Black and White 2 - T

Teens: Skip this frustrating and limited sequel.

Publisher: Electronic Arts Category/Genre: Video Games - Real Time Strategy (RTS) Platform: Windows Price: $39.99 Online Enabled: No Graphics: High. Impressive landscapes, details right down bugs on the ground. Playability: Low. Interface is not intuitive. Reading Level: Light Release Date: 10/04/2005 ESRB Rating: T for Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this game allows players to win through either peaceful or violent methods. Battles can ensue, players are allowed to crush, burn, and electrocute (they can also train their magical creature by hitting and slapping them). Some crude humor about defecation, a woman gives birth, complete with sounds effects, etc. The game is far from historically accurate, but players will learn something about creating a strategy.

Families who do purchase this game may want to discuss why game designers depend so heavily on sequels. Would you prefer to purchase a game that is completely new, or do you like to stick with games you are more familiar with? When do you think a sequel works, and when do you think it doesn't?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jeremy Gieske

BLACK AND WHITE 2 provides a fun premise and a unique concept, but it doesn't offer the kind of quality provided by the successful first installment.

As in the first game, players become gods, complete with all the responsibilities and powers. The opening sequence throws historical accuracy to the side showing Aztecs overrunning the players' people, the Greeks. Players must use their godly powers to restore their people to glory -- fighting additional forces such as the Norse and the Japanese along the way.

Unlike most real-time strategy (RTS)games, the choice of being good and evil is central to the game. To be a good god, players build prestige, convincing rival cities to join them. Alternately, players can assemble armies and take opposing by force.

At the start of the game, players choose a giant magical creature to help them rule. By either petting or hitting the creature during the game, players train the creature into a peaceful helper or a fierce fighter.

These creatures also provide a source of rather crude humor for the game, asking questions like "Should I poo on that villager's head?" In fact, players can observe, in full graphical detail, the creature "pooing" in a variety of places in the village.

All this sounds entertaining enough, but the game fails to in a number of ways. Unlike the first game, there are no enemy gods. Instead the most powerful foe is the enemy's creature, which can be fairly easily dispatched. In fact, it is almost impossible to lose, with enemy AI barely more intelligent than the rocks players can use to crush armies.

The design is also bad. Menus are buried and controls are clumsy. Players may get frustrated performing simple tasks, like picking up an individual villager. This is a big limitation, since B&W 2 focuses more on RTS than the first installment (which requires speedy menus and movement).

Finally, replay is limited. Despite the developer's original promise, the game provides no multiplayer options. Also, only the nine campaign levels can be replayed, and once players complete the game, they don't have the option to go back to a particular level.

Overall, Black and White 2 doesn't have much to offer. Both Empire Earth 2 and Civilization 4 have a lot more to offer for gamers interesting in RTS games.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Disciple breeders make out, shortly after the woman appears to be pregnant, finally she lays down on the ground to have the child, complete with sound effects.
Violence Players slap and hit their creatures. As a god, players can crush, burn, electrocute etc. anyone that is in their circle of influence. Battles can ensue between opposing cities, with close-up viewing of the action possible. On the plus side, the game can be won without warfare.
Language
Message
	Social Behavior As the name indicates, players can be either a good or evil god, but the consequences are nil, since players can win either way.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco One objective includes moving barrels of ingredients in order to brew some beer.
	Educational Value Plenty of thinking required, with varied strategies possible to win. One caution -- the game is not even close to historically accurate, with Greeks fighting cultures like the Aztecs and the Norse.