Mark sits on the fence in the FPS war...

Claiming to redefine any genre, let alone one as crowded as the first-person shooter, is always bold – but it’s an aspiration Blacksite shouts about proudly. In truth, that’s a task which just got even harder following the release of this week’s seminal BioShock, though Blacksite is nonetheless going to have a darn good shot at shifting genre expectations itself this October.

‘Shot’ is in fact an apt description. More so than 2K’s game, which treads the ‘first-person adventure’ route, Blacksite will bring all-out guns-akimbo action to PC and next-gen consoles. FPS fans should get ready for Gears of War meets Starship Troopers in Blacksite's high-intensity HD alien ass-kicking FPS offering.

Gears of War in the sense that, like Epic’s game, Blacksite utilises the Unreal Engine 3 to polished effect; proffering a visceral, run-down presentation of yet another earth-set battle for humanity’s survival. Starship Troopers because, in Blacksite, the enemies would appear to be alien insects of various species, all hell bent on one thing and one thing only – obliterating the human race.

On the surface, then, Blacksite, doesn’t appear to stray too far from either shooter or sci-fi cliché. However, Blacksite’s story should go beyond the norm – proving, at least partially, allegorical for modern day America’s foreign policy in recent years. Early levels will see players in Iraq looking for WMD’s, but finding a whole different sort of threat and uncovering a government conspiracy of enormous proportions. Blacksite may be an all-out shooter, then, but it’s not a brainless run and gun fest by any means.

And that should probably be no surprise because, at the helm of Blacksite’s ambitious FPS project is Harvey Smith, a man who’s worked on that still-renowned bastion of PC gaming quality Deus Ex, which won universal Millennium Game Of The Year awards. Likewise, Blacksite’s writing team also worked on BioShock stunning story, making comparisons between the two titles all the more valid.

Spiritual sequel

Another Bioshock comparison also rings true for Blacksite; like 2K’s game, Blacksite is itself something of a spiritual sequel. Blacksite’s team is largely comprised of those who created 2005’s acclaimed PS2 and Xbox shooter Area 51 – indeed, Blacksite even had ‘Area 51’ as a subtitle not too long ago – and under Smith’s guidance Blacksite can surely only improve the fun of its forerunner’s cinematic E.T.-exploding escapades.

The Blacksite demo currently available on Xbox Live would allude to this, without really giving too much away. It’s barely ten minutes long and suffers from an oft-juddering framerate, but even this short sneak peak proves Blacksite has huge potential.

Said demo sees imposing semi-robotic insectile bipeds skulk imposing figures as bullets ricochet and barrels explode on a typical US garage forecourt, then downed foes crawl towards you with suicidal intent, hoping but to take you with them in an explosive , shrieking shower of sparks. It’s the end of the demo that drops jaws the most though, as an enormous clam-like entity crashes down through a building before you in slow-motion, sending ripples through the air before it begins to move. ‘Oh my God’ says your squadmate. Quite.

The squad in Blacksite look like playing an integral part of the game, bringing both emotional resonance as you bond with them through the game, and delivering Blacksite’s innovative squad gameplay, with players pressing the right bumper to issue orders, and the squad adapting wherever you send them – be it taking cover behind walls, blowing up doors or attacking foes. Add a co-op mode and online multiplayer suite on top and Blacksite should have no problem punching its FPS weight, on paper at least.

Timing

The biggest problem for Blacksite, though, might be timing. Living in Bioshock’s shadow as well as following hot on the heels of a little game by the name of Halo 3, Blacksite might be overlooked by the FPS crowd – while at the same time falling victim to the typical Christmas glut of great games. Time will tell, but Blacksite certainly looks a promising dark horse.

Preview by: Mark Scott
Version Tested: Xbox 360
Preview Published: 22.08.07