A solid FPS that only really lacks in a solid climatic ending.
The AI is pretty good for an old xbox game, but they can also be pretty repetitive and stupid too. IE: You shoot a guard with your sniper rifle and another guard walks right up to it and doesn't see the body, doesn't react. But for the most part they are aggressive and try to use cover. Especially the guys with the shields and hockey mask guys - you'll love to hate these guys.
But just to get into the game; I have to preamble one thing. If you are an experienced FPS shooter like I am, then you must start playing this game at the HARD level. Otherwise you'll shoot right through the game and it won't be the challenge that it should. I discovered over a year ago that its better to play FPS at the hardest level they allow you, until you can unlock the really hard level. I beat Gears of War II this way and I think it makes the game more fun. True I am an oldschool gamer who thinks that most games are too easy these days, but I also have never played a game I couldn't finish, no matter how long it took.
BLACK is no exception to the law of easy is easy and hard is hard. The levels are a good length with decent checkpoints, until you get to the last level. Then you'll be like, "Where the heck is the checkpoint." Oh, and if you turn off your xbox it won't save your check points; but just start you at the beginning of the level. Kind of annoying to people who have normal lives and can't always keep playing their game for hours on end.
The story takes a back seat to the action, literally. All the cut scenes that move you along to the next level in the game were shot on Video in a very film noir, weird lighting, with extreme closeups (so as not identify your character), in a cop and criminal interrogation type setting. NO they didn't make any in-game or CG movies. Sure you can call this cheating, but its also creative and little different.
Every once in a while in the game you play with one or two other AI, but they don't really help much at all. Even when one of them is your sniper (GOD) watching over you, she runs out of ammo fast.
All in all this is an awesome FPS for the xbox that is also backwards compatible with your 360. No you won't drive any vehicles, or swim, or play any stupid minigames. You'll just kill wannabe Russians and have fun doing it.