Black: Second Mission

LewieP · December 2008

Some guy with a blog noticed a listing for "Black: Second Mission" on Criterion's web site, for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

[URL=http://x360playdiary.blogspot.com/2008/12/criterion-black-sequel.html]Xbox 360 play diaries[/URL] wrote:

Criterion Games are best known for their Burnout series however a few years back they produced a game for the Xbox and Ps2 known as Black this FPS managed to get rave reviews even though it came from a company with little or no FPS background.

Well over on Criterion games website a listing has been noticed stating a game for release in 2009 known as Black: Second Mission which stands a very good chance of being Black's sequel.

This game is scheduled for release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Although this is yet to be confirmed or denied by Criterion is stands a good chance of being real seeing as it was posted on their own site.

More details as they come.

I've only just came back to this post to find comments asking for a source however when I went back to the Criterion website the listing had been removed. So as it goes this is still firmly just a rumor. Hopefully Criterion will make an announcement of some kind soon.

As a result of this I would like to apologize to all those who are looking for a source as of now there is no longer one.

This story has also been posted over at Eurogamer Portugal to show further proof.

I've been wanting this game ever since I played the first one.

For those of you who didn't play it, Black was one of the most solid FPSs released last generation. It looked and sounded incredible (OST by Chris Tilton). It really well paced, and you really felt like you were right in the middle of an action movie. It had very satisfying weapons, and was probably the most cinematic FPS I've played.

It had a few problems (sometimes it took a ridiculous amount of bullets to take one guy down), and it was pretty hard, but I loved it.

If you missed out on it first time around, it is on the Xbox originals.

Flippy_D · December 2008

Black had some very interesting concepts about sound design.

Bogart · December 2008

I seem to remember the final room was so incredibly difficult I just gave up. Up until then the game was great fun.

Faffel · December 2008

Black gave me a destruction boner, but I felt being on a console really brought it down for me. I suck at controller shooters and my TV is old and small with no sound system. I enjoyed it, but I really missed out.

Clint Eastwood · December 2008

It would just be super if they added in multiplayer this time around

The_Scarab · December 2008

Hopefully Criterion, burgeoning with Burnout Paradise cash, can make this a more polished affair. Black was so unique and interesting that a sequel is pleasing to me.

LewieP · December 2008

Cloudman wrote: »

It would just be super if they added in multiplayer this time around

Or even better - Just make the game as good as it can be in a way that they want to. For me, Multiplayer is not a requirement in the slightest, but if they think they can do something new and interesting with it, that would be great to.

To be honest, I don't think the first one would have been that conducive to good multiplayer. It was a fairly linear (albeit with branching paths) roller coaster ride. I can see how multiplayer would work. Maybe coop, but that would have a big impact on the atmosphere.

Clint Eastwood · December 2008

LewieP wrote: »

Cloudman wrote: »

It would just be super if they added in multiplayer this time around

Or even better - Just make the game as good as it can be in a way that they want to. For me, Multiplayer is not a requirement in the slightest, but if they think they can do something new and interesting with it, that would be great to.

To be honest, I don't think the first one would have been that conducive to good multiplayer. It was a fairly linear (albeit with branching paths) roller coaster ride. I can see how multiplayer would work. Maybe coop, but that would have a big impact on the atmosphere.

Well I'd trust more of Criterion's design decisions if they hadn't turned Burnout into Need For Speed Underground with prettier crashes. But that's just me. I enjoyed the first one of these games and will probably play this regardless of whether there's multi or not.

ginguskahn · December 2008

Coop would be good, but either way this is so bought.

Zoku Gojira · December 2008

Co-op would be cool. But I get the feeling versus multiplayer would just be more of Battlefield: Bad Company. No point to it, really.

The first Black was awesome, so I eagerly await the demo.

Waka Laka · December 2008

It's coming to PC? Sweet. I enjoyed the first despite the weird AI. The guns were so satisfying to fire. Black 2 needs more environments that are destructible and not scripted to be destructible. Oh and for the love of god I hope they don't do the "Leave the structure standing" crap like in Bad Company. If I want to level a building and fight amongst the rubble that's my choice.

Oh and lots of guns.

Zoku Gojira · December 2008

Waka Laka wrote: »

Black 2 needs more environments that are destructible and not scripted to be destructible.

You mean procedurally destructible?

Processing power has advanced in this generation, but it is still finite. Sorry.

Ziggymon · December 2008

Waka Laka wrote: »

It's coming to PC? Sweet. I enjoyed the first despite the weird AI. The guns were so satisfying to fire. Black 2 needs more environments that are destructible and not scripted to be destructible. Oh and for the love of god I hope they don't do the "Leave the structure standing" crap like in Bad Company. If I want to level a building and fight amongst the rubble that's my choice.

Oh and lots of guns.

I remember an interview just after Black came out saying this is what they wanted for a possible sequel.

Dr. Jeebus · December 2008

Is there a projected release date, or will this came out around the same time as Eternal Darkness 2 and Duke Nukem Forever?

Olivaw · December 2008

Black had an excellent engine, built specifically to allow the player to shoot things and have them blow up real good. It had some excellent sound design, technically proficient graphics, and a theme composed by Michael Giacchino

Black did not have a reasonable difficulty curve, or any pretense at all about increasing the difficulty beyond increasing enemy health and giving them armor that blocked your shots, nor did it have a story of any merit whatsoever, or an ending

I might buy this if I feel like shooting shit and there's no other first person shooter in the entire store, but not for full price. Not if certain shit don't get fixed in the transition

Waka Laka · December 2008

Zoku Gojira wrote: »

Waka Laka wrote: »

Black 2 needs more environments that are destructible and not scripted to be destructible.

You mean procedurally destructible?

Processing power has advanced in this generation, but it is still finite. Sorry.

I was thinking more...

Like this

Zoku Gojira · December 2008

After the devs played up "advances" made in the Geo-Mod system for Red Faction 2, I'll believe it when I see it in action in their third installment.

Waka Laka · December 2008

The Voilition team has doubled, and from all the positive beta feedback, I'd say they have.

major_tom · December 2008

As long as the guns in this one have their ejection ports on the correct side and don't all eject a hot stream of brass into my face whenever i'm firing, i'm there!

I kid, that's a fairly minor complaint. But it was an odd design decision.

Actually, one thing I really loved about Black was the way you couldn't even open doors, you just blasted them down with your shotgun.

FUCK YOU, DOOR!

LewieP · December 2008

The shell ejection was a specific design choice.

I think someone from Criterion said words to the effect of "We know it is not accurate, but it looks a lot more badass"

ginguskahn · December 2008

major_tom wrote: »

As long as the guns in this one have their ejection ports on the correct side and don't all eject a hot stream of brass into my face whenever i'm firing, i'm there!

I kid, that's a fairly minor complaint. But it was an odd design decision.

Actually, one thing I really loved about Black was the way you couldn't even open doors, you just blasted them down with your shotgun.

FUCK YOU, DOOR!

Yeah the ejection port thing bothers me as well :P It's like they pulled the left handed models from Counterstrike and just copied them.

I still enjoyed the game alot though.

PeregrineFalcon · December 2008

BLACK was really set in an alternate timeline where the majority of weapon designers shot left-handed. :P

Also, fuck yes I want some reckless destruction. Rocketing the fuel storages in the third (?) area and watching them go kaboom was awesome, even if it was blatantly scripted.

Iron Weasel · December 2008

I respect some of the decisions made in Black, like giving every gun in the game ridiculously deep magazines so you wouldnâ€™t need to reload except between fights. Too bad that I had to shoot every guy 12-18 times before he died; even headshots werenâ€™t particularly effective. Frankly, I think that they should have left the magazine sizes â€œnormalâ€ and put in three times as many bad guys with 90% less health. What I wanted to do was run around spraying weapons fire in all directions, reaping the reward of dozens of slain enemies. I was basically looking for a John Woo-style experience. Instead, every encounter was a chore, and the only time you got to do anything cool was when the script called for it. Ultimately, the game play was so annoying that it detracted from all the other good things, like the excellent weapon models and slick sound design.

If however the plan is to improve on those awful design decisions, than I may well give this look.

Airan · December 2008

I didn't like Black as much as I hoped. It felt really soulless. I understand the fact that the guns were the personalities of the game, but aside from their excellent firing sounds and animations, the general audio was just silent. There was no atmosphere, it was a linear trundle through a map where you can blow shit up, and it didn't even feel particularly fun at that. I played about halfway before my 360 red ringed and I never bothered to go back.

Wren · December 2008

Black was a fun shooter

Trevor · December 2008

I got Black recently. I imagine it would have been more impressive if I got it closer to release, it seems a little antiquated now. If they add some of the new FPS standards the sequel could be fun.

Wren · December 2008

Trevor wrote: »

I got Black recently. I imagine it would have been more impressive if I got it closer to release, it seems a little antiquated now. If they add some of the new FPS standards the sequel could be fun.

infinite health? tacticool cover system?

PeregrineFalcon · December 2008

Wren wrote: »

Trevor wrote: »

I got Black recently. I imagine it would have been more impressive if I got it closer to release, it seems a little antiquated now. If they add some of the new FPS standards the sequel could be fun.

infinite health? tacticool cover system?

Fist-pounding?

LewieP · December 2008

I liked that Black abandoned some of the typical FPS stuff.

I liked how it dealt with health. There were health Packs and first aid kits. First Aid kits were used automatically when you picked them up, whereas you would pick up health packs, and use them whenever you wanted/needed (you could carry up to 3).

I liked how when you reloaded, any bullets still in the clip were discarded.

Fawst · December 2008

Ahhh, if only the 360 had PhysX. They could do some absolutely insane brick building demolition. I rented Black when it came out, never got to finish it. I remember it being hard as hell, but the fun far outweighed the difficulty.

Wren · December 2008

PeregrineFalcon wrote: »

Wren wrote: »

Trevor wrote: »

I got Black recently. I imagine it would have been more impressive if I got it closer to release, it seems a little antiquated now. If they add some of the new FPS standards the sequel could be fun.

infinite health? tacticool cover system?

Fist-pounding?

totally, bra.

PeregrineFalcon · December 2008

LewieP wrote: »

I liked that Black abandoned some of the typical FPS stuff.

I liked how it dealt with health. There were health Packs and first aid kits. First Aid kits were used automatically when you picked them up, whereas you would pick up health packs, and use them whenever you wanted/needed (you could carry up to 3).

I liked how when you reloaded, any bullets still in the clip were discarded.

You played on Easy?

Airan · December 2008

I'm pretty sure Normal allowed 3 too, but it's been at least a year since I played.

Wren · December 2008

the riot shield guys. fuck them so hard

also that bridge level was the best bridge level in the history of bridge levels

Willybubba · December 2008

Yeah, Black. Really cool. Last room in the game was hard though. Had to play through it like 20 times or so, kept on dyin' almost near the end of it.

How's it in terms of backwards compatibility on the 360?

PeregrineFalcon · December 2008

Airan wrote: »

I'm pretty sure Normal allowed 3 too, but it's been at least a year since I played.

I think you're right, Easy/Normal allowed 3, Hard one, and Black Ops they were used on pickup. I'll fire it up at lunch if I remember, and check.

Wren wrote: »

also that bridge level was the best bridge level in the history of bridge levels

And I'll play the bridge level, of course.

"How the fuck do you plan on getting past all those swingin' dicks?"
"By asking them politely, how the fuck do you think?"

LewieP · December 2008

It's a while since I played too, but I am pretty sure you can always carry up to 3, but you only start off with 3 on easy.

I completed it up to the very last room on the hardest setting, but couldn't make it past there. It was made harder by the fact that the last level was very long, and you couldn't save mid level, although there was checkpoints.

Zoku Gojira · December 2008

First time I took incoming RPG fire in this game, I was hooked. That was done really well.

Not having a bullshit third-person "cover system" doesn't mean you can't take cover. You just have to do it the way people actually take cover in firefights. By crouching behind cover or sidestepping around it. No magical third-person views, no turning your back on the enemy.

Penny Arcade

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