When Peter Molyneux originally confirmed that a sequel to his god game, Black & White, was under development at Lionhead Studios in September of 2001, he hinted that it would be "a year or so" away. Today, four years or so down the road, Electronic Arts and Lionhead Studios announced that Black & White 2 has shipped to retailers.

　　Since the close of the first Black & White, the game world has changed dramatically. Civilizations have risen, weapons have been adopted, and wars have been started. It's up to players to decide whether they want to rebuild their societies as war machines seeking to expand influence by force or convert enemies by showing them a better way to live. Given that the ore used to create buildings and defensive walls in the game is the same resource used to make weapons, players constantly will be balancing good and evil, as well as what's ideal and what's practical. And of course, the gigantic godly avatars known simply as creatures return as a primary instrument of the player's divine will.

　　As before, the game is driven by the ethical (or not so ethical) choices of the player. Creatures grow and adapt to their creators' playing styles, and the game tests players with moral dilemmas at every turn. Whether the choices made are good, evil, or somewhere in between, each one has consequences in the game world.

　　Black & White 2 is rated T for Teen and retails for $49.99. Check back later this week for GameSpot's full review.