REVIEW: The biggest name in video games is back again
Every November, gamers all over the world are given a reason to be thankful. I’m not talking about delicious turkey dinners and spending time with our families. I am talking about “Call of Duty.” Over the past five years “Call of Duty” has become one of the biggest franchises in the history of video games, with each entry setting sale records and receiving stellar review scores.
You can imagine expectations were high coming into “Call of Duty Black Ops.” I am extremely happy to report “Black Ops” more than lives up to expectations. I would go so far as to say this is the best game so far in the series. Make no mistake: “Call of Duty” is back and it is glorious.
Let’s start with the campaign. “Black Ops” takes place during the Cold War period of the ’60s before and during Vietnam. In “Black Ops,” you are experiencing the hidden side of the war that America doesn’t want the world to know about. This setting allows for a longer, much more personal, narrative.
This game tells the best “Call of Duty” story yet, and by putting us in control of a protagonist with a face and voice to go with the name, they have made us care about our character.
The entire 7-10 hour campaign is an action-packed emotional roller coaster that starts fast and never lets up. Game play is excellent and great mission variety keeps things interesting. Friendly AI has been improved and enemy AI is as tough as it’s ever been, offering a real challenge on the veteran difficulty.
Multiplayer returns in “Black Ops” and it’s bigger and better than ever. With over 40 guns to master, 21 different game modes and 14 maps, there is no shortage of things to do. Overall, the experience feels very familiar. You level up, unlock guns, prestige, then do it all over again – but there are a few key differences this time around.
As you level up, you will earn credits to go along with your experience points. These are used to buy everything you need to unlock your character. This adds more player customization which makes the game more personal. Keeping in tune with the more personal experience, you now have more control over the look of your character as well as your gun.
With credits come Wager Matches. Wager Matches are the only new multiplayer mode to this year’s entry and they are a blast. You bet your hard earned credits against other players for all matches. Place in the top three, you are in the money and receive some winnings. If you finish out of the top three, you get nothing. There are four different game types in Wager Matches, each with their own rules and conditions. Matches are extremely competitive and the different rule sets add a lot of variety to the experience.
Zombies also return to add a co-op element to the game. Zombie matches consist of up to four players trying to survive wave after wave of zombies. The mode is tough and requires good teamwork to survive. It is also an absolute blast and adds a completely different game play element. There are two maps on the disc, one of which unlocks after you beat the campaign.
Graphically, the game is stunning and features some truly incredible environments. The lighting and textures are fantastic and the variety in the settings ensure you are always seeing new things. Character models are extremely impressive with some of the most realistic movements I have ever seen in a game. The game engine handles all this incredibly well and I never experienced any technical hiccups while playing the game.
The sound is also impressive. Guns sound excellent and the battles have never sounded so good in a “Call of Duty” game. The score delivers as well. Events are always set to music that feels perfect for what is going on, and the music is emotionally charged, making for some memorable experiences. Voice acting is excellent as well with some great performances, especially from Mr. Avatar himself, Sam Worthington, who plays protagonist Alex Mason.
Overall “Call of Duty: Black Ops” is an incredible experience. From the stellar campaign to the ridiculously deep multiplayer mode, there is something for all gamers to enjoy here. This game is one of the best first person shooters I have ever played. So let us all be thankful that “Call of Duty” is here and it’s better than ever.
– nathan.c@aggiemail.usu.edu