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LTTP: Black (Criterion, PS2/X360, 2006)

C

catmario

Member
I downloaded this game on 2013 but after taking a long time, I finally finished this game yesterday. I wanted to finish this game quickly, but other last-gen title(XBOX360/PS3 gen) didn't let me clear this when I clear stage 4. But something interest called me yesterday, then I played this all day long, and after having some hail of gunfire by russian troops I finally passed through stage 5 to 8 straightly and got cleared this game.

'Black' is valuable FPS game on PS2/XBOX era that it was well receive reviewed by some medias (Metacritic score is 77. not bad huh). While this game is bit old on this era, when It was first revealed at 2006, many gamers praised its good graphics and flashy game effects, and criterion like difficulty.

As the PS2/XBOX era title, Black is showing good lighting effects, sounds, gun details, explosive effects, and breakable objectives that even these things doesn't feel bad when it compares to first 360/PS3 gen title. And Original Score was also great, that it was composed by Michael Giaccino who composed the score of call of duty and medal of honor. Even Game System is a bit old on these days, not bad. But The main problem was lack of multiplayer, lack of subtitle on single player and its story was not very charming.

While I have many reminiscence on this game, I have a rare NTSC/J SEALED ORIGINAL XBOX copy. It's one of the precious gaming treasure for me. To Got this SEALED version, I had to buy this game from taiwan auction. And because of its region code, I couldn't play download version on my X360, so I had to use Hongkong VPN to download asian region code version.

So How about your experience on this game?

P.S. This is my my first thread at NeoGaf! :D
 
I just remember how damn awesome I thought the game looked back in Game Informer. I was a big Xbox fanboy and I used it to rub in all the PS2 gamers faces.

I played it eventually, and thought it was fun, if not forgettable. I remember more about the hype than about the game itself though.
 
Rented this around Thanksgiving. I liked it. It felt like it was between gens, like it was too advanced for the PS2/Xbox but not enough for the PS3/360.
 
It was awesome. I'd kill someone for a sequel. And the ability to jump. And for the main character to be able to speak into his piece without shouting it so that his voice reverberates through the entire area.
 
I often wonder what this game could have been...

The preview versions had a more arcadey "score attack" approach, and according to some that version of the game was a lot more fun. They also sponged up the enemies in the final release, which is always a bummer.
 
The concept (shoot stuff and blow it up) was ahead of its time.

seriously

Everything had to be faked. God rays, depth of field while reloading, the pre-baked lighting, destruction (visible seams, always happened the same way), and so forth. Criterion did a damn good job of faking it all though. Since the entire focus of the game was on the guns and the destruction they could cause, the game would've been truly realized on current-gen hardware.
 
The game looked great for the hardware, the destructibility was a lot of silly fun, and it sounded fantastic. I wish more games put that much thought into a proper mix. Well-done loudness is a thing of beauty.

EDIT: Can't have a Black thread without this image

black.jpg
 
Good shooter for its time. Always thought that there would be a sequel, but now (for many reasons) I think the time has passed.
 
It was great, I love it a bit more than most because it taught me how to play and enjoy FPS games. I never did beat that final level though...
 
I went back and replayed it. Then i was like this music sounds like Star Trek (Abram's Star Trek). Looked at the credits sure enough Giacchino was the composer.
 
I still play it once in a while. Still one of the best-sounding FPS games ever made. It baffles my mind how many FPS games sound so lame. It only makes Black's achievement so much more impressive.
 
The Burnout 3-Burnout Revenge-Black stretch of time was absolutely terrific.

I dunno what's going on with Criterion these days (post HP/MW) but it can't be good considering who their publisher is.
 
antitrop said:
Oh yeah, it sucked that there was no blood or gore.
Click to expand...

It wasn't that type of game. Some blood wouldn't be out of place, but it was clear Criterion were going for a The Rock feel (not to mention that shower room that's identical to the one in The Rock) where it was more about blowing up stuff next to enemies and sending them flailing to their deaths.
 
Yeah this game was awesome. The live action cutscenes were cool as hell. Don't remember shit about the story, even back when I played it I don't think I knew what was happening. The lights and sounds had me hypnotized.

Part 2 plz
 
I said it before in another thread, but I wish EA would give us Black 2 on Frostbite 3.

Soooooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
 
I enjoyed it quite a bit on PS2 back in the day, but my experience was almost soured by the amount of damage an enemy could take. Enemies were bullet sponges and it almost ruined it for me. Gorgeous game, though. Did they implement the shower/bathroom scene from The Rock or am I thinking of a different game?
 
Spring-Loaded said:
It wasn't that type of game. Some blood wouldn't be out of place, but it was clear Criterion were going for a The Rock feel (not to mention that shower room that's identical to the one in The Rock) where it was more about blowing up stuff next to enemies and sending them flailing to their deaths.
Click to expand...
Even just some blood for hit feedback. The enemies take ridiculous amounts of damage, shed no blood, and have this hokey, exaggerated animation, like Virtua Cop.

I'm a sick son of a bitch, I think it would be cool to see something like Black mixed with the dismemberment of Soldier of Fortune. Just a shooter cranked to 11. I don't really think I've played anything like that since Bulletstorm.
 
Colonel Nasty said:
I wish more FPS were fucking loud.
Click to expand...

Amen. I don't know why shooters are so afraid to be loud. I want to have to adjust my volume late at night because the guns are just angry. Everything should splinter and crumble, and there should be dust and smoke everywhere, and guns should be monstrous.
 
Net_Wrecker said:
Amen. I don't know why shooters are so afraid to be loud. I want to have to adjust my volume late at night because the guns are just angry. Everything should splinter and crumble, and there should be dust and smoke everywhere, and guns should be monstrous.
Click to expand...

At least for Burnout, I know Criterion would mainly use animals sounds in the car crashes. The player cars would make predatory animal noises while non-racing cars were the prey

Wonder what they did with Black, and what they could do on modern hardware.
 
Spring-Loaded said:
The concept (shoot stuff and blow it up) was ahead of its time.

seriously

Everything had to be faked. God rays, depth of field while reloading, the pre-baked lighting, destruction (visible seams, always happened the same way), and so forth. Criterion did a damn good job of faking it all though. Since the entire focus of the game was on the guns and the destruction they could cause, the game would've been truly realized on current-gen hardware.
Click to expand...

The effects and the destruction was incredible running on the PS2, even if it all was faked. It was everything I hoped the PS360 generation would be in terms of interactivity while still looking as good as it did. Huge levels and a lot of fun. My only gripe was the bullet sponge enemies.
 
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