Call Of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360/PS3/PC/Wii)

[mesh control]

So they brought back a arcade mode sorta like MW? Might be picking this up...

[Daigohji]

So they brought back a arcade mode sorta like MW? Might be picking this up...

It's better than that. MW arcade mode was just the main campaign in score attack. Dead Ops is a completely separate game done in the classic overhead arena style.

I tried some multiplayer today. I haven't played enough to get a feel for all the maps, but Nuketown is an early favourite. It plays almost identically to MW multiplayer during matches, which is no bad thing. Whoever decided to make a pack of attack dogs as a killstreak reward needs to be fired though; they move more eratically than the ones in single player and you can't use the melee counter on them. The only real changes in multiplayer since MW2 are a reshuffling of which perk combinations you can have, that a lot of the challenges now have to be purchased and completed within a limited time, and the whole business of betting on matches (which I haven't tried yet).

[dial911]

Bought it, played through the campaign, played the smash TV minigame, tried zombie mode and a dozen multiplayer matches.

There is a lot of content in Black OPs however I was disappointed in everything except the smash tv game, which only kept me entertained for 45 minutes. Afterwards, I felt like I'd rather play Smash TV on SNES as it would bring me more satisfaction.

The campaign was too much of the same:

1. Run into a new area
2. Kill 30-150 soldiers and move on

It was also utterly unrealistic. ACOG scopes on the Vietnamese weapons? Check. Blowing through literally thousands of Vietnamese, Russians... and Spetsnaz without losing a single soul on your team until much later in the campaign. Check. Look, I'm no military snob or armchair general, but the Call of Duty games have always brought a sense of realism to the table. This sense of realism GREATLY added to the overall experience. Do you remember within the first 2 Modern Warfare games, when you experienced those moments where you thought to yourself, wait, given the appropriate circumstances this actually COULD happen?!? Well.. at least the realism was there throughout the first Modern Warfare game and to a lesser extent, Modern Warfare 2 where many of the characters you were in control of DIDN'T make it through the whole campaign. In Black Ops your guy is a goddamn super soldier mowing through thousands of enemy soldiers, getting tortured by the enemy to the brink of death multiple times, riding a motorcycle one handed while going over jumps and shooting down hundreds of pursuing enemy convoys terminator style with your shotgun.

Give me a fucking break?! This is a Call of Duty game?

Around mission 2 I was able to sum up that this was without a doubt, the most unrealistic entry in the franchise. Maybe I could forgive this if the game was more entertaining or introduced completely new concepts/ideas that I've never seen before. It does not. Black Ops does not introduce anything that you have not seen before within a FPS.

Without turning this post into a fully fledged review:

1. Multiplayer is not as good as Modern Warfare 2. Sure, some of the new modes/maps are fantastic! However the new killstreak rewards, weapons, and overall gameplay changes/tweaks are not as good as MW 2.
2. Zombies is average at best. Not nearly as exciting/engrossing as the Left for Dead games.
3. The Smash TV mini-game is not as good as Smash TV.

For the people that have read through my mini-review, you might be thinking why I'm bringing up other games and comparing them to the features within this game? The answer to your question is:

This game will give you Quantity over Quality. To put it simply, all of the AVERAGE modes within the game do not save it from being anything more than just an average game in the sea of FPS's. As a COD entry, this game sucks.

Hopefully, the 2 of you who haven't picked this game up yet will think twice (all 2 of you.. 7+ million sold in one day, good god)!

I ended up selling it today for $50 on craigslist within 45 minutes. Now, back to Guwange!

[Ed Oscuro]

Hopefully, the 2 of you who haven't picked this game up yet will think twice (all 2 of you.. 7+ million sold in one day, good god)!

I heard some guys talking about picking up the game today!

I'm a cheap bastard so I didn't get it. I appreciate the candor of your review.

It's kinda terrible to have a new graphics card but nothing to play on it, but I'm much more focused on other important expenses...like harnesses for arcade games I can't play...etc.

[mortified_penguin]

Can't afford it now but I'll get it for sure a some point. I can understand why some people are disappointed with the gun selection but that's an era of firearms that I adore. Things like the G11, Python and the Famas without the gaudy handguard are old favorites. As for the story, it can't be any more retarded than MW2. Bringing back dead people from the first game, a general with his own personal ninja force and that whole chest knife pull thing.

[drauch]

Pretty awesome that they added BOTS finally! Not enough games have bots anymore. Fun to kill scrubby AI with a friend to kill some time.

[KindGrind]

It seems so far the game has a hard time of making sure my friends and I stay connected when we are in the same party. It's quite buggy and annoying. Subtitle says: "game starting..." and then we end up having a guy or two not there, although they were there in the lobby, with us.

There should be a mute all except friends option, or something. If there's one or you know how to do this, please share.

Not too fan of Zombies after having played it a couple of games... The maps are well crafted, from what I've seen so far. I've played the game in small doses late at night, and enjoy it for what it is.

[Shelcoof]

I'm loving this game.

Major balance changes compared to MW2. For those who hate a lot of the annoying things that were present in MW2, Black Ops improves upon it along with balances everything out.

Killstreaks are not over-powering. Meaning you won't get annoyed by them as much as you did in MW2.
Guns are all balanced well in my opinion. I can use any gun and do well. (Then again I did the same in MW2 lol) but honestly though Guns feel a bit more balanced now I find myself just randomly picking a gun and using it.

Perk System is great, they got rid of stopping power and I find myself using a ton of other perks. MW2 I just used a couple of perks only.

Maps are less campy. Yes more open spaces and routes to attack. I love to rush and I no longer pay for being the aggressive player.

Both MW2 and Black Ops are great games and equally as fun but they are totally different. If your looking for a new experience Black Ops changes the COD formula enough for a valid purchase.

[Vyxx]

So after playing online for probably around 6 hours total I can safely say that this game is awesome. People are going to complain about the same things they complain about for every CoD game now but Treyarch did a very good job of taking the new material like Perks and Killstreaks and rounding them off. They balanced the weapons perfectly, and they also removed some annoyances from MW2 (noob tube strength, Danger Close Perk, Martyrdom, etc.)

Also, that Killstreak where the dogs chase you scares the living hell out of me. I was attacked by a dog at a young age and have some serious scars, so this game is almost like survival horror for me sometimes

[KindGrind]

Canadians love this game

Right about the killstreaks being more balanced. The new equivalent of the chopped gunner is still overpowered, but it's a lot tougher to get than in MW2. I used to think the dogs killstreak was garbage, but man these doggies are hard to kill, and they're quick as hell.

RCXDs are a bit annoying... there are just so much of them. I used to think the controls for it were bad, but I can now control it with good proficiency.

So far, I like the game. I don't play much though (time contraints)...If I weren't getting so many disconnects I'd like the game even more.

[Shelcoof]

Canadians love this game

Right about the killstreaks being more balanced. The new equivalent of the chopped gunner is still overpowered, but it's a lot tougher to get than in MW2. I used to think the dogs killstreak was garbage, but man these doggies are hard to kill, and they're quick as hell.

RCXDs are a bit annoying... there are just so much of them. I used to think the controls for it were bad, but I can now control it with good proficiency.

So far, I like the game. I don't play much though (time contraints)...If I weren't getting so many disconnects I'd like the game even more.

I find the killstreaks easy to take out or counter if done properly. The chopper gunners can easily be taken out with two rockets. If I die I just switch to my anti-air class with ghost and stella and bam easily its down.

The Dogs are crazy though, I find I have to camp until they are gone. I just stick a claymore down and wait for a dog to show up. Thats the only time I actually camp in a game other times I rush.

btw what system do you guys play it on? I have it on PSN if you guys are down add me up:)

[mesh control]

Chopper gunner doesn't have the splash damage it had in MW2. I don't think it's overpowered when the enemy team plays smart and stays out of site, which isn't that hard to do. I haven't had to deal with the dogs yet.

I play on the PSN. mesh_control

[Vyxx]

PSN: Vyxx

[Shelcoof]

I'll add you up Vyxx

I just finished playing COD Black OPs finally got Flack Jacket Pro

[KindGrind]

Chopper gunner doesn't have the splash damage it had in MW2. I don't think it's overpowered when the enemy team plays smart and stays out of site, which isn't that hard to do. I haven't had to deal with the dogs yet.

Maybe I'm referring to it as overpowered because I had it played on me in Nuketown first, where it was stationed over our spawn point and killed us 25+ times. It also hits you quite easily in that map even if you're in houses. In a map like Radiation it's another story. As you point out, you just hide underground and it's no big deal.

Quite original PSN name for me too: KindGrind.

[JGcontraman]

Call of Dookie: Shit Plops

Post is GOLDEN

You guys didn't find that post amazing and thoughtful?!?!

I thought it was the absolute truths

[mesh control]

Chopper gunner on nuketown = instant rage quit.
I haven't found my niche in domination yet. Usually never get anywhere near the top of the leaderboard, but play pretty consistently in tdm. Averaging about 15-20 kills a match.

Also, I drug myself through the rest of the campaign to unlock the second zombies level. The story is borderline Kojima-esque non sense. At least mw2 had me compelled to see the story through.

[Ed Oscuro]

Well now, I just watched my brother play the whole thing through in one session. Easy though (had done on Veteran).

In honor of all the dead Charlie, I present Bobby Darin.

OK, other random thoughts:

Shit is wack...1980s weapons in 1968? Obvious examples...the HK caseless ammo gun, AUG ('poster child of the "Evil Assault Rifle"') the SA80 rifle (L85A1 type of thing), the FAMAS (from 1975), AK75U (from guess what year?) etc.
(on that note, kind of scary that you can look at a vehicle and say what its model name is i.e. the M113s, whatever, time on Wikipedia well spent!)
Storyline is kind of bananas but it was pretty obvious what was going on rather early. I was rather hoping they'd introduce another kink in the story by the end, but it wasn't meant to be. And they could have one-upped Modern Warfare 2 so bad in the Jack Thompson / Popular Indignation indices if they actually played out the JFK assassination scenario. Now, I'm not one of the "CIA dun it" conspiracy types but that's certainly fertile ground to be mined. But overall, I can't say I blame them for taking the route. Especially the after-credits scene pays some homage in a way that I don't think aligning rifle crosshairs to the President's face would.
SO MANY NIXIE TUBE DIGITS
And don't forget, ALL MUST DIE.

[Battlesmurf]

\
Shit is wack...1980s weapons in 1968? Obvious examples...the HK caseless ammo gun, AUG ('poster child of the "Evil Assault Rifle"') the SA80 rifle (L85A1 type of thing), the FAMAS (from 1975), AK75U (from guess what year?) etc.
(on that note, kind of scary that you can look at a vehicle and say what its model name is i.e. the M113s, whatever, time on Wikipedia well spent!).

Didn't they say somewhere that some of the logic is that these guys were so elite that alot of those were prototype weapons and they were so special force that they got stuff early?

haha.


but yeah- not sure how I feel about this one- but I do not miss juggernaught, stopping power, commando in the MP at all.

[KindGrind]

I do miss stopping power...

True about the campaign being nonsensical, but that's not the heart of the game, obviously.

[Ruldra]

Has this been posted yet?

Beating the first level on hardened difficulty without shooting at all

So basically you can just sit and watch the game play itself?

[Vyxx]

So basically you can just sit and watch the game play itself?

Eww, sounds like an RPG

[Rebel Ninja]

The first lot of DLC is out today for the 360 at 1200 MS points. It's called "First Strike" and there are 4 new multiplayer maps and a new zombie’s map. For anyone who got the DLC what are your impressions? I didn't enjoy the multiplayer on this as much as MW2 so I probably won't get it anyway.

[BPzeBanshee]

The first lot of DLC is out today for the 360 at 1200 MS points. It's called "First Strike" and there are 4 new multiplayer maps and a new zombie’s map. For anyone who got the DLC what are your impressions? I didn't enjoy the multiplayer on this as much as MW2 so I probably won't get it anyway.

1200 MS Points? What a waste of money. You'd probably be better off buying World at War for the same console because apparently that enables heaps more maps to play in Zombies mode.

I actually bought this game for the Zombies mode, but the multiplayer aspect of it's good too. With the update came bots which I'm happy about because I don't do LIVE Gold and they simulate well enough.

When it comes to perks, I miss Commando Pro, but knifing at a distance is pretty much like that for everyone now and no falling damage is now in some other perk I dont use.

[KindGrind]

I've got this on the PS3, so boo me.

Paying for multiplayer leaves me a bad taste in the mouth...

Liking this better than MW2 when it comes to multiplayer. Camping is not really possible, snipers have a hell of a time (I'm happy for both things) and they removed the nuke, which is good because it was retarded. I like how your killstreak kills don't affect your actual killing streak. It made for crazy things in MW2 with the harrier being an almost certain chopper gunner enabler I've prestiged 7-8 times so far and I greatly enjoy it. My KDR is around 1.5, which is nothing to brag about, but still a step up from MW2 for me. Glad they nerfed the AK74u + grip at last, and screw the connection errors...

[BPzeBanshee]

I've got this on the PS3, so boo me.

Paying for multiplayer leaves me a bad taste in the mouth...

Liking this better than MW2 when it comes to multiplayer. Camping is not really possible, snipers have a hell of a time (I'm happy for both things) and they removed the nuke, which is good because it was retarded. I like how your killstreak kills don't affect your actual killing streak. It made for crazy things in MW2 with the harrier being an almost certain chopper gunner enabler I've prestiged 7-8 times so far and I greatly enjoy it. My KDR is around 1.5, which is nothing to brag about, but still a step up from MW2 for me. Glad they nerfed the AK74u + grip at last, and screw the connection errors...

Am I missing something, because last time I checked the AK74u was still insane with grip. Havent hooked my 360 to LIVE recently so I've probably missed out on some update.

But yeah, PS3 is still a good console, and recent developments in the hacking scene mean you can use homebrew without hardmodding it and PLAY BATRIDER AT FULLSPEED ON IT OMG. (unless youve got a PAL PS3 in which case it scales back to 50 FPS and does weird things to the emulators but still works). I also get a bad taste about paying-to-play, which is why I dont get LIVE Gold, and apparently they're making future CoD games pay-to-play within the games themselves (so if you had a 360 youd be paying for LIVE AND then paying for CoD multiplayer). I really do hope that's bullshit though.

As for the killstreaks, I miss the Predator missiles but can understand why it's not in there (Black Ops, not 'Modern' warfare, and there's Valkyries anyway).