BLACK Review: Is It Worth Playing?

What is BLACK?

BLACK is a first-person shooter developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts, released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game was positioned as a technical showcase for the ageing sixth-generation consoles, with its primary selling point being a relentless focus on destructible environments and particle effects. Criterion, better known at the time for the Burnout racing series, applied its engine expertise to the shooter genre, producing a title that prioritised spectacle over narrative depth. The story, such as it is, follows an unnamed special forces operative named Kellar, who is being interrogated about a series of black operations missions. The plot is delivered through brief, fragmented flashbacks and is widely regarded by critics as perfunctory. The game has no Metascore, which is unusual for a major release of that era; this absence likely stems from the fact that it was reviewed across two platforms and multiple regions, and the aggregated data was not consolidated into a single score on Metacritic. Regardless, critical consensus at the time was broadly positive, with most reviewers acknowledging the game’s technical ambition while noting its linearity and short campaign.

Gameplay

The core gameplay of BLACK is a straightforward, corridor-based military shooter. You progress through a series of linear missions, moving from one firefight to the next, with minimal exploration or player choice. The game offers a standard arsenal of period-appropriate weapons, including assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, and light machine guns, each with a secondary fire mode. The most distinctive mechanic is the emphasis on environmental destruction. Nearly every wall, crate, pillar, and piece of cover can be shot apart, and the game’s physics engine ensures that debris, dust, and smoke react convincingly to gunfire. This is not a tactical shooter in the vein of Rainbow Six; it is a pure action game where the primary verb is shooting, and the secondary verb is shooting at things until they collapse. Enemy AI is aggressive but simple, with soldiers frequently charging your position or taking cover behind objects that you can then destroy. The game features a health regeneration system, which was still relatively novel in 2006, allowing you to recover from near-death by staying out of fire for a few seconds. There is no reload button; weapons reload automatically when empty, which forces a constant rhythm of trigger discipline. The campaign is short, typically taking between six and eight hours to complete on the standard difficulty, and there is no multiplayer component. The only replay incentive is a higher difficulty setting and a collection of hidden intelligence files that unlock concept art.

Who is BLACK for?

BLACK is aimed squarely at players who value raw, visceral action over narrative or tactical depth. If you are the kind of player who enjoys the spectacle of gunfire, the crunch of collapsing concrete, and the constant feedback of muzzle flash and shell casings, this game was designed for you. It is not for players seeking a strategic military simulation, a rich story, or any form of cooperative or competitive online play. The game is also a historical artefact of the mid-2000s console generation, and as such, it will primarily appeal to retro gaming enthusiasts or those who wish to revisit a title that was once considered a benchmark for console graphics. For modern audiences accustomed to modern shooters with regenerating health, iron sights, and cover systems, BLACK will feel dated in its mechanics, but its destruction physics may still offer a novelty factor. The lack of a Metascore means that there is no single aggregated critical verdict to point to, but contemporary reviews from outlets such as IGN and GameSpot consistently praised the gunplay and visuals while criticising the short length and lack of online features. Player reviews on forums and retro gaming communities generally echo this sentiment, describing it as a "tech demo with a gun" or a "good rental, not a purchase."

Graphics and performance

At the time of its release, BLACK was widely considered one of the best-looking games on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The technical achievement was significant because the game pushed both consoles to their limits, with a high polygon count, dynamic lighting, and, most impressively, real-time particle effects for smoke, fire, and debris. The destructible environments were not merely cosmetic; they were fully integrated into the gameplay, and the visual feedback of a wall crumbling under sustained fire was a major selling point. According to contemporary technical analyses, the game ran at an unstable frame rate, often dipping below 30 frames per second during intense firefights, but this was generally considered an acceptable trade-off for the visual fidelity on offer. The Xbox version was generally regarded as the superior port, with slightly better texture filtering and a more stable frame rate than the PlayStation 2 version. The audio design was equally praised, with loud, punchy weapon sounds and a dynamic soundtrack that intensified during combat. However, the game’s visual style was dark and grey, with a limited colour palette that some reviewers found monotonous. The character models and animations were serviceable but not exceptional, and the level design, while detailed, was linear and often visually repetitive. For a modern player, the graphics will obviously look dated, but the destruction physics remain a point of interest, and the game can still be run via emulation on PC with improved resolution and frame rate, though this is not an official feature.

Value for money

Assessing the value of BLACK in 2025 is complicated by its availability. The game was never re-released on modern platforms, and there is no digital version on current storefronts. As such, the only way to play it legally is to purchase a used physical copy for the PlayStation 2 or Xbox, or to emulate it. Used game prices vary widely depending on condition and region, but it is not a rare title, and it can typically be found for a modest price on second-hand markets. However, the value proposition is poor for most modern players. The campaign is short, there is no multiplayer, and the mechanics have not aged gracefully. The only real value is historical or nostalgic. For a collector, owning a copy of BLACK is a reasonable purchase, as it represents a notable milestone in console graphics development. For a player who simply wants a fun shooter, the money would be better spent on a modern title with more content. The absence of a Metascore means there is no aggregated critical rating to use as a purchasing guide, but the general consensus from player reviews is that the game was a showcase of technology rather than a lasting piece of game design. If you find a copy for under ten pounds, it might be worth the price of curiosity. If the seller is asking for more, it is not a justifiable expense.

Verdict

BLACK is a game that is best understood as a technical demonstration. It succeeded in its primary goal: showing what the PlayStation 2 and Xbox could do with a shooter engine that prioritised destruction and particle effects. As a piece of software, it is a competent but shallow action game with a short campaign and no lasting multiplayer appeal. The lack of a Metascore is a quirk of aggregation, but the critical consensus of the time, as recorded in contemporaneous reviews, was that this was a visually impressive but mechanically thin experience. For a retro enthusiast, it is worth a look to see how far the genre has come. For a general player, it offers little that modern shooters do not do better. It is a museum piece, not a living game. If you can play it cheaply or via emulation, it is a curiosity worth a few hours. If you are looking for a substantial, replayable shooter, you should look elsewhere. The game’s legacy is secure as a milestone in graphics, but its gameplay has not stood the test of time. I would not recommend it as a purchase, but I would recommend it as a historical footnote for those interested in the evolution of the genre.