Full Disclosure: I have played every Call of Duty game since Call of Duty 2. I was really anticipating Call of Duty: Black Ops. I've really enjoyed the campaign and multiplayer in past Call of Duty games; however, I never really got into Zombie mode before.
Story: The story in Call of Duty: Black Ops may be one of the best of the series.
It had me interested and wanting to see what would happen next. With that said, I was able to predict one of the major plot twists very early into the game. The character development in the game is very well done; characters in the game are meaningful and have their own personalities. When a character is in harms way, there is a sense of genuine worry. With that said, many nameless soldiers will die and I did not take a second to pause and contemplate that loss. There is extensive use of flashbacks, and this is used marvelously. These flashbacks keep the action going and serve as a legitimate excuse for the many different environments. They also add to the mystery of the plot as the player is discovering the story like a patient with temporary amnesia. The game takes place during the Cold War; however, many levels feel as if they are from another era, either modern or World War II.
Graphics: Graphics, in general, are great. The environments are well detailed. The skies had me pausing the action and just staring in awe. The character models and animations could have been better though. Most are solid; however, one specific example stands out, Viktor Reznov's face, specifically his beard, looks like something out of the previous generation of gaming. Explosions, smoke, and fire all look very good.
Sound: For a game like Black Ops, sound is essential. And, as to be expected, Treyarch really nails the audio in the game. Explosions and voices all sound great, and immerse the player in the experience. To top it off, the music in the game may be some of the best in any game this year.
Gameplay: Black Ops controls, like previous Call of Duty's, very well. There aren't really any changes from Modern Warfare 2, and so each weapon feels distinctive and controls exactly how the player wishes. One of my problems with Modern Warfare 2 was it was too easy, and Black Ops reverses that entirely. It may be one of the hardest Call of Duty games I've played since Call of Duty 2. This difficulty is not a problem with the gameplay though; similarly to Super Meat Boy, the controls are tight in Black Ops, so when I died, I knew it was my fault not the games. The missions with helicopters are another story though. The Hinds do not control well; it is very difficult to gain elevation when battling other helicopters, thus making these levels an exercise in frustration. Unfortunately, A.I. is not one of Black Ops' strong suits. Far too many times, I would see my teammates just standing by enemies. For the most part, enemies flank, take cover, and use grenades effectively.
Replayability: Many of those who purchase Black Ops consider the campaign secondary with the bulk of their time spent on multiplayer. Black Ops has one of the best multiplayer experiences in not just the Call of Duty franchise, but in any game period. The features that were changed, such as adding contracts, COD points, and Wager matches are remarkable. The new features are addictive, and make customizing and leveling up feel like an achievement worthy of celebration. There are a wealth of game types, maps, and customization options in the game. Without question there is enough in multiplayer to keep everyone playing for months on end. Zombie mode is fun, for a time, if you have another person to play with. It is just too bad that there are only two maps; the Pentagon map is a riot though. The easter eggs, Zork and Dead Ops, are quite entertaining, albeit Zork will be boring for the traditional COD player. Also, Zork can be very slow and confusing for the uninitiated, and the onscreen keyboard doesn't do the speed of the game any favors. Dead Ops Arcade is a fun twin-stick shooter. There are many different weapons in the game that offer different strategies, which is essential for the game not to become an exercise in tedium when you die over and over. There is a potential problem with lag in multiplayer. At launch, this lag nearly destroyed multiplayer; however, it doesn't seem to be present anymore.
Pros:
- A genuinely interesting story.
- Addictive and content-packed multiplayer mode.
- Tight controls.
- Impressive visuals, most notably environments.
- Immersive audio, and some of the best music this year.
- Solid games within the game (Zork and Dead Ops Arcade).
- Difficulty has been ratcheted up a few notches from Modern Warfare 2.
Cons:
- Inconsistent character models.
- Only two maps for Zombie mode.
- Some levels don't meld with the Cold War era.
- Lag (at launch) in multiplayer.
- Friendly A.I. can be stupid at times.
Editor: Zach Felling
9/10 Amazing
Value: Full Price ($60)
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