I got in and saw the demo, it was freaking amazing. I picked it as my runner-up for best in show next to Zelda.
From my impressions at Xbox Advanced:
Criterion, the developer of the famed <I>Burnout</I> series, has been developing a first-person shooter that is going to send the current generation out with a bang
a very loud bang. <I>Black</I> has been in development for quite some time, and according to the game designers at Criterion, the concept for the game begin five and a half years ago when games like <I>Goldeneye</I> were dominating the FPS scene. What began as a cool concept and part-time project has grown into one of the most intriguing developments in gaming today. Getting a peek at Criterions impressive project is a rare occasion, but thanks to a few pulled strings and contacts we were able to attend a closed-door gameplay demonstration.
The demo for <I>Black</I>, which was running on the PlayStation 2 hardware, was a jaw-dropping experience. The demo took place in a city environment where bullets, shrapnel, shattered glass, flames, smoke, bodies, and crumbling buildings dominated the players view. The demonstration opened with an explanation that there are many guns in the game but that one very important weapon that shouldnt be forgotten is ones own surroundings. The demonstrator used exploding cars, collapsing pillars, falling walls, and even a bell tower (brought down by a rocket launcher) to take out his enemies. The visuals were extremely impressive at this stage in development, but we were told that the build shown was only at about 50% of the expected visual outcome and only about 30% completed overall. The game features a sense of visual realism that dwarfs almost any other console FPS currently available, even with this very early build. The final package should be a visual treat like none other.
The sound effects were fantastic as well. As bullets whizzed past the screen you could easily tell from where the shots were being fired and how close to you they were hitting. Explosions rocked the environment in an almost constant fashion and the rumble of distant battles could be heard during the rare moments when either a building wasnt collapsing or a car exploding on screen. Criterion is going to great lengths to make each weapon in the game sound exactly as it would in real life and that they are distinct in nature. During the demo we saw a pistol, machine gun, rifle, and rocket launcher amongst other weapons, and if I hadnt been looking at the screen I could have identified the type of weapon being used without problem just by the spot-on sound of each gun. Hearing a bell tower fall to the ground after a rocket blast in <I>Black</I> is a very satisfying thing.
As for the gameplay shown, that was the most impressive part of the showing. The demo showcased just how many ways a player could progress through the level. Choosing your weapon is important based on if you are close to your enemy, what kind of cover he has, if there is more than one, and if you are above or below them. At one point the player was pinned down behind a half-destroyed wall for cover on the street while several enemy soldiers attacked relentlessly. To progress, the player lobbed a hand grenade into a window above the soldiers, which caused the upper level of the building to crumble down upon the attackers. Like Criterion said, your environment will be one of your best weapons. After all, taking out ten guys with a crumbling brick wall is faster, cooler, and easier than picking them off with a rifle from afar or spraying the screen with a machine gun up close. Of course, if the gunplay is more your style, Criterion says thats <I>just</I> how you should approach the situation. Just remember, this operation is overt, not covert by any means. Criterion mentioned that you dont win a war by sending a guy in a cardboard box to sneak around, but rather by sending a group of heavily armed lunatics into the front lines.
Alex Ward, executive of producer at Criterion, had a few comments for us regarding the gameplay. To quote Alex, he said, We are very excited that <I>Black</I> is coming together as well as it is. Its very loud, and its very cool. <I>Black</I> will do for first-person shooters what <I>Burnout</I> has done for racing. If you love guns, its like gun porno.
<I>Black</I> has been one of my most anticipated games for any console since I heard of its concept. The future looks very bright for <I>Black</I> and Criterion. At the present time media wasnt allowed to take video or pictures of the demo, but trust me, it was a sight to behold. Keep checking in with AMN as well continue to watch this game closely. Look for <I>Black</I> to launch on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in Spring 2006.
