Overall: You are a Black Ops soldier working with your AI team to capture the leader of a weapons dealing group called the SEVENTH WAVE.
This is a beautifully rendered FPS with amazing visuals and sounds as well as tough AI opponents. Gameplay: The story is told in the way of flash backs to misions that took place a few days earlier. Right from the start you are ducking for cover and unloading bullets on your enemies. And when I say unloading I mean UNLOADING!
The gameplay is great and you'll find your self flushing out enemies and not always rushing into action since pretty much all of them have full body armour and the only sure kill is a head shot or an RPG. You'll know what I mean when I say that you have to strategize because if you go in running and gunning you'll likely get over powered by alot of enemies. But at the same time, if you take to long hiding out and thinking of your next move then be prepared to turn around and see the enemies advancing on your position and trying to flank you. This game is amazing. If you love fps's then you'll totally get into BLACK.
My only issue with BLACK was in regards to the enemy AI. Now don't get me wrong, these guys for the most part are very smart and take cover when you shoot and try to flank you from different directions, but occassionally I would notice that if you take out an enemy with a headshot and there is another one a mere 3 feet away, he barely reacts to his comrade getting dropped which leaves you with a clean shot to take him out. Thats not too smart but also not always the case. Graphics: Simply put, THIS GAME IS BEAUTIFUL!
From the moment you start unloading bullets or firing RPG's and blowing up vehicles and buidlings, you will understand what I mean. The game shows alot of detail and I would say is one of the higher quality visual titles for the current-gen systems
And speaking of details, it is a totally intense feeling when you are looking for an incoming RPG and seeing the smoke trail approaching you and knowing you are a few seconds from impact. When you experience it you'll know what I mean. Sound: When I played through BLACK I had my 5.1 on and the sound was GREAT! If you already haven't figured it out, BLACK is all about the weapons so be prepared to hear LOTS of bullets, LOTS of grenades, and LOTS of RPGS! And with all that you canbet you'll hear LOTS of stuff blowing up in the envionment.
The sound is awesome. And the louder the better! feels just like your in the middle of the craziest war movie ever.
Suggestions: Many people believe that this game was too short. My opinion is that it was just about right in the approx 10 hour range. Mind you after I finished I would have loved an extra level or 2 but you have to remember that each level is taking between 40 and 90 minutes to complete with a few exceptions like the first level. And if you play on higher dificulty settings and have to complete more secondary objectives, it won't seem as short. Maybe if you had included downloadable content such as new levels, then people wouldn't have been so quick to criticize. Just a thought.
My only real suggestion as i know it has been a major complaint from the get go, is that this game DESERVES on line play. A title this good should be shared with others. At the very least a 2 person, split screen co-op would have been awesome. Just glad to know that by the way the story ended, we can look forward to BLACK 2.
Overall: I didn't actually get to play through the whole thing - I only really spent like an hour playing it, but it is definitely going to be the next game that I buy (then I'm getting Shattered Union). I watched the entire opening fmv because that's the kind of gamer that I am - I gotta watch all cutscenes. I started off in a wartorn looking city with a handgun, then I had to find a shotgun in the room I was started off in. I moved out, it took me a while to get used to the controls, but fortunately I was able to sneak up on my first couple of enemies. When I found the rocket launcher, and finally located the bad guy that was lobbing rockets at me in a churchtower, I returned the favor only to watch a beautiful explosion, and the top of the tower come down on his dumb @$$. It was great - just remember you can only carry two weapons at a time - as soon as you can, grab the AK-47 and the grenade launcher - press x when you see one - the more firepower you have, the better off you are and in the first level, these particular weapons are godsends. Gameplay: I played it on easy, and it seemed that the enemies didn't want to die, so be prepared to spray them for a couple seconds before you move on to your next enemy.
Also, never underestimate the power of the melee attack - I probably killed like half my enemies with the melee attack - of course this was probably because I didn't take advantage of using cover and popping out to spray off some rounds - instead, I was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Muzzle rise can be a little annoying, but it adds to it's realism too, so I guess it's a necessary evil. Graphics: Absofrigginlutely beautiful - this is the caliber of game I'd expect on the PS3, or 360, so if you're still saving up to get the 360, or waiting on the PS3, feel free to splurge on this game - it will hold you over. Sound: I've never really been one to put a whole lot of stock into the audio features of a game, but the one game that was definitely well served by great sound effects and music that I can think of is Tenchu: Stealth Assassins for the PS1 - that being said, I didn't really pay attention to the sounds... so I will not be scoring this category. Suggestions: I have heard rumors about this game being too short - that's both good and bad - good because you've obviously created a product that consumers can't get enough of. Bad because you now have your work cut out for you in regards to a possible sequel (hint hint).
Made in Canada