Criterion is good at racing not FPS.
Gameplay is pretty shoot the red barrels to blow stuff up or emptying clips into thousands of the same facelss enemies you'll face in the entire 8 mission campaign. Everything is pretty straight-forward and you'll know exactly what to do when you get your gun. The game has a really really weak storyline and tedious cutscenes. Lasts only 6-8 hours with no multiplayer support further diminish its value. It can get pretty boring at the end because of the same kinds of enemies you shoot. Let's jsut put it this way... Criterion wasn't imaginative enough to create a FPS with variety, complexity and a good immersive storyline. Below-average AI doesn't help either.
Graphics ain't the best on Xbox either. Sure the explosions looks good, and that objects crush into pieces if you shoot it, but that hardly increase any interest in the game.
Another problem with the game is, Criterion doesn't know what it wants to achieve with the game. Such things as weapon silencers and one-hit-in-the-back melee kill make this game stealth. Make up your mind Criterion! With the awesome explosions you'll expect this to be a fast, full of action run-and-gun FPS. With the stealth portions added it really messes the game up.
Black is a very average shooter with a few bright points but too many aspects of the game are poorly developed, makes this rental at best for those who has some itchy fingers looking to unload some lead for the weekend.