BLACK (Xbox)

Nice review, where you running out of time at the end though... just seam to be listing stuff...

Also does this work on the xbox360...? Wouldn't mind having a go on this but I gave my xbox away.

Yup, the review's about spot-on.

My only query would be in regards to the AI. I'm up to level 5, and so far I certainly wouldn't call it good. The enemies gradually become more aggressive, and they take up good positions from long to mid-distance, but close up they're clueless.

Just played to through three levels of BLACK on PS2, and I agree the AI can be a bit s**t. As you say, this is especially evident when the enemy ar at close quarters - they just stand around waiting to be shot or actually run at you when they're getting a belly full of lead.

Visually, it's stunning, but as I've written elsewhere, the key thing that BLACK offers over Killzone is the environmental destruction that can wrought and the very, very big explosions. In both BLACK and Killzone, the narrative is uncompelling, the gameplay linear and repetative and the enemy pretty unvaried. And you can't jump or climb (that that I think this is an issue).

However, I think the score of B is sound.

lack of jump/clamber ability makes for some truly ludicrous situations...never did figure out the grenade shooty bit for the riot gear squad, just gooned them I guess...

I've never really had a problem with the lack of jump. In BLACK, the edge of the game world is often defined by low walls or ridges. You know you can't get past them, but they're not visually otrusive so you get the impression that the area is much more open. With a jump, those delimiters would have to be much more imposing - high walls and cliffs, which leave the area feeling very constricted

The grenade shooting thing - I really don't know how this could be done, as the grenades don't have a timer long enough for me to get a bead on them. Maybe I'm just s**t?

Best way to despatch the shield guys is to lob a grenade over their heads, so they either have to turn and run, so you shoot them in the back, or they get a back full of frag grenade while kepping the shield facing you. Alternatively, if you have the luxury of time, just take cover where they don't try shooting you, ut you can see the top of their shield. They occassionally pop up to look. A few taps to the head, and their helmets fly off. After that, the next head shot does the trick.