24.11.2013

After having dropped $60+ on Call of Duty: Ghosts, and quickly gotten to the point of selling it after a couple wasted weeks, I went back to Call of Duty Black Ops 2 (BO2) and am now writing a review about it, finally.I was NOT a fan of Black Ops 1, I thought it was too hard in bad ways in both the campaign and multiplayer modes. I loved MW2, liked MW3, and figured I would skip BO2 for the next MW game, until I finally, skeptically, tried BO2 at my friend's place and was amazed that I really liked it. I bought it myself then.Campaign:I really was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the campaign mode - I was expecting it to be terrible (boring, WAY too fast,hard in the whole you-get-shot-once-and-have-to-hide-most-of-the-time way like a lot of the games seem to be getting like, and cliche), but it was not any of that - it was quite fun! You cared about the plot, the game play was fun enough and I liked that in some parts you had an option with which action to take depending on a few different things, and the action you took determined the ending of the game. It was enjoyable to play.Multiplayer (online, team deathmatch):The multiplayer (team deathmatch, all the other modes are not for myself and my buddy as more casual of gamers, we found) was quite difficult at first, but I found that while I died a LOT early on, with practice and upgrades I still died a LOT, but had more fun doing so. The levels are fun enough (Standoff!) with a few that aren't so much (Aftermath, Yemen, Overflow), some are sprawled out, some are smaller, they vary in size and shape and offer different ways of playing for each type of player. They are such that you can usually see the opponent(s) somewhat clearly. They are fun if you run-and-gun, if you camp, and evidently if you quickscope or stab people too - you can play differently with each map depending on what you are in the mood to do (and the kind of people on your team or against you).Rather than trying to avoid a rant as I originally wanted to do, I will instead happily go on a bit of one now about people who are TOO good at this game (fill in the blanks for what that means). It gets frustrating at times, but I will say quite frankly after going from Ghosts, which is a nightmare for a casual gamer, back to BO2 with "too good" of players and all, it is still comparatively like Disney Land in terms of fun. I tend to just back out of a match if I see people who have no rank next to them, since they seem to be the people who have absurd scores.I have read many blog and forum conversations, and many people out there just condescendingly-dismiss people who say there is cheating happening, and tell them (in overly-insulting ways, of course) they are just "bad at the game" and "there IS NO cheating of any kind that exists." Of course there is. It is obvious. Sad, morally-flexible people who cheat but always justify and excuse it and then blame or are condescending towards others (thus come off as a bit sociopathic) make the experience less fun for those who are good enough to play fairly. Don't let people try to get you to deny your reality and tell you otherwise.Sure there is unintentional glitching and lag that happens naturally (you shoot a person 5 times then they kill you, in the kill cam you shot only once), but you also see it obviously happening intentionally (frozen people, flying through walls, boosting, etc). But it is also just how it goes, how things are, the nature of online gaming - most games out there, I'm sure. You have to take the bad with the good, or give it up. You see the best and worst in people when they have the opportunity to anonymously interact with others from the safety of behind made-up screen names.The best thing to do is just report people who are TOO good and CLEARLY doing something fishy. "Lag-Switchers," for example, ARE out there (as I am writing this I just saw a person go 26 - 0 doing this). You can follow someone on your team who has a ridiculous score and watch them do it on your screen - you can see the person they are shooting get frozen. Report these people.After reporting the person who you believe to be cheating, quit the match, otherwise you will either be slaughtered if they are on the other team or you will get few kills if they are on your team. OR, you could do what I do and mess with the person and follow them around and shoot at them and distract them as much as possible to annoy them, which lets them know that you know what they are doing and do not appreciate or respect it.All of that said, I don't think it is necessarily as completely and utterly rampant as a lot of us, even myself many times, think, considering the punishments/penalties you can get for getting caught - I think a lot of it is just as simple as one person's connection speed may be a little faster, that kind of innocent thing. And it seems pretty clear to me when someone is doing something fishy more than the normal stuff. So not completely rampantly-common, but I would not say rare either.**End online rant**Bots Mode (either online or offline multiplayer with or without friend):The custom games mode with bots is VERY cool to do in this game and excellent to do if you get tired of online play against the "TOO good people" - you can do it online and offline split screen with a buddy next to you! Every level/map including DLC, perk, weapon set and score streak is unlocked immediately so you can figure out which combos work best for you - the game saves your layouts too. You can even unlock up to 17 different things within each layout if you want (only for bots mode). It is very customizable and a lot of fun!My friend and I finally became sick of trying to play against people online, so we have been able to extend the use and enjoyment of this game entirely through Bot play. We first challenged ourselves by passing every level against all 9 possible enemy bots on first the easiest, then next easy, then next, then finally Veteran level with 50 kills. Then we've tried to pass every level on the easiest setting going 50 - 0. Next, we'll do it all with 75 kills, and so on. We've also tried going 50 kills just by stabbing. Because there are so many different ways of customizing it has made the re-playability of the game even for those who do not want to deal with online players awesome and enjoyable.Random Thoughts:--I finally have all four of the DLC packs: Revolution, Vengeance, Apocalypse and Uprising. Not a HUGE fan of the Revolution maps (Downhill is ok, the other 3 are not very fun to me) or Uprising (except Studio which is fun), but I like the ones with Vengeance ok and have enjoyed Apocalypse quite much. I'll try to be more specific soon.--I'm not a fan of Zombies mode, though I know others are. It's like a challenge mode with waves of enemies.--I will mention, since they are the two most recent Call of Duty games, here are the big differences between Ghosts and BO2 I can see with online play:With Ghosts, the problems of online play lie primarily with: A) how EASY it is to die (you get shot at all you die, which may be more "realistic" but is NOT FUN which should be the overall point); B) the terrible spawn points; C) the layout, colors and sizes of the levels; and D) how the screen seems so zoomed out.With BO2, the problems lie with the people playing the game.In Ghosts you can't see anything, so everyone is running around frantically or camping because they have to in order to play the level layout. In BO2, people do that if they want to, or they can have some logical tactics too, depending on the preferred weapon. Sometimes you see that (people playing like normal human beings) and the games are a lot of fun, and sometimes you get the hyperactive stabbers and quickscopers trying to get trophies or whatever, and the games are then not fun. But it varies, and CAN be fun, unlike Ghosts.--The graphics are nice! The levels are simple, not too big, the bad guys are clear and everything is fairly easy to see, so if you try Ghosts and then this game you will understand how much of a good thing that is.--It is fun when you get with a group of people who don't all run straight at the opponents, die promptly, then think something will change so they repeat over and over until the match is over with a score like 32 - 75. In other words, in TEAM deathmatch it is fun when you get with a group who play as a TEAM.--With online (team deathmatch) play, my buddy and I have noticed what we call the "10:00 Cheaters" - basically the second it gets late enough where people who work all day have to start winding down to go to bed, that seems to be when all the REALLY/too good people really hop on. It's remarkable, we will have had a fun enough hour or so of playing time, with our average playing skills and all, and suddenly we'll start getting slaughtered a couple matches in a row. One of us then looks at the clock and points out that "...it's after 10:00pm, the 10:00 Cheaters have come out..." so we usually call it a night at that point. So, kind of a funny note, but also (perhaps obviously) true: if you are a more casual gamer then playing at off-times, like later at night, seems more likely to result in getting the hardcore gamers in matches.--Too many young kids (and I mean children, not teens) are allowed to play this mature-rated game, as is evident if you do not immediately mute everyone, which is what you always want to do since you don't want to hear high-pitched rambling. It's obviously something that has been widespread and blatant from day 1 of the advent of online play for video games, but it still just seems so sad (and irritating!) to hear children who should be playing outside with friends or simply not playing an adult game instead cussing at people using words they barely understand the meaning of. Parents? Actual parenting? Sigh.Bottom-line:I give the game 4-stars (instead of 5) because of the silly cheating/exploiting-type crap you do have to deal with online sometimes/often, but overall I really like this game. This is a game with a very high re-playability factor.I would suggest buying it used for no more than $30 or $40, since it is not at all a new game now, but regardless of how much you choose to spend it is fun. Worth the cost, and was very surprisingly enjoyable to me, with all the great options and modes for gameplay. A very good parachute for when you inevitably jump from the disappointing wreckage of the COD: Ghosts airplane. Lots of people still playing it online too.

12.3.2013

I borrowed this at the weekend from my friend, because despite what people say about Call of Duty, despite the franchise being milked and a new one each year, Activision never fails to publish a nice campaign from IW or Treyarch. CoD: Black Ops in my opinion was amazing for its campaign, and also its multiplayer. And so is CoD: Black Ops 2.Campaign GOOD:What I love about this is how Treyarch took the best bits of the first one and decided to for once try and innovate. Basically in the future and having a more sci-fi/digital aspect for it. In the past it was military this, and that...even with the first Black Ops. But this one seems to cut it half and half. You don't have to have played the first one really,I would say this is one of those which you can jump in and get to grips with. But of course it would help if you have played the first as you get a background for one or two of the characters and the sort of troubles from the first game. Plus the first game is a very good play in its own right.Another plus side to the campaign in this, is how much like a good movie or novel it is. They took all the best elements from the first game and put it into this one. Plus it's evident that they have tried to freshen the series up. I think branching story lines work so well in this game, meaning you could essentially play it more than once and have a different outcome for each one. As usual, the visuals are kept to the high standard in the single player that we are used to, and the voice acting is once again fantastic.Another plus side is that Treyarch have now added the feature properly to load out with what you want to use, although, I don't play CoD campaigns all the time and so I don't know if this is fully new, but either way; great feature to add in. And the weapons and tools you can use aren't like other CoDs. Treyarch have created a whole new future but one that is believable. The guns you use aren't too outlandish and they still retain some of the specs of todays weapons. They really nailed it on how advanced they should be.Campaign BAD:I will say one thing that I didn't enjoy, and thats the Strike missions. Basically, they're a survival/tower defence mode, which can actually tie into the branching story lines (Tie ins with factions in the game and such). Although some people may enjoy it, I found it slightly annoying. You have to defend certain things for 10 minutes, and it ain't easy even with a tutorial. I didn't come to CoD to play a defence game, (If I want that I will play Zombies). I came to play a good story. Thankfully, you have to do only one and then the rest are optional, so if you're like me and don't like it, you don't have to sit through it every few missions or so if you don't want to. It can effect the story lines in some ways though, so maybe read up about that.I have a feeling Treyarch wanted a bit of 'Spec Ops' feel from Modern Warfare in their game, and so added this into the campaign, but to me I don't think they pulled it off very well.---Multiplayer GOOD:This is where CoD is attacked really. Multiplayer is the same run, gun, die, spawn that we all know (and some loathe). It hasn't really changed that much, as ever. I think the only thing noticeable was that Kill streaks are now 'Scorestreaks.' But that's not a bad thing on the whole. Personally, for someone who hasn't played CoD multiplayer in over a year, I found it a fun experience. Some of these new weapons and gadgets are so fun to mess around with with other players. I didn't enjoy Modern Warfare 2s multiplayer too much, but I loved Black Ops, and I love the one with BO II as well.The maps are good fun and seem quite big, so not too tight at all. But as I said, it's more or less the same, just some new weapons and gadgets, but it is fun for anyone who has given it a break for a long time.Multiplayer BAD:In my opinion, I don't like the new menus. It seems hard to navigate them in comparison to the first. I don't like how to try and make a logo and it seems like smaller choice on call cards and logos to me. Doesn't all seem as nice as BO.---Zombies:My favourite part of the game, and the reason im purchasing it after giving this one back to my friend. Zombies is revamped with TranZit and Grief.Grief is alright, 8 players and you pitted to survive with the other team, but only to try and out survive them, so it isn't gun on gun. It's ok but it's basically just Survival (classic mode) but the game doesn't end when you all die, only when the other team does. I would have preferred survival with 8 players personally.Classic (now survival), is as fun as always. The maps though have been made smaller to the original BO maps, and are around the size of Shi No Numa/Verruckt, but this isn't too bad in all honesty, because of TranZit.TranZit is the other new game mode and it is brilliant. Basically, you travel around the Shi No/Verruckt sized maps on a bus which goes ever few minutes. It's challenging, as it's just survival with a bus and travel, but for instance you could be waiting for a gun at the box and the horn of the bus goes, everyone gets on but you're left. You can't travel without the bus between the parts of the map (which go to the survial maps), without painful attack, so if you're left behind, it's a challenge to wait a while until the bus and your friends come back around. It's a fantastic game mode and twist to Zombies.Only bad thing is it's a shame that at the moment the older maps won't return now. But these new ones make up for it.--------Overall, like I said in the title; Milked franchise but this is a good game. Say what you want, but Treyarch know how to give you a damn good campaign, they have slightly freshened up the multiplayer and tried to keep it interesting, and Zombies is as fun as always and a lot more challenging now.Good game all around with minimal faults, CoD or not.

22.7.2013

After initially being comprehensive about buying MW3 in 2011, I bought it and was ultimately disappointed. Then, Black Ops 2 came in 2012. I saw the futuristic based gameplay and thought, "I am through with COD." I also thought that it is just another COD, except a futuristic version. However, I kept hearing about the how great the story was, over eight months. Not only that, I saw the game is not only based in the future. It tells a story that builds from the Cold War Era of the first Black Ops. I saw the game for under $30 and figured I'd give it a try. I am glad I did. In fact, I could have bought this game full price. I feel like I got a steal. Here is the reason why......CAMPAIGN/STORY: The game does take place in 2025.However, most of the game will NOT take place during that time. Black Ops character, Sgt. Frank Woods, who is now old, will tell Alex Mason's son, David aka "Section" a story about the rise of a madman (Raul Menendez) from the Cold War era to the present day of 2025. Of course, most of the missions will take place during the Cold War era, so players can get an understanding of how everything began. Of course, players will play as Alex Mason and also see other familiar characters, such as the young version of Sgt. Woods and CIA member Jason Hudson. During the 2025 era, players WILL play as Section and will see some new characters, such as Mike Harper, who is voiced-over by actor Michael Rooker.GAMEPLAY: Players that are familiar with COD already know how the game plays. The coolest part about playing in the 2025 era is using the new equipment and weaponry. One gadget that the player will use is called the Cognitive Land Assault Weapon aka C.L.A.W. It can fire bullets and missiles. Though I am not a fan of sci-fi-like games, it is actually something to see. Of course, playing through each mission is even better because the weapons load out can be changed, as if playing multiplayer. On one Cold War Era mission, the player will get to ride a horse. That's pretty cool, too. I would say the best part of this game is it has multiple endings. Of course, the endings are based on the actions of the player during the campaign.GRAPHICS/VISUALS: The maximum output on this game is 1080i. Who says you need a PS4?! Lol Anyway, the graphics are VERY good, though. In fact, they are some of the best I've seen on a COD title. The detail of the maps between the campaign and the multiplayer are on point. The lighting, shadows, animations, and character models are great. I really love the physics of the game. I love the way bodies fly in the air from the blast of a grenade or any other device that explodes. Not to mention, I like the way the bullets just riddle the bodies of enemies. For example, even when enemies are hit with a kill shot, they can still be effected by additional gunfire. With that being said, the game is very gore, which may not be suitable for a kid to play.MULTIPLAYER: Of course, the multiplayer is set in 2025. It is cool to see many of the fictional weapons because it may make players wonder how weapons will look in 12 years. Some weapons are familiar looking, but have more of a futuristic look to them. Many weapons and equipment have totally different names, too. I still have a hard time remembering the names of many of these weapons. Some of the new attachments have a futuristic feel to them. For example, they have a new sight with a target finder, which detects enemies on sight. Of course, players will see the recticle for targeting, but the detected enemies will have red triangles surrounding them.The killstreaks are now called scorestreaks, which means getting certain numbers of kills are not going to cut it. Now, you have to earn a certain score. Instead of a money system to buy weapons, perks, scorestreaks, and attachments, the game has a token system. I like many of the new scorestreaks. For example, one new scorestreak can have a player use what is called a Hunter Killer. This is a drone, which is thrown in the air. Then, it automatically seeks out the nearest enemy that is out in the open. When I have used it, I have replayed the match and love to watch it just explode, when slamming into an enemy. Instead of a money system to buy weapons, perks, scorestreaks, and attachments, the game has a token system.SOUND: The sound is superb in this game. Treyarch definitely stepped their game up. The weapons sound very real and distinctive. Hearing the blast of grenades and mines go off is intense. I even love the crisp sound of weapons being reloaded. That's just me, though.VERDICT: After playing MW3 and called it as a failure, I was about through with the COD series. However, the campaign has a good balance between two eras and builds a gripping and compelling story. With that being said, I must say that Treyarch makes better COD games than Infinity Ward, in my honest opinion. Overall, the game is worth owning, especially due to the lower price. Perhaps, if anyone has reservations on COD Ghosts, this can hold players over, until the price drops on that game.

14.11.2012

Yes, the new Call of Duty has been released, and yes, rather than come up with a new original name Treyarch has gone the route of Activision and labeled this segment Black Ops 2.OK first let's get over the comparisons; COD isn't Halo, nor is it Battlefield. I own all of them, each has their own style of play. Battlefield hands-down has better graphics and in many ways is more realistic (don't kid yourself though, you can jump out a plane, snipe someone in another plane then steal their plane mid-air, so I wouldn't say it's the epitome of realism). Halo is Halo, with more lasers and high jumping and all that, just completely not the same thing. The only real way to compare COD is to other COD games unfortunately,and even then are still prone to personal preferences.So in terms of Black Ops 2 to other COD games, how does it rate up? Well, I've gotta say I think Treyarch has done a lot of good compromising. They can't just reinvent the wheel and completely change gameplay; as much as people complain about it being the same-old, it's a formula that millions love (even if they refuse to admit it, since they still wound up buying it). However, Treyarch has thrown in a lot of a different angles; completely reimagined guns, new gadgets, etc; being set into the future has freed them from the constraints of having the same-old guns and gadgets (though they still exist in this game often in some form or another).Single player was well...cheesy as heck. I'm sorry but I stopped playing a few minutes in, the storyline was like some 80s action movie right off the bat(back story into the protagonist having the horrible single military dad who is too tough on him, then leaves him to go on yet aother mission; yeah, never been done before). Plus the graphics were pretty terrible; there were several scenes where the eyes of the characters are not just lifeless looking, they looked like they were bulging out or didn't have eyelids or something. Treyarch was never the one to "push the limits" on graphics, and I guess since MW3 didn't really push for better graphics Treyarch figured they could just keep to the same old engine as well. I've gotta say, not cool at this point. Graphics ARE important in a game; not the most important thing but in an action game with a terrible plotline they do make a big difference. So let's see, cheesy story and bad graphics, not exactly winning as far as the game goes right?Well, the multiplayer is pretty good, and that's why most people buy the game. This is all going to be personal opinion, but I think Treyarch really had some nice ideas; the "pick 10" is great, allowing an almost endless amount of customization, so people are less likely to fall into the same old classes. There are more gadgets, and they're pretty fun to use as well. There is a motion sensor "grenade" that only lasts for a few seconds, so it's not as unfair as in previous games, a shocking grenade that can be thrown or sit in wait for someone to run by and stun them, the usual (flashbang, etc) and others. The guns have a plethora of attachments and must be "leveled up" to unlock, and there doesn't seem to be too many radically overpowered guns so far. But the same old same old plagues the online play: occasional lag, disconnects, "unfairness" (let's be honest, that's what most people hate, at least when the game is unfair not in their favor). I actually had some pretty decent games without a ton of lag, pretty good for release-day. However, a few times loading or connecting, the game crashed and froze my entire system; yes, I'm going to give some slack for launch day, but at the same time, shouldn't we be tired of publishers releasing games that aren't really up to snuff for release? Already there was a 1.02 version that required download on release day, and the glitches I had occured after the update. The other issue I have is the maps all have the same feel to them; I'm already wishing for more maps (supposedly there are several multiplayer maps in the game, but it sure feels like I'm playing the same 4 different maps all the time).Anyways, I'm on the fence about recommending this game. It's "the same old same old", but slightly revised. That's probably good enough for the masses, but I'm sure a lot of people will still whine about it. For those impatient with the lack of change, a better approach may be to buy a new COD game every 3 years, because it doesn't look like COD is going to radically change its formula anytime soon. For those on the fence about whether to buy the game, well I can't honestly help you (wish I could). It's good, not great; it's different, but not really all that different; it's fun, but not really any more fun than the previous COD games. I'm really on the fence with the rating too; part of me thinks multiplayer is fun and worth 4 stars, but the campaign, bad graphics, etc make me lean more towards a 3 star rating. Unofficially I'd say this is a 3 1/2 star game.

18.11.2012

well, color me surprised.after having been disappointed by the last couple of CoD games, i was hesitant to purchase black ops 2. a lot of the gripes and criticisms of black ops 1 and more particularly MW3, were wholly justified. but, being the sucker that i am, i forked over $60 because i love me a FPS and i really enjoyed combat training in the first black ops (more on combat training in a minute). after having spent nearly a week with the game, here's my verdict:campaign - in short, it's a massive improvement over the last four CoD campaigns. i don't think it's stretch to say it's the best CoD campaign since CoD4. yes, it still looks dated (very dated, actually),but what it lacks in snappy graphics it makes up for in pure fun. all the trailers leading up the game led me to believe the campaign took place in the future. well, only about half the game takes place in the future. the other half takes place during the last days of the cold war. all the protagonists from BO1 are back and they all still speak like testosterone-happy alpha males (the franchise really, really needs legit writers who can write dialogue). however, the gunplay is what matters and that's where BO2 excels. first of all, you can customize your load out before you start every mission. it's a nice touch that allows you play your way. not all guns, attachments, camos, etc are available right off the bat (you have to unlock them like you do in the multiplayer), but it's a nice change. the campaign also gives you several choices in the game that will affect the outcome. this is practically unheard of in FPS games, so kudos to treyarch for mixing it up and bringing something new. each mission also has a series of ten challenges specific to that particular level. some of the challenges are fairly easy, but some are very challenging. and sometimes the only way to complete all the challenges is to replay the mission. the only part of the campaign i don't care for is the strike force missions (but that's probably because i suck at real time strategy games).multiplayer - ah, the great love-it-or-loathe aspect to all call of duty games. i haven't played any CoD multiplayer since MW2. i got sick of the glitching, camping, obsession with killstreaks, etc. BO2 isn't a drastic departure from the formula, but it's a least an improvement. scorestreaks have replace killsteaks which encourages more team play. smart move. the maps are much improved, in my opinion, from BO1. in fact, there's not a map i don't care for. the sound design is 1000 times better. where in BO1 it sounded like you were shooting pop guns and peashooters (pew pew pew), the guns in BO2 are hefty, beefy and actually have some bass. they sound great. not BFBC2 great, but close enough. i haven't experienced all the freezing on my ps3 that many others have noticed, but the lag is absolutely horrendous. rubberbanding is non-stop, hit detection is often spotty, and with 650,000 people online at any given time, i'm not sure why it can take five or six minutes to get a game started. but, despite it's flaws, it's the most fun i've had on a CoD multiplayer since CoD4.zombies - again, kudos to treyarch for not resting on their laurels and simply regurgitating past incarnations of this mode. sure, it's still zombies, but in addition to the tradition survival mode, you now have the tranzit mode and griefing mode. i haven't played too many zombie matches (i don't last long anyway when i do), but it's definitely fun and challenging.combat training - honestly, combat training, for me, was the best part of BO1. sometimes i just want to kick back, practice, own the AI, play with a friend or two and not worry about having to listen to a bunch of hopped up pre-pubsecent, vulgar kids. combat training was the main reason i bought BO2. unfortunately, combat training as we knew it no longer exists. you can still set up bots and play games, but there's not combat training progression. i was really disappointed about that. all the guns and unlocks are available right from the beginning, which isn't a bad thing, but part of the fun of multiplayer and combat training is the ever-present allure of unlocks. on the positive side, all game modes are available in bot games (free for all, team deathmatch, kill confirmed, domination, headquarters, etc). i really wish there were a combat training progression, but you can't win them all.all in BO2 is without a doubt the best all-around CoD game since CoD4, in my opinion. there's plenty to admire and my hat's off to treyarch for making a concerted effort to try something new. given CoD's popularity they certainly didn't have to do it, but that fact that they did earns my respect. just hire some better writers next time.

28.2.2015

Call of Duty... Black Ops 2, is Treyarchs second,darker covert instalment for the 360's twilight year.With a far more fleshed out story and great action sequences its a summer blockbuster on your console.Beautifully rendered with just a hint of screen tearing every now and then and a few silly glitches, the overall experience is one of an adrenaline gun feast gem.Frame rate runs so silky smooth with little drop for near on all the campaign with exceptional production values as expected from this franchise.AI is competent, Friendlies put up a good fight and seem aggressive enough, though the lions share is yours.Enemies are typical fare....canon fodder,and clumsy in their actions ; though I did get a few levels where their intelligence increased substantially,and they tried to out flank me, initiative indeed!A slightly different spin than Infinity Wards spectacular adaptations on the franchise; in style,colour palette, art design and presentation, the game immediately draws you in from the starting "gun ho" sequences, to the ultimate finale and rolling end credits; even if the game is heavily scripted and cinematic in its well crafted and dynamic cut scene segments.Fan boys and fan girls aside,straight off the bat,this is a game with a beautifully balanced control system that the series as a whole from Activision is so famous for.Sound design is loud, brash and really authentic though some of the the guns do feel a tad flat as other reviewers have mentioned,but never detract from the overall taut action, and certainly pack enough of a punch;though more recoil and feedback would have been better fleshed out considering these are modern high powered weapons.Explosions;albeit from grenades, C-4 or shelling, all sounded most gratuitously satisfying and fatal;also particle and dust/smoke effects are equally well executed.In a titular war with the "Battlefield"series this just edges ahead in the genre...the scenery looks great blows apart enough to draw a smile and it all looks fantastic.And of course it uses a tried and trusted form of the Frostbite engine, similar to the 2nd Medal of Honour video game,enhancing the in game effects from weather to ricochets. .VERDICT.....Technically the best Call of Duty so far. This is a marvellous achievement: visually stunning with action packed set-pieces a Hollywood big movie sound design,creditable story and AAA presentation values.Maybe the definitive FPS of this genre of action based modern warfare adventures.Even if its not all perfect despite the initial glitz and shine,and some may find it a little "same oldie" in places,the overall package is a Top drawer polished delivery. From the first rate character voice actors, to the excellent booming blockbuster score,it is certainly a No.1 choice to consider for picking up.If you've played all or none, or only a few titles of this series or even genre then this is a absolute must to blast through.This definitely deserves a place of honor in you games library, and of course it has zombies!!!!!I think this series can only be improved upon in the next gen format of gaming consoles,so this could possibly be the best offering software wise we will see on the outgoing ageing 360....:-(Of course, we wont even mention COD : Ghosts.....it doesn't even come close.So ; here's the stripe...."is it worth your time??? " @#$# Hell yeah! ....AND some.!Now,let's haul ass Soldier !....Lock and load !....LOL ppl..Read full review...

14.11.2012

Treyarch returns with the sequel to the hit title Call of Duty: Black Ops. This time around, Treyarch seeks to revitalize the stale franchise in ways that often actually work. After the reorganizing of Infinity Ward, I wasn't sure if I would ever really love a Call of Duty title again. I really enjoyed Black Ops but it still had that "sameness" to it. Looking back, I think a big portion of that was due to the recent modern military settings the franchise had been exploring. It was, in a sense, repeating the same mistakes it had made by constantly utilizing the World War II setting.With Black Ops 2, we are transported to an imagined future filled with high tech gadgets and fast paced warfare.The campaign is short as the previous Call of Duty titles since the popularization of online multiplayer have been. Imagine playing through a triple size action movie. Now imagine playing through a good action movie. That's exactly what the single player experience feels like. The integration of futuristic gadgets and methods of warfare is very refreshing as opposed to the old "walk down the corridor until all the enemies" are dead scenario. To be certain, there is still much of that. However, the large set pieces and action moments serve the story well and mix things up. The Strike Force additions are also a nice, innovative touch with the primary drawback being your allies' AI. I commend Treyarch for their well done attempt at moving the series forward.Multiplayer in Black Ops 2 is definitely the best we've seen. There have been many changes to discourage camping such as making Ghost and suppressors harder to unlock (Ghost also only works when you are in motion). The new scorestreaks (previously killstreaks) are very fun to play with and further immerse the player into that futuristic world of war. Scorestreaks, by the way, is perhaps the best system I've seen to reward players. Everything you do in game (assists, caputring objectives, etc) gives you points towards your overall scorestreak. This does well to encourage team play and get those pesky run-and-gunners to provide some level of support. The create-a-class system has been revamped with the all new 10 point system. This allows you to cater to your favored playing style in a way we've not seen before in the franchise. Customization is still there with playercards, weapon attatchments and camo (no face paint this time). The maps are also wonderfully designed and a welcome break from the trainwreck design featured in MW3. There are also a lack of contracts as seen in the first Black Ops. That was a feature I really enjoyed and so it is sad to see that wasn't carried over. Leveling up is somewhat harder and thus unlocking items for use is also more difficult. Most players are thus on a pretty equal footing for the first half of the leveling system.Overall, this is the best entry in the Call of Duty franchise since the initial Modern Warfare. Detractors of the franchise are still not going to find anything to like about the game while fans are going to revel in the very welcome changes. I think it is necessary to point out that Black Ops 2 serves to change and perfect what needs to be done while still preserving the essence that is Call of Duty. Players really don't want the series to change into something that is hardly recognizable as Call of Duty. More like they want the experience to feel fresh. I think Black Ops 2 does that well.

17.9.2013

Well it has been out for nearly a year now and I have had this since day 1. I have long been a fan a fan of CoD games and own all since CoD4 with all the DLC too. However I was disappointed with MW3 and wasn't sure quite what to expect from Black Ops 2. I know people complain that the 'engine' is old but it h=appears to be completely overhauled and graphically it is the best looking CoD game to date. It runs smoothly and plays just as well and quickly as ANY FPS game available.The campaign has gone from being a linear cinematic experience with decisions affecting the storyline - thus given it more replayability but still retains that cinematic experience.

14.11.2012

Yes, I am still one of the few people who buys and plays for the Campaign mode and think of the multi-player as an add on. So far, I am about 6 hours into the campaign and believe I am almost done with it. One word to describe it: "Amazing"Not only is this the best story in any COD game I have ever played, (This one is my 5th), Treyarch actually added new features to the gameplay. Now, more than ever, decisions I made influenced things like who died and the story outcome . There is also a new mode, which lets you control battles from a third person perspective. You can switch to any character's first person perspective or drone in battle, if you like and think your army is not preforming well,

14.3.2013

While I enjoyed my time playing Black Ops on the Nintendo Wii, graphically the game wasn't as good as it's 360 counterpart and some important things were missing.Two years later we get Black Ops II which surpasses the original game by a fair margin. It's worth noting that it's the third game of this particular spin-off (the previous games being World At War and Black Ops). Graphically this game can compete with it's 360 counterpart and even has some unique features which I will explain in more detail.One of the major differences is the way the game works with the Wii U Gamepad. It is possible to play the entire game using the Gamepad alone without looking at the TV.

3.12.2012

I am a mature gamer, and have owned / still own just about every platform since time began. I'm loving the Wii U for what new functionality it brings to the party but I wanted to mention Black Ops2 and how it fares on Nintendo's flagship hardware, specifically compared to Xbox and it's Live! platform.The truth is, I'm a seasoned player who runs and guns, with no regard for KD or personal stats; I play the objective in a very gung-ho fashion. And that, in itself is the biggest flaw with this game if you want to play online. Last night, at 9pm CET, I booted this game for the first time and went straight into multiplayer. There were only players in the lobby for team deathmatch, free for all & domination.

1.3.2013

Not comment re the single player as I've not even tried it yet - anyway, to me, the single player ISN'T why 99% of people buy this game.Well, you know what you're getting with COD games. You'll have the folk saying it's the best game ever and then you'll have the others saying it's just the same old, same old.I'm always somewhere in between.I buy these games BECAUSE I know what I'm getting. It'd be stupid to make radical changes to the game as it's a tried and tested format that people like. Just look at how many people play it as proof.Right onto a quick review of the multiplayer...I've only clocked up a few hours so far but here are my initial thoughts :-Graphics are very impressive.Sound is NOT very impressive (definitely a step backwards from MW3).

11.12.2012

This review will focus mostly on the Campaign, as there are plenty of reviews focusing on the Multiplayer and Zombie modes. It will be spoiler-free - I may allude to some things, but I will not exclusively ruin anything for those who haven't played yet.Black Ops 2's Campaign follows nicely on from Alex Mason's story in BO1. Similar in style, the narrative is propelled forward with every mission. There are even more gadgets and gizmos to get your head around, which I found refreshing for the most part! Guns too, are widely varied and you will even experience various transport combat (if I can call it that): from riding on horseback, to flying a V-Tol plane. Overall, the frame rate seems smoother,

5.1.2013

This version of call of duty is the first one which is set in the future, granted the modern warfares have touched of future maybe up to 5 years in front but not this far of a distance. The game is yet again another amazingly good shot from activision, people have been complaining saying there is lag issues. However LAG is not down to the game itself, its the hosts quality of connection, maybe you guys are on about the kill registration in the game which is the only issue i am having with the game. Kill registration is the time is takes, for example if you are being shot at, its the time it takes for the kill to register on your screens. This is down to connection issues but when the connection is at full capacity the issues still stand.

1.2.2013

Before I bought this game, I had reservations about this because of how Black Ops was. But decided to give this game a try based on how multiplayer looked during trailers. I fell in love with this game.The multiplayer is set up to where each loadout has a maximum of 10 options for customization. for example, 1 gun wIith 2 attachments, 3 perks, a secondary with 1 attachment, and two grenades is one loadout max. That is 10 total options. BUT you have the option to have only a primary weapon with potentials of 6 perks using wildcard perks (Extra options for more perks, or up to 3 attachments on primaries, etc.). This really revolutionizes the way loadouts are created making it much more equal I believe.As for the guns and unlocking them,

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