The world of Black is utterly destructible. This action- packed first person shooter, which hails from Criterion Games in Guildford, delivers unprecedented punch, with relentless gun battles that leave entire levels reduced to little more than smouldering rubble and twisted steel.

Black was conceived as a series of Hollywood-style shoot-outs with cinematic trimmings. So it looks good, sounds great and is totally over-the-top. The game even opens up with movie-like credits accompanied by a stirring score recorded by the Hollywood Studios Symphony Orchestra. To add some semblance of plot to the action, a storyline has been added, involving the counter- terrorist Black Ops unit in which players serve.

The key word here is intense, so no sooner do you appear in a level than your enemies are using you for target practice. The environments are chaotic, packed with everything from burning cars to buildings with their walls blown off. Even hiding behind vehicles or concrete slabs will not provide much protection from your enemy’s relentless firepower. Weapons, bullets and health packs lie amid the ruins to be collected along the way.

The graphics teem with detail and even look impressive on the ageing PS2. As the entire game is played at fever-pitch, you soon find yourself looking forward to the next mission briefing, if only for a chance to catch your breath. The only mystery to Black is why there is no multiplayer mode, since such intense battle settings would make for great competitive bouts.

TIM WAPSHOTT