Black vs. Psi-Ops: Which do you recommend?

C

Concealed Identity

CAGiversary!
Feedback
1 (100%)
I'm thinking of picking one of these up, and I keep hearing really varied reviews about both of them. I basically want a really fun shooter that feels like I have really effective weapons and makes me feel like a badass. I haven't played either of them, so I'm not really sure which one I'd like more. By the way, Black is about $18 US, and Psi-Ops is about $15 (I don't live in America, and this is the cheapest I've seen them here).

Anyway, let me know what you think of both games. If you've played both, that's especially helpful. Thanks!
 
Both are good, but I think you'll feel a little more like a badass in Psi-Ops because of the powers you gain. It's a lot of fun to set someone on fire and then throw him at the other enemies, then if anyone survives, to levitate them in the air while you fill them with bullets. There's some pretty good level design and puzzle solving as well, but you may be disappointed with the way the story is a cliffhanger with no sequel likely to ever be released.

Black is a pretty standard FPS with pretty explosions though. It does a lot of stuff right, but the storytelling is horrible and it doesn't really break the mold in any way. Very solid shooter though.
 
I personally prefer Psi-Ops. It was actually one of my fav. games on the Xbox...

However, from what little you've told us, I'm not 100% it'd be the one for you. It has some neat weapons, but the real focus of the game is on your powers. Those powers, however, are extremely bad ass. Since this game I've craved for something to copy the telekinesis, because throwing an enemy off of a broken bridge, smashing a crate against a wall to splinter it, and then standing on a splinter and levetating yourself over the broken bridge to get to a boss fight where you have to tear down parts of walls to smash it... well it's just so awesome.
 
Man, both games do sound good. I should say straight out, that I really don't care about story in a game like these. I just wanna blow shit up.

Which game is gonna have me using cover more, like Gears of War-style? I like that kinda stuff.

I'd tell you more, but since I'm not sure which game I'd like, it's kinda hard. One thing I'm not into is weapons that feel really weak, either aesthetically (visual + audio) in an FPS, or in terms of power (I couldn't really get into games like Turok where everything takes 50 bullets to kill, or Return to Castle Wolfenstein where the soldiers could still shoot me while they were getting shot without reacting to the bullets. I much prefer physics like in Goldeneye where once you get the jump on someone and start shooting them, they're not going to be able to hit you so easily).

I don't really care so much about the idea of psi-powers or whatever, but I also can't say that I won't enjoy them once I start playing.
 
[quote name='Concealed Identity']Man, both games do sound good. I should say straight out, that I really don't care about story in a game like these. I just wanna blow shit up.

Which game is gonna have me using cover more, like Gears of War-style? I like that kinda stuff.

I'd tell you more, but since I'm not sure which game I'd like, it's kinda hard. One thing I'm not into is weapons that feel really weak, either aesthetically (visual + audio) in an FPS, or in terms of power (I couldn't really get into games like Turok where everything takes 50 bullets to kill, or Return to Castle Wolfenstein where the soldiers could still shoot me while they were getting shot without reacting to the bullets. I much prefer physics like in Goldeneye where once you get the jump on someone and start shooting them, they're not going to be able to hit you so easily).

I don't really care so much about the idea of psi-powers or whatever, but I also can't say that I won't enjoy them once I start playing.[/QUOTE]

I have never played Psi-Ops, but I have played Black and going by this description, that may be the game you want. Black's main focus was on realistic guns and gun effects. There isn't a cover system like Gears, but it was fairly difficult in that you couldn't Rambo your way through all the levels.
 
[quote name='Mr Unoriginal']I have never played Psi-Ops, but I have played Black and going by this description, that may be the game you want. Black's main focus was on realistic guns and gun effects. There isn't a cover system like Gears, but it was fairly difficult in that you couldn't Rambo your way through all the levels.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I'm not sure your second description should even include Psi-Ops in this argument OP. It's a completely different type of experience.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']Yeah, I'm not sure your second description should even include Psi-Ops in this argument OP. It's a completely different type of experience.[/quote]


Fair enough. Really I'm just looking for a good shooter for the PS2. I already have Mercenaries and Time Splitters (#2, I think), and I'm looking for something a little closer to Mercenaries in that it's less cartoony compared to Time Splitters, but your weapons still feel like they make an impact. I don't like WWII games, so my choices seem pretty limited.
 
psi ops is a must have or at least must play game. you can find it cheap new easily and even used the games worth it. its the best psionic powers game ever. its one of the few games where the skills you have dont feel limited. you can use them how you want when you wantand you can do some pretty cool shit. like i posted on a psi ops topic before theres nothing cooler than grabbing a crate and psi surfing. i heard black was ok and it looks cool but its basically just a shooter i think so if youre looking for the most gameplay and fun for your money psi ops is the choice. plenty of cool holy shit moments in that game. id tell you more abou the game but i dont want to ruin the experience. its one of the few games i had to buy even after id rented it and beat it because i liked it that much.
 
Black had some amazing graphics for the PS2. It was somewhat short and I thought it was pretty easy. There aren't a whole lot of weapons, but just about everything can get destroyed. They also load you down with ammo.

Some things I found odd with Black are 1) the live-action cutscenes where the main character is getting debriefed on the mission, 2) no blood. Seriously, the game could have been rated T if they'd taken out the few instances of the F-bomb.
 
[quote name='thelonepig']the game could have been rated T if they'd taken out the few instances of the F-bomb.[/quote]

Yea, I find that pretty puzzling. For a game that's pretty clean in terms of the depiction of violence, you would think that they would want a T rating. And really, the cussing just seems out of place... Shouldn't they be shouting tactical information back and forth, not just screaming expletives?

I haven't finished Black yet, but i would have to say that the graphics are very impressive, and the level design is top notch. For FPS fans, it's a must play from the ps2/xbox library.
 
Both awesome games, but it really depends on what you crave in a game right now. Psi-Ops is an awesome action-adventure with strong emphasis on the psi-powers. Black on the other hand is a straight first-person shooter, with awesome gameplay, the most realistic looking and sounding weapons of any of the last-gen systems. And I might go as far as to say that it rivals and even exceeds most of the current-gen shooters. I finished this game and played through it again. I rarely do that with shooters. considering my back-log of gaming. But this is a very enjoyable game, considering there isn't any online.

Oh! almost forgot. When you finish the game on any difficulty setting you will be rewarded the next time around with all silver weapons and unlimited ammo.
 
[quote name='Concealed Identity']Man, both games do sound good. I should say straight out, that I really don't care about story in a game like these. I just wanna blow shit up.

Which game is gonna have me using cover more, like Gears of War-style? I like that kinda stuff.

I'd tell you more, but since I'm not sure which game I'd like, it's kinda hard. One thing I'm not into is weapons that feel really weak, either aesthetically (visual + audio) in an FPS, or in terms of power (I couldn't really get into games like Turok where everything takes 50 bullets to kill, or Return to Castle Wolfenstein where the soldiers could still shoot me while they were getting shot without reacting to the bullets. I much prefer physics like in Goldeneye where once you get the jump on someone and start shooting them, they're not going to be able to hit you so easily).

I don't really care so much about the idea of psi-powers or whatever, but I also can't say that I won't enjoy them once I start playing.[/QUOTE]
Based on that first statement, Black all the way! Some of the Best destruction in any FPS.
 
Psi-Ops kinda falls apart towards the end imo - but Black is incredible, and is one of the few shooters that I actually started playing through again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top