The storyline in this game is almost forgettable with all you need to know being how to pull the trigger and how to let off explosives. It's fantastic, violent excitement all the way with deaths galore.

However, just so you know, you play Jack Keller, a special black ops agent charged with infiltrating terrorist groups across the world, with each outfit sorted out bringing a new twist and the next mission.

Black, essentially, is the best first person shooter that's been made for the Playstation 2 and is as good as many of the FPS games that have come out on the Xbox. Quite a feat.

It would seem that this far into the life of the PS2 the programmers have worked out how to utilise the machine's capabilities and the end product is a seamless, graphically spectacular pleasure to play.

The frame rate is constant throughout play even when a thousand things are happening on the screen and this is something I have not come across on the PS2. The excellent graphics are backed up by equally excellent sound effects and, although there is one resounding noise - gunfire - you feel engulfed in a war zone throughout.

One criticism is that the game is shorter than expected and only lasts a matter of hours. However, once you have completed it, you will want to play it again, even just to find that hidden rocket launcher on level three.

Tacticians are well catered for with many levels involving scenes where stealth and intelligence are called in to play if you wish to employ such skills. Alternatively, you can just continue with the game plan and blow the hell out of everything.

Black really is a brilliant game and sheer bliss to play. I have completed it twice and am currently halfway through my third attempt.

One final note is that the control system is more responsive and easier to get used to than on any other FPS I have played.

You end up being completely engulfed by the experience. Once you've played Black, there's no going back.

Graphics: 5/5

Sound: 5/5

Gameplay: 5/5

Gamespan: 4/5

Overall: 5/5