Game designer Peter Molyneux's first project for Lionhead Studios, "Black & White," was one of the most hyped PC games of 2000 -- which makes sense, since Molyneux is responsible for PC classics such as "Populous," "Syndicate," and "Dungeon Keeper." Even though "Black & White" was ultimately released in 2001, it managed to keep gamers interested until it hit store shelves, and since then, has sold well, due to its unique gameplay and beautiful graphics. While "Black & White" hasn't reached a "Sims"-like success with a mainstream audience, it is one of the best PC games released in the last five years, and quite deserving of its follow-up expansion pack, "Black & White: Creature Isle."


"Creature Isle" offers a new approach to adding new levels and characters. While the first "Black & White" was an interesting title, allowing you to raise creatures and compete for their loyalty against other deities, the open-ended nature frustrated some gamers who would have preferred a simpler approach. "Creature Isle" has streamlined the gameplay process with a new area and a shift that emphasizes the care and nurturing side of gameplay, with less focus on competition to succeed. Instead, new trials and challenges are presented for your creatures, resulting in an altogether different game that will appeal to both fans and newcomers to the series.

Cameraderie and challenges
Without completely giving away the plot, "Creature Isle" starts on an island whose inhabitants have no master, providing a new cast of characters for your creature to interact with. Many have formed a brotherhood, and while there are no set strategic goals within the game, you ultimately want to join the group to develop your character fully. To do this, the game sets out a series of trials, which are basically mini-games that you compete in to gain acceptance. In between, you explore the island and interact with other creatures, including Tyke, who hatches from an egg and follows your creature around, learning its skills, and imitating your character's habits at times.

While the majority of "Creature Isle" is interesting to explore, most players' enjoyment of the game probably will rely on how they take to the game's many trials, which are an improved take on the original game's challenges. Some are fun and challenging, similar in nature to soccer, marbles, and hide-and-seek. Others are repetitive and tedious -- like the bowling game, for example -- but they must be completed to succeed within the game. Ultimately, your character's success or failure depends on how well you teach it.

Simple and interesting gameplay
The "Creature Isle" interface is minimal, but almost perfect. It allows you to lead your characters throughout the land in a simple way. The gameplay is interesting in that it is not overly micromanaged, and you get the sense the creatures are living out their existence in front of your eyes, while you influence their actions. Neither the original nor the expansion pack is your standard PC game, and Molyneux, who developed the original "player as God" concept with "Populous," further refines his decade-old ideas with the "Black & White" gameplay, mixing in conceptual gameplay with simple tasks.

Improved graphics, sound, and more creatures
The graphics have been refined as well, with environments that both look and move better, populated by memorable animalistic characters that have a strong fantasy quality to them. "Creature Isle" incorporates more species than the original "Black & White" did -- from reptiles to birds to mammals, the game has an amazing mix of beasts to behold. As in the first "Black & White," the soundtrack is pure background, but definitely sets a perfect tone for the game. The newly recorded dialogue is key to bringing these new characters to life and helps create the sense that you are on an island bursting with existence.

Both the original "Black & White" and "Black & White: Creature Isle" live up to their hype. They stand side by side as excellent examples of the videogame as a piece of art and, like art, they are best experienced rather than explained. Fans of "Black & White" should definitely pick up this expansion pack. While it does not have the seemingly endless replay value of the original, the tighter gameplay works well for a more straightforward gaming experience, and it addresses some of players' concerns with the first game. The new characters and missions alone justify the price, and while it may not be an entirely new concept, it makes for a great diversion until "Black & White 2" is released.