Black & White
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| B&W Externals |
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If you haven't heard of Black & White I guess you're not much of a gamer, but that's okay. Even if you don't usually play games you should get this one. If you've never played computer games, this is one to start with. The only problem is that other games might seem pale and uninspired in comparison :-) ... Black & White takes place in Eden, and you assume the role of a god called to the world by the people's prayers. From there on, things are pretty much up to you. The people's belief is the source of your power, but if you get it by being a benevolent, helpful god, or by being a wicked and evil god is up to you. Both ways, and everything inbetween, works as well. For once the world really adapts to you instead of the other way round. Be a good god and your world will be bright and happy, with rolling green fields, blue skies and happy people. Be evil and the world becomes dark and twisted, with the people living in fear on charred ground. The transition goes on all the time, your every action is part of it, and it's completely seamless.
The people will get on with their lives even if you ignore them, but they'll of course do better with a bit of help. There are two resources they need, food and wood, and wood seems to be the one that runs out most often. That's fixed with a few quick miracles every now and then (or very often if you listen to the people's needs too carefully).
The usage of miracles clearly shows the amount of thought that has gone into the interface. Catering for both beginners and more hardcore players, everything in the game can be done using the mouse exclusively, but also by using keyboard hotkeys. All movement can be done without even looking at the keyboard, by using the left mouse button and the edges of the screen. I feel that the movement is more convenient with some support from the arrow keys though. But even with hotkeys available, the mouse way of using miracles is the right, and coolest, one. So, how to cast a miracle? Simple, just make the right gesture with your mouse! Does it get smarter? And things like that are just the beginning ...
Unlike what I thought about Soldier of Fortune, people have really lived and breathed Black & White while creating it. Not only that, they've also taken their time to get everything right, to make everything shine. Black & White really feels finished, in the most positive way possible, it really is what Peter and the others wanted it to be. They've put so much into it, so many things for you to discover. Even things that don't affect the game at all, that are just there for your enjoyment.
Like one of the most bewildering and almost frightening moments I've ever experienced in my life of playing computer games. While playing the tutorial, there was suddenly a dark male voice saying "Fredrik" behind me! My heart almost stopped! I mean, it was even in proper Swedish pronounciation! Surely something like that can't happen in an English game, even if it's all dubbed (still haven't decided if I want to send for an English version instead by the way). A visit to the Lionhead Black & White forum revealed that the game appearantly has 50 common names recorded by the voice actors, just for the sake of scaring people who happen to play with one of those names written in. It's there, just for the sake of it, and so much more effective than any other surprise effect has ever been. That's what I call polish beyond the call of duty! Others have gone on about the playing-multiplayer-with-the-local-weather-function, or the Creature-dances-to-mp3-function, so I'll spare you that ...
Oh yes, I haven't mentioned the Creatures yet! Even if every single preview and review has them in it I can't really write about the game without mentioning them. A Creature is an animal you adopt and train to help you with your tasks. Anything you can do, it can learn. Plus you'll become attached to your Creature like you won't believe :-). You train your creature by showing it how to do things, and by slapping or patting it. I prefer patting myself :-) ... Creatures very clearly show how they feel and what they want, and they change physically as well. They get wounds that heal and leave scars (you can tattoo them as well), they grow larger and fatter or thinner depending on how much and what food they get. My own ape had a period of some overweight, think he had too many sheep, but otherwise he's been pretty fit. Still haven't been able to teach him to throw rocks properly though, gave up my last attempt when he got annoyed and started throwing villagers instead. A few slaps got him out of that, and now he prefers to just pick them up and pat them gently. Good boy (scratches lovingly behind ears)!
Being as massive as it is, Black & White takes some time to get into, and it certainly isn't a game that rewards people who just rush for the end. This is a game of slow, enjoyable playing, taking in every moment, watching the sunsets and taking your Creature for a walk in the fields. This is the big mother of engrossing virtual worlds, the first game in a long time that I feel I want to play just for the joy of it, not for getting to the end. Actually, I want that end to be very far off ...
