Black is a first-person shooter developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts in 2006 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360. The game stood out for its impressive graphics and frantic gameplay, where practically everything in the environment is destructible.
The story is simple, the player controls a soldier who must infiltrate a terrorist organization to prevent an arsenal of weapons from being sold to US enemies. While it doesn't have an elaborate storyline or multiplayer mode, the black it is still remembered as a classic by gamers who appreciate wild action and stunning graphics.
The game received positive reviews for its stunning graphics and frantic gameplay. Here are some fun facts about the Black game:
Everything is destructible
One of Black's most impressive features is that virtually everything in the environment is destructible. Bullets can pierce walls and objects, creating realistic holes. This makes the game even more immersive and challenging.
realistic sound
Criterion Games took sound seriously on Black. They made a special audio recording for the game, using real guns and explosions at a shooting range. This resulted in realistic and impactful sounds that add a lot to the atmosphere of the game.
The plot is minimal
Black is primarily known for its intense gameplay, but the plot is minimal. The player controls a soldier who must infiltrate a terrorist organization to prevent an arsenal of weapons from being sold to US enemies. The story is basically an excuse for action.
No multiplayer mode
While many first-person shooters offer a multiplayer mode, Black doesn't have that option. Criterion Games explained that they wanted to focus on making the single player campaign as good as possible without having to worry about balancing the multiplayer.
Influenced by action movies
Black was clearly influenced by action movies like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. Criterion Games wanted to create a game that made the player feel like a character from an action movie, with lots of destruction and explosions.
It remains a visual reference
Despite being released in 2006, Black is still a visually impressive game. The graphics engine used to create the game allowed the team at Criterion Games to create environments and visual effects that were very advanced for their time. Even today, many gamers still admire Black's visual quality.
There was a canceled sequel
Due to the game's success, a sequel to Black was in development, but was ultimately cancelled. The developers wanted to innovate and experiment with new ideas, but EA felt that these ideas did not fit the game's original concept.
Curiosities in the production
During the game's production, Criterion Games used toy gun names to refer to the weapons in the game. This was done to avoid any confusion or legal issues. Furthermore, the game was originally codenamed “Gun Metal” before being renamed Black.
