Developer(s) Lionhead Studios Publisher(s) EA Games, Feral Interactive (Mac) Designer(s) Peter Molyneux, Russell Shaw (composer) Genre(s) Real-time strategy, God game Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer Rating(s) ESRB: T (Teen) ELSPA: 11+ PEGI: 12+ Well, this is my review on the 2001 game, Black and White. Enjoy. I first played this game 5 years ago on my Windows 98 computer, and I reinstalled it (original disc) two months ago, which brought back a lot of memories. I want to play Black and White 2, but unfortunately it's not for sale here, something about people copying the game disc and whatnot (my brother actually was going to), and I was bummed that the DS version got cancelled, it looked awesome. Basically, Black & White is a "god" game, where you are a god or spirit watching the world from above, controlling a pet, which does your bidding (most of the time). This is for the first ever game I've ever seen that has a genre called God game. In different "worlds", there are different islands with people or believers, that worship you, and build and do your bidding for their villages, as well as help support the temple, the main place you go to to save, check stats and more. There's more than one god, there's good gods and evil gods. You yourself (being a new god), will be guided along the start of the game by your two consciences, a Demon type spirit, and a Angel or Old man spirit (much like you see in cartoons etc. when someone has to make a decision). They argue with each other, the demon spirit is a lot more vicious, while the old man is more kind and gracious. Each god gets their own creature or pet, which you train and nurture, so it will do you what you say. You get a pet near the start of the game, there's a selection between a ape (I chose the ape), a cow, and a tiger. Later on, or in different patches of the game, you can choose more pets to select. There is also an ogre, but you can only get it from installing a hack to the game itself. When you first get the pet, it dislikes you and is frustrated, as you feed it and walk it around, it gets used to you, and starts becoming more friendly and then it does more of what you tell it to do. If your creature is being bad, you can actually interact with it, and smack it with your mouse for disclipine, or if you want your pet to eat something and it's hungry, rub the stomach while it's eating or starting to eat. To move the pet, you need to have a leash on you and attach it to the pet. There's different types of leashes, the one you choose to use and move around with will change it's mood accordingly. Eventually, your pet will get hungry, so you have to feed it stuff like grains, if it's tired, let it go to sleep. If it's eaten too much food, it will do a poo of some kind, I actually collect all of the poo behind the temple, there's a lot. All this is possible, thanks to the game's complex and detailed AI structure. The aim of the game or level is to take over every village on the island on your level. This is achievable by doing good things for the villagers to make them pray for you, the God. Graphics are great for a 7 year old game, great textures used. Characters look nice, sure, it may look bad compared to today's games, but the environment is quite clean for it's time. The temple menus aren't too bad, sort of worse than the outside of the world. Also, the villagers don't look that great either, the creature or pet and the consciences are the best formed, as they are the ones that are most tended to and looked at. Objects such as rocks, and trees are actually quite good too. The graphics are just superb for it's time. Sound and music is all right, not much actual music, but the sound effects are awesome, such as picking up trees and rocks, dropping them, and of course the creature sounds. Go to interact, they make awesome, real sounding noises, like when you rub the ape's stomach, it sounds like a real happy monkey of some kind. Also, occasionally (mostly at night), you'll find some creepy girl (you can't see her) will suddenly whisper "Death..". Chilly! It was when I was younger. Gameplay is great, easy to navigate with the mouse or even the keyboard sometimes, you can use the scroll of your mouse to move around a lot easier, you can move your pet by clicking on the map anywhere you want to go, judging it's in your allowed area (this will be explained later). You can pick up trees and rocks yourself with your hand as well as people, and throw them accordingly to your push back, the faster and farther you swing your hand back and then let go, the farther the thrown object will go. Temple navigation is a bit rusty, as well as keyboard (although it's not meant to be used too much), but you get used to it. I tend to use the keyboard for shortcuts to wonders or moves and other options. To proceed through with the game's main storyline, there are things called scrolls. These are missions of all sorts, which you click to start or accept the mission. Only Gold scroll missions will continue you on with the story, Silver scrolls are basically side or optional missions, which can give you a lot of benefits and new things, so it's best to do as much as you can in your area before moving on. There's also things called Wonders, they are orb type things will allow you and your pet to do spells, such as restore crops and grains, and throw fireballs, and heal your pet's health and more. The more times your pet uses wonders, the more experienced they will be in using them, thus increasing the benefit of the wonder used. Wonders are found from doing missions (story or optional) and then eventually you will get stands placed at your temple, which generate unlimited wonder orbs in an amount of time, so you will never run out. Battling is awesome, when you fight against another pet or creature etc., with your pet, you enter a battle mode, it zooms up on the two pets, with a circle for the ring. You do various motions and clicks with your mouse to make your pet do various things, like low shots, high shots, block, and more. If your pet ever gets too tired or runs out of energy, they will faint, don't worry, they don't die, they simply return to their respective temple. You always know what to do, as you can easily find out in your temple room, and also your consciences explain everything you need to know as you come to them. All in all, I think this is a pretty good game. Not many people have heard about it, but it's a sure winner, although most people have heard of Black and White 2. I am hoping to get Black and White 2 as well as the expansion in fair enough time, whether it be buying it, or ahem.. It has gotten various awards for Gamespy, Cnet, and PC World, including many other magazines and groups. Now, onto the scores! Presentation: 9/10 - Everything is laid out good, you always know what to do, options and menus and features are easy to navigate Graphics: 8.5/10 - Graphics are great for it's time, everything is nearly top-notch, only the villagers and temples and whatnot are a bit of lower standard Sound: 7/10 - Sound is good, there's a lot of great sound effects, as well as the voice talking of the consciences, too bad there wasn't enough music and tunes Gameplay: 9.5/10 - Gameplay is easy and effective, easy battling as well. Only keyboard functions are a bit lacking, but that's all the flaws of the gameplay. Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10 - This game is fun and enjoyable to play over and over again, I mean come on, who doesn't like throwing random villagers into the water, and causing havoc to your village? TOTAL: 43/50 - All in all, this game is amazing, it's a recommended one by Anandjones, remember 39 and over folks! Thank you, cheers! PS: It was very hard to find good images, as you can tell, black and white Also, Lionhead made Fable right? If you like it, there's your proof that this game is good (one reason).
Nicely done Anand. Like you said, I have never heard of this game. Since you recommend it, I'll have to buy it or ahem... Looks interesting. How long until you actually 'beat' the game?
Hmm, about a month, including sidequests and whatnot and countless hours of terrorizing villagers. This was on and off, one day I would play Black and White, another I would play Age of Empires 2 or something.
I can see why some people hate it, it requires a lot of patience, my little brother dreaded it. The cows aren't the only things that will surprise you
I've heard of this game a while back though, it souned like a first person shooter to me o.o CORRECTION: I saw Black and White 2 at Comp USA
I actually fell in love with this game when I first saw it on an old games preview show. The notion of becoming a God & abuse your followers if you wished (& I still do) made my fiendish heart leap in rapture. Alas, I didn't have a PC then so Boohoo :'( . Now that I do, I look for this game on local stores, even on the dark alleys of Quiapo, Piracy Capital of Manila to no avail, so Boohoo to me again. :'( I friggin' love this game!!
I actually have this game but it didnt work too great on my old computer. Maybe I should re-install it and play ig again. Its awesome from the little I played it. Great review man.
love this game!!! and nice review by the way....i think im going to play it again....ok w8 im jst gonna install it again, tnx for making me come back to this game again! peace out! ;D
