Black & White Review (no fat)

Game Description

Peter Molyneux can be credited with the attempt to bring the gods to the small screen. Black & White allows players to step into the almighty boots of a god or goddess and wield the powers to create, sustain and destroy anyone or anything. Being god is no walk in the park though; you have to make tough calls and decide the fate of your subordinates

As god, you have a hand in everything whether it's helping your worshippers thrive, unleashing your wrath on the ones that stray, controlling the elements, helping crops grow, bringing forth natural disasters and so on. This is where your sound judgment and temperament comes into play. A god with a short fuse will end up zapping everyone. Your ultimate goal is to become the most powerful god in the entire Black & White world. To do so, you must perform miracles and accumulate a mass of loyal worshippers.

The game combines elements of role play, strategy and simulation to provide a rich fare that's both entertaining and challenging.

Black & White Gameplay

You start off by coaxing the citizens of a small village to convert and accept you as their god. You can achieve this by either being benevolent and helpful towards the villagers or by plainly terrorizing them into giving in.

The process of converting a village can be slow and requires a lot of good judgment. The noble approach is to help villagers thrive by using your powers, shower them with wealth and sustenance or protect them from the elements or enemies. You can also go the negative route and instill fear in their hearts by terrorizing them with your mighty powers. The wake of destruction that the second option brings forth might be quick but it takes up a good amount of time and effort trying to restore a village that has faced your wrath.

Once you gain the faith of a village, you move on to the next one and continue your quest in building a loyal follower base.

Since God is intangible and all encompassing, the game displays a godly hand that you can control to access objects, and use or abuse them. Pick up and drop a villager at a strategic location like a forest or fertile land and they adapt to their surroundings and begin developing the area for you. By providing opportunities, you gain more disciples. Proper strategizing can help a village thrive and keep villagers happy and secure.

Black & White Avatars

An element of fun that the developers have incorporated into the game is the presence of magical creatures that serve as an avatar for gods. You get to choose your creature, each having it's own distinct set of characteristics…after you've found your way around Black & White and played for a bit. These creatures can be programmed to exhibit godly behaviors and they possess the ability to learn as they grow.

Gamers will relish watching them grow from aimless creatures to incredibly efficient creatures capable of taking decisions and unleashing their own miracles. As each god has a creature of his own, there exists animosity between the beasts which could result in the occasional skirmishes that are treat to watch.

The creatures range from an Ape (smart and quick), Cow (smart, yet lazy), Gorilla (strong fighter but greedy), Lion (rare but probably the best creature overall) and so on. The AI is so good that creatures can also take on the moods of the player. Treat your creature well and guide it properly and it will gain popularity and grow to be noble and benevolent…mistreating the creature will mean that the creature will develop into a mean avatar…unleashing his fury on your people consequently.

The game has a steep learning curve owing to the fact that it's a game of godly proportions and is as complex as they come. However, you can easily find your way around after a few entertaining hours of exploring the gorgeously detailed terrains of Black & White.

Black & White Controls

The mouse is your best friend during gaming; as almost every action is performed using the mouse. Your ‘hand’ can pick up and drop almost anything and this is prompts various actions. Magic spells (miracles) are also unleashed using the mouse and by tracing out predefined patterns on the screen - just like magicians conjuring spells.

Black & White Graphics & Sound

Translating a game of mammoth proportions into pixels is no mean feat. Molyneux and crew poured in heart and soul to ensure that the game is as visually appealing as it is seamless in gameplay. The highlight of the graphical aspects of this game is the special effects that are the results of magical spells cast by the gods.

The creatures and other sprites exhibit a wide range of facial expressions and characteristics. The vistas are huge, and the strategic use of lighting, shading and texture mapping provide some breathtaking visuals.

The sound effects are great but overall sound takes a back seat to the rich graphics that Black & White boasts.

Black & White Summary

Black & White is the perfect opportunity to let fantasy take over. Peter Molyneux and Co. have taken their imaginations to unthinkable levels and translated it into a computer game of epic proportions that defied conventions. The game sets huge expectations and delivers well at the same time, exploring multiple genres of gaming and being a potpourri of the best each one has to offer.

Incredible graphics and addictive gameplay are the backbone of the game and these two elements combine to ensure that the game doesn't gather dust in your shelf. Black & White does take a while to get used to but the thought that has gone into the game and it's implementation are tight and players will definitely be motivated to move on and on until they crack the game.

A breathtaking experience that goes by the name - Black & White.

Black & White Cost

Black & White retails at $9.99US at the time of writing.