Black Critic Reviews

The bone-rattling density of Black's combat makes the nine levels feel like tours of duty with the grizzliest mercenary squads the world has ever seen.

Easily the best console FPS experience I've played this generation.

It's simply a technical marvel with top-notch gameplay.

The gameplay is fast and furious and the presentation will blow you away with stunning visuals and rich 3D Dolby Digital surround. And even when the non-stop shooting threatens to grow repetitive, the ever-changing level design will keep you on your toes.

Its shortcomings are overwhelmed entirely by pure, unrelenting fun from beginning to end, with enough multiple routes on the levels to warrant at least a couple of plays through.

At no point in Black's development did the game ever indicate it would become anything more than what it is: a high-powered homage to the FPS genre in its simplest and most undiluted form.

A great game, an accessible shooter with mainstream appeal, just what the Xbox needs in its twilight hour.

An awesome shooter that looks gorgeous and feels great. Although shooting is fun, the gameplay tends to be a bit frustrating because of the long levels, too few checkpoints and no saving option during the missions.

It's an extremely focused game that offers one of the most visceral gaming experiences you'll find anywhere. But, it offers little variation outside of blowing things up and its short length and lack of multiplayer will irk some people.

The A.I. predictability coupled with linear game levels somewhat dampen the invigorating, bullets-flying-everywhere gameplay that will have your ears ringing from gunfire hours after playing.

For what it is, BLACK delivers one of the most exciting, explosive and intense FPS experiences we've had on the Xbox in a long time, but it's straightforward and repetitive gameplay also leave the overall impression a bit thin.

For a first-time entry into the firts-person market, Black is impressive.

Black is a visceral FPS that is in your face and full of action, but it's unfortunately short and pretty much devoid of any replay value.

Black would be an absolutely fantastic game if it only lasted half-an-hour. There's an old show-biz axiom that states: Leave them wanting more. The problem with Black is that it starts off in high gear and has nowhere else to go from there.

Black is a great stress reliever and a great game to destroy and blow things up. It takes thinking and skill to get through certain points.

The challenge BLACK presents is not to outwit enemies, but rather to stay interested in dispatching them with extra style. While it may not appeal to fans of more narrative or tactically oriented shooters, it hits the spot for those for whom there is no such thing as style over substance.

What Black does do right is the fact that you are almost guaranteed to not find another game this action intense in a long time. I've never played a FPS with this much going on and stuff flying around on the screen.

While BLACK doesn't add to the genre in terms of innovation, it is an experience that will suck you in and won't let go until you've finished the game.

BLACK is the kind of gun opera you'd expect from director John Woo, starring Chow Yun Fat. It's explosive both in its technical presentation and gameplay, but it's a very short experience.

Those looking for a deep and involving story to go hand in hand with the intense action will be disappointed, but for people who enjoy shooting the crap out of everything and will enjoy doing so often, Black is the game you'll need.