Black (PS2 and Xbox)

[TheCracker]

I started on Easy level, but it's too damn boring. No objectives to complete, either. I'm worried about the last stage, though. I've read here it's tough.

I've only started up the game twice, and both times I had to sit through the long, boring intro video. Any way to shut that off, or click past it?

You should have started it on 'Normal' rather than 'Easy', its much more of a challenge. I'm on the last level at the moment and keep getting to the final room. But after a good, tough 1.5 hours shooting i can never quite finish it. I never have much time to play on my PS2 these days so opportunities to play for 2+ hours are few and far between.

No you can't switch the intros off unfortunately.

 

[Duke]

You can't switch off the "interview" bits, but the rest of the intro can be skipped by pressing Start or X.

I do like the relative simplicity of the controls, though I sometimes use health packs when I meant to reload. There are definite oddities to some of the weapons - why is the silenced Elite D10 so effective at long range? It should be useless - but overall it is very atmospheric and well thought out for such a linear game. My weapon of choice so far seems to be the AK47, though I've only used the M16 a little since I didn't have much ammo for it. The H&K MP5 gets the job done OK and is nice and quiet with a suppressor, but I'm not impressed by the Uzi yet. The SPAS 12 is fun, but I can't go toe to toe with one of the kevlar guys because they can outlast me at my rate of fire.

I've just finished the Asylum level on my first game (Normal difficulty). Normal seems just challenging enough without being too frustrating. The last room at the Asylum was kind of a pain in the butt because I only had 1 grenade left going into it. Once I figured out the strategy, I stopped getting my ass kicked by the shield guys in the middle, but it still took a lot of time hiding in corners and trying to pick off people from as far away as possible, while hoping no one was sneaking up behind. The shield guys really light you up unless you can rain grenadas on them.

So far I think I've shot 21000 bullets for 3100 kills, of which about 250 are head shots. I was doing better on my headshot percentage until we started all this indoor fighting.

I doubt I'll ever play this again, but I'm enjoying it so far. Docks are next.

 

[livemusic]

If I'm not mistaken you use health packs by pressing down on the d-pad, and X is the reload button. How do you mix them?

 

[Evolution.]

I'm still stuck on the stage after the Bridge .

 

[TheCracker]

So far I think I've shot 21000 bullets for 3100 kills, of which about 250 are head shots. I was doing better on my headshot percentage until we started all this indoor fighting.

I didn't know you got a break down of your stats anywhere. Where do you get these from?

I'm still stuck on the stage after the Bridge .

At what point are you stuck?

 

[Duke]

If I'm not mistaken you use health packs by pressing down on the d-pad, and X is the reload button. How do you mix them?

Actually, I meant 'change weapons', not 'reload'. If you have any up/down motion on the d-pad while you're switching, it will sometimes use a health pack.

I'm still stuck on the stage after the Bridge .

Stuck where? Have you completed that Bridge stage (gone up the hill to your right on the far side of the bridge) or are you still there? Are you in the next level where you start out in the cemetery?

[edit] Oh, wait. I didn't realize that there are TWO bridge sections. The one I'm talking about is apparently the first one, part of the Border Crossing group (which I enjoyed immensely). I've just finished the Asylum group and I'm about to move onto the Docks.

I didn't know you got a break down of your stats anywhere. Where do you get these from?

From the Pause screen, select Profile (maybe Options/Profile). It will tell you the name of the current save, what your elapsed playing time is, how many kills, most-used weapon, and how many headshots.

 

[Evolution.]

At what point are you stuck?

It's been so long, but I think I remember going down some stairs, going into this circular-like open area, and then getting anally raped without lube (ambushed, in other words) by a bunch of enemies. I promptly died and gave the controller to a friend.

 

[Gen.]

Is this game usable with a keyboard and mouse?

Because damn, FPS just don't work with joypads.

 

[Duke]

Is this game usable with a keyboard and mouse?

Because damn, FPS just don't work with joypads.

The control layout is actually very good and intuitive. The only problem I have is occasionally I waste a health pack when I was trying to switch weapons.

I used to play Quake 3 by having the keypad set up for movement on my left hand and mouselook with my right for aiming and most steering. So the analog sticks in Black are very familiar, and took little time to get used to. There aren't enough additional controls to make a keyboard necessary. I think it works great as is.

I played the Dockyards and second Bridge Crossing levels last night. I got through the Docks without getting killed (close, though), but it took me 3 tries to get across the bridge, and for stupid reasons, too.

First time, I cleared the whole bridge and got to the far end where the deck slopes up and you have to jump down. I ASSUMED since you obvously couldn't get back that this was a checkpoint, so when the inevitable ambush occurred I wasn't particularly careful to avoid getting killed. To my surprise I woke up back inbetween the two halves of the bridge.

Second time, I cleared the rest of the bridge again, and then went to gather supplies before moving to the last bit at the asylum entrance. A body I was looting had fallen over a landmine without expoding it somehow, so as soon as I walked over to get the ammo it exploded and killed me instantly from almost full health. Back to the middle again, with a worse attitude.

Third time across I made it all the way to the entrance, thanks to discovering the big supply of RPG rounds earlier on.

 

[Duke]

OK, I'm stuck and I need HELLLLLLLLLLP!

I'm in the Gulag level, after the long bridge level. I've cleared the stupid first building (with no roof and lots of holes between floors) about 6 times. I even cleared the big branch building that you get to by going through a shotgun door to your left in the second room.

I made it up to the top floor and traded the shotgun for the G-3something assault rifle, then spent some time picking off guys in the square below, and in the windows of the adjacent building. Then I went down one floor and absorbed an RPG shot so I could pick him off with the Walther sniper rifle sitting there.

After that I went back down to the basement to pick off a few new guys who had wandered in, and got the Minime M-249. After going back to the top level and killing everyone I could see, I finally went down that stair that leads down from the balcony to the street (which SHOULD be a checkpoint, but isn't) and fought my way through the big ambush there, locating the second Walther sniper gun.

Then you have to advance under a pedestrian bridge back towards the square with the Sovietski star on the big column. However, there's an RPG guy in one of the high, righthand windows of the facing building.

I stood my ground against his rockets and emptied the Walther into him, one shot at a time, right on the money, but I just can't get him. He LIGHTS ME UP with that rocket launcher, and I don't know where to knock him off from. They don't spawn until you get in range, so even if I know where he is I can't kill him till he appears.

Does anybody know where I'm talking about, and what to do to take him out?

Also, how many levels are there after this one?

 

[Solid Lifters]

Duke, I'm not sure if you figured it out yet, but I just got done playing that part of the level, and I figured out you need to aim right below him for the bottom of the window frame. It has explosives on it that will blow that RPG sucker with one shot. So does the machine gunner on the left. One shot, and all the windows blow.

However, I couldn't finish this part. I ran out of sniper bullets, (the morons only give you five rounds), and had 3 grenades at the start (which you know ain't enough) and my MP5 wasted an entire clip of ammo for one shotgun guy since they wont stop moving (and there are dozes of shotgun guys and several shielded guys). So, I had to quit and start all over again making sure I have enough grenades and kept the Magnum pistols you find near the start of this level.

Is there a checkpoint after this particular fight? I hate the idea of starting all over from the start if I don't make it past this part again.

UPDATE:

Well, I just finished the game. The last stage was ridiculous. At least I was able to kill half the men from the tunnel before the doors shut. After everything goes silent, I would inch forward, and enemies would flood into the area again. I started this last section with one and one-half health, a fully loaded 249 and MP5 and 9 grenades. I kept coming close to dying, but hung in there. At one point, I had four life bars left and had to Rambo it with three shielded guys. I don't know how I did it, but I held them off enough to snag some life packs and grenades and ammo. I made it to the far right room, which is not the room you want to be stuck in. Enemies can fall from the ceiling and nail you good, as well the door. But, somehow, I made it through, again. I cleared the two machine gun bunkers with two grenades, and killed one last regular enemy, and ran for the exit. Done.

Good game, but very frustrating at times. I checked to make sure I had the silver guns with infinity ammo, and I did. Hooray. No more searching for ammo. I'm not even gonna bother with Hard difficulty. I'll go through Easy level, just to finish it. After that, I doubt I'll ever play this game again.

 

[TheCracker]

Then you have to advance under a pedestrian bridge back towards the square with the Sovietski star on the big column. However, there's an RPG guy in one of the high, righthand windows of the facing building.

I stood my ground against his rockets and emptied the Walther into him, one shot at a time, right on the money, but I just can't get him. He LIGHTS ME UP with that rocket launcher, and I don't know where to knock him off from. They don't spawn until you get in range, so even if I know where he is I can't kill him till he appears.

Does anybody know where I'm talking about, and what to do to take him out?

Also, how many levels are there after this one?

You'll be pleased to know that you're on the final level. You'll be less pleased to know that you are about 1/3rd way through it at best (probably nearer a 1/4qtr) - and it gets much tougher.

I'm also struggling on this level, on the final room - meaning i've plenty of experience on this area you are stuck on.

When you approach the courtyard from the metal stairway, before you actually drop down into the courtyard, crouch down towards the bottom of the stairs and take out a few of the guys that will probably start shooting at you from the right (under the walkway). After that drop down and move to the right of the freestanding building infront of you, a couple of shotgun guys will shot the door down and start on you. When they shoot the door out, run back past the (broken) metal staircase you've just decended and towards the corner underneth the staircase. Theres a narrow passageway there where you can hide and take the guys out in relative safety. You'll probably find that 2 or 3 other guys will approach from the main courtyard too at this point, again take them out from this this safe heaven. When its gone quite, run back around to the freestanding building to collect any ammo and shoot the safe in the back corner. At this point i leave the building and carry on clockwise around to the far side of the building. I wait at this point and take out any other guys approaching me from under the walkway from a distance, you might also find theres a guy shooting at you from the building infront of you (slightly to the left, where you have previously shot the first RPG guy).

When it goes quiet again instead of running towards and underneth the walkway - head up the metal staircase that goes up to the walkway and through the doorway into the building where the original RPG guy was. By this time the second RPG guy who's been killing you so far will start firing at you, as long as you keep away from the main courtyard windows you'll not get hammered too much. Work your way up through this building, being careful to watch out for shotgun guys in close quarters and to avoid standing in one place too much and attracting RPG action. At the top of the internal staircase you'll find plenty of supplies and the RPG left by the first, dead, RPG guy. Use this to take out the second RPG guy across the main courtyard (he's in the window second down from the top on the far righthand side). There's some spare ammo for the RPG at the far end of the walkway

You'll then encounter plenty of those 'shield' guys when you try to cross the courtyard, but there's plenty of ammo and health packs to pick up before you reach the next check point. I've recently started to head back to the safety of the freestanding building after killing the 2nd RPG guy so i can take out the shield guys from a greater distance.

Hope this helps.

 

[Duke]

That will definitely help. Thank you very much for all the detail!

On my last go at it a few weeks ago, I did manage to kill the high RPG guy. I actually did it by advancing across the courtyard far enough to draw his first shot, then retreating to the groundlevel building with the safe in it. There's a Walther rifle there, and once you've gotten the RPG guy to spawn, you can take him out with the heavy sniper gun.

I also managed to clear the tall building and get the RPG you're referring to, but I didn't make it to the checkpoint. I got killed crossing the courtyard when I was surprised by a Shotgun Guy and accidentally shot him with the RPG at close range...

I didn't know about that little passage way - that sounds very useful and I'll use it I'm sure.

My problem now is finding a 2-3 hour window when I can sit down and crank through the whole last level. That's going to take a while. Thanks for all your help - I'll post back if I have any news to report.

 

[Solid Lifters]

After completing this level, I can tell you for certain you can kill every single guy on the very last stage of this level without ever going into the room and having the final doors shut behind you. I've done it twice, now. Make sure you aim for items that explode to take guys out with one shot. They're all over the place. You can even aim above their heads for the big concrete pillars and big chunks will fall off and land on their heads killing them instantly.

The trick is to move into the room at an inch at a time, and more enemies will come each time. The trick is also to wait a minute or two before moving again. Turn the sound up so you can here them coming from a distance. And don't forget, there are two shotgun guys waiting behind and to the far right and left of the doorway on the first level. A grenade tossed into each corner kills them easily. If you inch forward correctly, you'll be able to grab the grenades and health pack directly in front of you before the doors close on you.

 

[TheCracker]

My problem now is finding a 2-3 hour window when I can sit down and crank through the whole last level.

Same here, i must get about 2 hours a week these days when i have oppotunity to get on the PS2. I'll work my way through the last level then perish right at the end - i've been doing that since the begining on December.

After completing this level, I can tell you for certain you can kill every single guy on the very last stage of this level without ever going into the room and having the final doors shut behind you. I've done it twice, now. Make sure you aim for items that explode to take guys out with one shot. They're all over the place. You can even aim above their heads for the big concrete pillars and big chunks will fall off and land on their heads killing them instantly.

The trick is to move into the room at an inch at a time, and more enemies will come each time. The trick is also to wait a minute or two before moving again. Turn the sound up so you can here them coming from a distance. And don't forget, there are two shotgun guys waiting behind and to the far right and left of the doorway on the first level. A grenade tossed into each corner kills them easily. If you inch forward correctly, you'll be able to grab the grenades and health pack directly in front of you before the doors close on you.

Thanks for the tip 👍 - i usually wait in the doorway, probably picking off 30 or so guys before heading in to the room, by this stage the enemies seemed to have stopped spawning. I guess i'll have to wait a little longer next time. Will the RPG and bunker guys begin attacking even before you fully enter the room? - i presumed they were triggered by progressing past a certain point.

 

[livemusic]

After completing this level, I can tell you for certain you can kill every single guy on the very last stage of this level without ever going into the room and having the final doors shut behind you. I've done it twice, now. Make sure you aim for items that explode to take guys out with one shot. They're all over the place. You can even aim above their heads for the big concrete pillars and big chunks will fall off and land on their heads killing them instantly.

The trick is to move into the room at an inch at a time, and more enemies will come each time. The trick is also to wait a minute or two before moving again. Turn the sound up so you can here them coming from a distance. And don't forget, there are two shotgun guys waiting behind and to the far right and left of the doorway on the first level. A grenade tossed into each corner kills them easily. If you inch forward correctly, you'll be able to grab the grenades and health pack directly in front of you before the doors close on you.

In what difficulty level did you do this? If it's on easy there should be less enemies to fight.

I've tried that tactic several times with no luck, so I decided to turn on 'rambo' mode and after a few tries I managed to finish the game. That was on normal level.

 

[Solid Lifters]

In what difficulty level did you do this? If it's on easy there should be less enemies to fight.

I've tried that tactic several times with no luck, so I decided to turn on 'rambo' mode and after a few tries I managed to finish the game. That was on normal level.

Yeah, it was on easy. I wasn't aware there were less enemies. Didn't seem like it to me. LOL

I kept running back and forth up the stairs when things got "heavy" so maybe inching forward all over again made them come to me before the doors closed.

Even if you don't get to kill ALL the men, it's a great tactic to use and shows you can pretty much stay out of the room to get this level done. Maybe I'll retry this in Normal mode and see what happens.

 

[TheCracker]

Even if you don't get to kill ALL the men, it's a great tactic to use and shows you can pretty much stay out of the room to get this level done. Maybe I'll retry this in Normal mode and see what happens.

Maybe it works differently in Easy mode. I'm doing it in normal mode where you seem to run out of spawned enemies if you just stay out of the room. It would seem to me that the bunkers jump into action either by passing a certain point or by passing a certain timescale or more likely a bit of both.

My usual tactic has been to kill as many guys from standing in the doorway (or a little way back from) then running up the stairs to the walkway and camping out in one of the two rooms whilst trying to kill all who chased me up there. By this time the bunkers and RPGs will be active and i'm generally pretty beaten up as well. It's just a shame it takes such a long time to get to this point in the level.

 

[livemusic]

There's two more doors near the bunkers, you should try to get there after you get all the stuff there's up the stairs. It's a good place to kill the RPG guys and the bunkers guys.

 

[TheCracker]

There's two more doors near the bunkers, you should try to get there after you get all the stuff there's up the stairs. It's a good place to kill the RPG guys and the bunkers guys.

I've tried that method as well but usually get hammered by all the guys dropping through the ceilings. Those rooms are too small to try to defend yourself from two sides.

 

[Duke]

Hoo boy. Thanks for all the information, guys! I'm playing on Normal difficulty, BTW.

 

[Duke]

OK, I made some progress, but thanks to the LOOOONG checkpoint intervals, I didn't finish the game and I'm going to need more 3-hours sessions.

I cleared the first series of buildings in the Gulag level, then managed to cross the courtyard and get inside. Checkpoint 1 reached, finally. It only took me 2 tries to clear the big prison room with all the catwalks (though I didn't go up much on the balconies; can you even get there?) and get into the corridors beyond (Checkpoint 2).

I was at pretty much full health, with 3 packs in reserve, a full load of ammo for the MP5 and the BFG I'm carrying, and 9 grenades.

I made it through the underground railway area (the first time) and across the 'unofficial' checkpoint formed by the rickety wooden catwalks over the sewer (I assume you can't get back across those, because you jump down). I even managed to kill the Magnum/shield guys at the next mid-sized room.

Then I came up against the narrow corridor where you have to go down a sloping tunnel, and there are two machine-gun emplacements that can hit you before you can get a bead on them. I tried throwing a bunch of grenades, but couldn't get them far enough down the hall.

Any thoughts for this bit? I tried getting back there, but I was too tired and didn't make it. TIA...

 

[TheCracker]

OK, I made some progress, but thanks to the LOOOONG checkpoint intervals, I didn't finish the game and I'm going to need more 3-hours sessions.

I cleared the first series of buildings in the Gulag level, then managed to cross the courtyard and get inside. Checkpoint 1 reached, finally. It only took me 2 tries to clear the big prison room with all the catwalks (though I didn't go up much on the balconies; can you even get there?) and get into the corridors beyond (Checkpoint 2).

I was at pretty much full health, with 3 packs in reserve, a full load of ammo for the MP5 and the BFG I'm carrying, and 9 grenades.

I made it through the underground railway area (the first time) and across the 'unofficial' checkpoint formed by the rickety wooden catwalks over the sewer (I assume you can't get back across those, because you jump down). I even managed to kill the Magnum/shield guys at the next mid-sized room.

Then I came up against the narrow corridor where you have to go down a sloping tunnel, and there are two machine-gun emplacements that can hit you before you can get a bead on them. I tried throwing a bunch of grenades, but couldn't get them far enough down the hall.

Any thoughts for this bit? I tried getting back there, but I was too tired and didn't make it. TIA...

You've progressed pretty far 👍

- Just to the left, before you head downwards towards the machine guns, there's either (i can't quite recall at which point you are at) a corridor which leads to a room with a shield guy and a RPG to pick up. Or, which i think is more likely, you've just been in another shorter tunnel with a train and a couple of mining carts, again to the left there's a short corridor with one of those red top secret papers on the wall and also a RPG below it. Use this against the machine gun emplacement, but be careful to aim slightly below the level of their muzzle flash other wise your rocket will probably just sail right past them. I usually crouch down as i head down towards them just to give me a bit more angle before i fire.

I hope you 'enjoy' the next bit as much as i have been for the past couple of months.

- I had a go at it again over the weekend. Got very close to finishing it, but blew myself up trying to granade the 2nd, final bunker

- i'm really starting to lose motivation with this level.

*edit* A quick tip for the big prison room you mentioned, just after the courtyard bit. When you get to the prison room don't drop down into it, stay on the little platform or back slightly in the corridor and use granades from here to clear the shield guys and friends. And no, you can't get up onto the walkways surrounding the room, although there is a room to the right that you have to blow the door to which has some good stuff in.

 

[Duke]

You've progressed pretty far 👍

Thanks! I'm getting pretty good at clearing that first set of buildings. But if I have to hear that annoying beeyotch tell me to "just get on your @#$%&*! station!" one more time, I may go postal myself.

- Just to the left, before you head downwards towards the machine guns, there's either (i can't quite recall at which point you are at) a corridor which leads to a room with a shield guy and a RPG to pick up.

Thanks! I've had to abandon several RPGs earlier on in this level because I'm trying to carry a fully-loaded M249 all the way to the last room. That means I've had to do everything with the MP5, which is not a bad weapon, but I'd rather have an AK47. I did run across an MG63, but from the little I used it in the courtyard, it's not much better than the H&K I'm carrying, and the ammo is much harder to find.

My biggest problem has been finding enough grenades to deal with the Magnum/shield guys, since they can turn around and deflect the blast. You practically have to drop a grenada right on top of them. They tick me off, because they carry their shields well off to the left, giving what appears to be a big target (including their head!), but somehow I can never manage to kill them with the MP5. The shotgun guys I can usually deal with, though they do use up a lot of ammo if you can't seem to get a headshot on them. Fortunately the SMG ammo is NOT in short supply anywhere.

- I had a go at it again over the weekend. Got very close to finishing it, but blew myself up trying to granade the 2nd, final bunker

- i'm really starting to lose motivation with this level.

Bummer, d00d! That's how I felt the first time I made it across the courtyard, and then blew myself up trying to clear the last two guys hiding inside.

*edit* A quick tip for the big prison room you mentioned, just after the courtyard bit. When you get to the prison room don't drop down into it, stay on the little platform or back slightly in the corridor and use granades from here to clear the shield guys and friends. And no, you can't get up onto the walkways surrounding the room, although there is a room to the right that you have to blow the door to which has some good stuff in.

I couldn't get many people to spawn without dropping down. Basically, I picked off who I could see without leaving the platform, then dropped to the floor, which of course spawned everybody. So I ran under the platform and wedged myself in the corner until they stopped coming. I did find that room across the way, and yeah, the supplies helped.

Thanks very much for the tips! I am looking forward to finishing up the last room... but I'm not looking forward to spending an hour or more to get there, several more times.

 

[TheCracker]

My biggest problem has been finding enough grenades to deal with the Magnum/shield guys, since they can turn around and deflect the blast. You practically have to drop a grenada right on top of them. They tick me off, because they carry their shields well off to the left, giving what appears to be a big target (including their head!), but somehow I can never manage to kill them with the MP5.

I hate those shield guys. - best thing to do with the granades is to aim for them to fall just behind the shield guys who will then crouch down and present their backs to you. You can then either try to aim another quick granade at their backs - they'll often just offer their sheilds back towards the fresh grenade. Or better still just use the opportunity to shoot them in the back. Even when they duck out to the side of their shields, they do seem to take a lot of shots to take down.

I do enjoy playing the end part of the level very much. But i just hate the hour+ it takes to get to that point.

I couldn't get many people to spawn without dropping down. Basically, I picked off who I could see without leaving the platform, then dropped to the floor, which of course spawned everybody. So I ran under the platform and wedged myself in the corner until they stopped coming. I did find that room across the way, and yeah, the supplies helped.

Those guys are there even if you can't see them, they just keep well back in the room where you can't see them too well. If you look carefully, and crouch down, you'll be able to see their legs as they walk back and forth.

 

[livemusic]

In the prison room I just stay close to the back wall and use the pillars ahead for protection. You can kill most of them from there, then as you go ahead just pick the ammo and health they've dropped.

 

[ken2903]

does anyone know where the recon (blue scroll) thing is on the bridge level ?
i'm sorry my internet is really slow today and it will take me forever to read through 12 pages, so if anyone knows that would be great.

i've found everything but the recon thing.

 

[Solid Lifters]

does anyone know where the recon (blue scroll) thing is on the bridge level ?
i'm sorry my internet is really slow today and it will take me forever to read through 12 pages, so if anyone knows that would be great.

i've found everything but the recon thing.

Located after exiting the half way point; continue on the left side of the under"ground" ramps until you get to a wall blocking your path. A machine gunner and shotgun man are covering it.

 

[ken2903]

Located after exiting the half way point; continue on the left side of the under"ground" ramps until you get to a wall blocking your path. A machine gunner and shotgun man are covering it.

found it, thanks.

 

[Kent]

I've started playing through this game again.
Doing it on "Hard" this time around and it's great fun. Only on the third or fourth level but I've managed to get many of the hidden weapons and whatnot (although I doubt all of them ).

Found the AK47 on Single Shot is great with a silencer (loved that combo on the last level). Found something like an M79 (not sure what the real name was) and it helped quite well but shortages on ammunition meant I was carrying the RPG through most of the level.

Anyone else still playing this game?
I'd say it's the best FPS on the PS2 and I'm looking to hear someone argue otherwise (with an example of course) just so I get another game to try.

So, what do you say...
Is this the best FPS availible on the PS2?