nimal remains and other filth crunch underfoot as you make your way through the decayed rooms of an abandoned doll factory. A deserted floodlight splashes your shadow across some peeling wallpaper. You hear mechanical dolls crawling towards you somewhere in the dark. Then miraculously, and without your consent, the shadow in front of you begins to move, and you realize, with horror, that it doesn’t belong to you.

Bloodshot is an atmospheric powerhouse. I haven’t admired a game’s environments this much since BioShock, and the game has plenty of tense moments that will leave you hyperventilating like a chubby marine about to charge Omaha beach. Which is why – since Condemned excels so well in certain areas – that it’s a little sad the game falters, if only slightly, in a few other places.

Since we last saw him, the years haven’t been kind to our hero Ethan Thomas. The former detective has fallen far from grace, landing heavily on alcohol and painkillers. Disheveled and far from sanitary, a possible lice infestation is the least of his worries. Thomas is haunted by his experiences from the first game, and the demons he’s fighting are now are also internal. Some fans are bound to be turned off by this change, while the darker character might resonate better with others. However, as promising as the story may sound, Bloodshot’s tale gets a little nonsensical and hard to follow near its conclusion.

Combat is a lot more interesting this time around as you have a wide variety of combos and a bigger selection of weapons to pick out of the environment. These are as diverse as exploding toy dolls, bowling balls, and museum broadswords. Knock an enemy to his knees and you’ll get to perform an environmental kill on him as well. End level upgrades give you neat bonuses such as brass knuckles that make your fist attacks more powerful, or a holster that lets you store a pistol. It will take you a while to master all your talents, but it will be worth it.

Unfortunately, the crime scene investigations don’t play as big a role as in the original. These scenes, where you track down the blood trail using a UV light or take photos of the murder victim, were my favorite part of the first game, so it’s sad to see them downplayed. Instead, Bloodshot adds sections where you have to collect the correct information about a murder based on your observations. These sections are also pretty nifty, so it might be a fair trade off, after all.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot is probably the best survival horror title we’ve seen this generation. The online multiplayer modes aren’t going to blow your mind, but they are a thoughtful addition. It’s got a higher level of action than its predecessor, and some gorgeous horror backdrops. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there is one moment in particular – where you find yourself alone in a deserted cabin suddenly running for your life – that will probably be one of the most memorable gaming moments of 2008. If you like survival horror, this is a no-brainer.