Criterion's Black - Explosive New Screens

The Burnout developer turns its sights on the tired FPS genre and leaves everyone and everything a little shaken. New screens and direct feed video included.

The driving genre was a decidedly more staid beast before developer Criterion's Burnout series came along and rammed sparks and adrenaline into our brains, so just imagine what the team can do with a first person shooter.

Black does for the omnipresent shooter what Burnout did for its genre: the idea is boiled down to its core and then pumped up with Criterion's signature approach to game design.

To be sure, there is a story. You play as the leader of a Special Forces outfit sent into Eastern Europe on a predictably dangerous. But that's where the subtlety ends.

Criterion has looked to the best and most violent that Hollywood action movies have to offer for inspiration and ripped out all the newer introductions to the FPS genre that have given it a more sedentary feel. Gone are the stealth bits and any semblance of squad tactics and in their stead is an unashamed adoration for flying lead.

Every shot you fire will have an effect on the fully destructible environments, which you'll be able to use to overpower hapless enemies.

Black has been causing tidal waves since its behind-closed-doors debut at this year's E3. You'll be able to see for yourself if all the hyperbole is warranted when the game hits Xbox and PlayStation 2 in early 2006.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games