CRITERION GAMES

Previews

At its core, the game is one sharp-handling console shooter with a back-to-basics approach to its mechanics that keeps things simple and accessible.

BLACK turns the FPS volume way past ten, creating an experience that is worth a hard look, regular Xbox player or not.

For a game with such a serious storyline, BLACK sure is a lot of fun to play.

Somehow this latest glimpse at the game manages to top both the prior ones combined, and that's saying a lot. I

Here are just a few of the key ingredients: explosions, muzzle flashes, bullet holes - can you see how incredible this is going to be?

I was about 30 seconds into the demo and already I was completely bewildered and totally hooked

The sheer amount of destruction possible within Black made Criterion's bold claim of being able to have fun in an empty room look like the biggest understatement of the year.

The game looks phenomenal and seems to be pushing Criterion's Renderware engine to new heights.

Eurogamer withdraws, convinced Black will be one of the hardest shooting uppers for PS2 and Xbox in late 2005, and wanders bewildered onto the show floor. We still haven't forgotten the sound of that .45.