Blacklight is a game meant to fill a specific interest; it plays as a stripped-down version of the modern console FPS, with an emphasis on semi-realistic gunfights and online multiplayer. However, it costs $15 (1200 Microsoft Points), in contrast to its competitors that cost around $40 to $60. This puts it in a unique position to deliver players the core of such a game, while hoping they’re willing to tolerate its rough edges since it costs so much less. And if you are indeed fine with that, Blacklight has much to offer.

What little story there is sets the game’s tone, letting players take on the role of a member of the Blacklight spec-ops team or their equally well armed opponents, an insurgent group known as The Order. Both sides have the same basic set of equipment, consisting of ’lawyer-friendly’ versions of modern or cutting-edge guns. Pistols, shotguns, heavy revolvers, assault rifles, and so on compose most of your armament, and it only takes a few well-placed bullets to kill an enemy. The rest of combat is likewise semi-realistic; you’re not as slow or positioning reliant for accuracy as you would be in real life, but it isn’t Quake either. The only major change to the formula is the HRV ("Hyper Reality Visor"), which gives you the ability to briefly see through walls. It serves as both a tool to help prevent and set up ambushes, though the user must have careful timing since they will be unable to attack for a few seconds while using the HRV.

The overwhelming focus of this game is online multiplayer, with several modes on offer though Team Deathmatch seems to be both the default and most popular mode. Every kill or assist you score earns points, and you ’level up’ as you gain enough points. This in turn unlocks access to new guns, accessories, and other such equipment. Sometimes they are just cosmetic items, but others significantly affect the stats of your character or his weapons. Depending on who you ask this is either an incentive to keep playing, or an annoying grind where those who have put in more time have a material advantage over newer players. Regardless of how you feel about that, Blacklight seems to have a decent player population at this time.

Most of the stages are based on urban wreckage; they’re clearly meant to be modern or near-future, but also war-torn, providing a mix of ample cover in most places followed by fairly exposed areas near the middle of most levels. These stages work, though there are two noteworthy issues. First is that they have the stereotypical ’modern urban warzone’ look to them common in some FPS games, which means it looks very bland. Worse is that some stages have spawn zones with very narrow, limited exits that can permit spawn camping. The game offers a few safeguards, but they are not always effective. On the other hand, spawn camping doesn’t always become a problem; it seems to vary by map.

The online code is a mix of good and bad. It plays pretty well, with good client prediction going on and a competent host migration feature if the person hosting the game leaves. The matchmaking on the other hand isn’t quite so good, regularly handing out very stacked teams; it’s not fun being put up against an entire clan of high-level (read: "we unlocked superior equipment") players and being outnumbered by them to boot, but this happened roughly anywhere from one-third to half the time I went into random matches. But if stacked competition isn’t your thing, there are a few co-op stages available and they may amuse you for a little while.

We’re left with Blacklight as a competent but rough FPS. It has all the basic aspects of the genre and they work just fine, but there are numerous small problems that bog it down. These would be enough to sink the game if it were on retail shelves for $40-60, but Blacklight costs a mere fraction of that at $15/1200 MSP. This makes it a niche product, offering competent modern FPS play at a relatively bargain price. If you go in with realistic expectations and want what it’s offering, Blacklight will probably please you. On the other hand, if you’ve already had your fill of semi-realistic FPS play then Blacklight won’t change your mind.