we take a look at some spoiler-free in-game achievements and explore the many gameplay possibilities ahead of you.

Condemned: Criminal Origins
It's not uncommon for the majority of games that launch with a new system—in this case Xbox 360™— to be of your standard variety. Of the slate of holiday releases, there are plenty of sports titles, a few racing games, some first-person shooters, and even a fantasy-themed platformer among them.

And then there is Condemned: Criminal Origins sitting quietly in the corner rocking back and forth on its heels waiting to get noticed.

Unlock secret achievements as you go.

Condemned is like the silent kid in class that keeps to himself, quietly concealing his many mysteries while life goes on as usual. One day, that same unassuming student does something unexpected that makes everyone take notice. In the case of Condemned, you've just had your teeth knocked out with a lead pipe.

Survival is the name of the game here. As federal agent Ethan Thomas, you are hot on the trail of a serial murderer who has just committed his latest criminal act. While investigating the crime scene, you are separated from your unit and forced to fight for your life with your bare hands. The world of Condemned is full of makeshift weapons; from pipes and boards to axes and shotguns, you must use what you find to stay alive as you descend deeper and deeper into madness.

Most of the achievements in Condemned: Criminal Origins are concealed from view (you are an investigator, after all). In order to uncover them, you must successfully complete level after level. Bonuses are awarded to you for feats of bravery and resourcefulness. Read on for a taste.

Achievement Highlights

• Chapter completion: The storyline of Condemned is broken down into self-contained chapters. There is a definitive beginning and end to each level, and to successfully complete each one you must satisfy the objectives laid before you. You collect evidence along the way as well as engage in some of the most brutal and up-close combat ever realized in a video game. Provided that you make it to the end of each stage, you earn some points for your gamerscore.
• Extras: Birds are dying by the thousands and no one knows why. To shed light on the cause, you must collect every carcass you can find. There are six dead birds scattered about each level. Some are easy to spot while others require you to snoop around. Keep an ear perked, as you can sometimes hear these feathered creatures in the throes of death just moments before they expire.
• Metal fragments: Without spoiling the mystery here, I'll just say you should keep your eyes peeled for metal fragments. Collect these odd-shaped bits of steel whenever you encounter them. What are they for? Why are they here? Find as many as you can and it'll all make sense later on.
• Combat awards: Firearms are few and far between in the world of Condemned, and you are forced to rely on brute strength with blunt weapons instead. Finish the game without shooting a single perp (bludgeon them instead) and you garner a special badge.
• Master snoop: Wear that detective badge with honor. There are numerous TV sets hidden throughout the game. Most of the time you need to bash down a door with a certain weapon to get at these elusive pieces of electronics, but it's worth it just to see that custom faceplate in action. Confused? Good. Now get out there and find some clues!

Now what have we here?

There are plenty of ways for you to earn achievements in Condemned: Criminal Origins. The best strategy is to take your time exploring every area, employ special weapons (fire axes, shovels, crowbars, and sledgehammers) whenever you find them to force your way into new areas, and master the block and counter when fighting. Go get your man, Agent Thomas.

Article by Franklin Beans