2010 Treyarch - Activision - XBox 360 (Also on PS3)
FPS FPS FPS
Unlike Modern Warfare 2, I have little to no anticipation and rejected the game before the release and even during the first bit it was on the market. After some time, the game grew on me and became one of my most played titles for the 360.
Unlike Treyarch's World at War, the game showcases smooth mechanics and animations, as well as well constructed hit-boxes and maps that don't yield carbon copies of matches every round. Much better than their old Call of Duty title.
First major scoring category is the storyline. Like the past few Call of Duty titles, the story is not what sold the game, and still holds that reputation. To be quite honest, the game is a mash of Fight Club and The Rock, two fantastic movies, so you'd think that'd turn out a fantastic game? Nope, they kind of mashed the ass ends together to make one giant predictable, playable turd. Also, I'm a bit biased because Modern Warfare 2 had a fantastic story that I would give a 9, so Black Ops will receive a 5 from me. Yes, I know 5 is still "good enough," but I tend to play games for stories.
Anyway, you, Chris Redfield, gets sent to Africa to help bust up some terrorist biological warfare trades and end up getting through into a pit of experimentation. Like the previous installments, your objective is survival and completion of a mission. There isn't much for character development, mainly because it's been going on for a decade now (except for the new main character, Sheva) but the continuation of attitude and storyline pieces together well.
Next on the docket is gameplay. I'll come right out and hand it a 8/10. Unlike Modern Warfare 2, killstreak rewards do not provide for more killstreak rewards and flood the matches with flying objects and missiles from the heavens, making this title a bit more gun oriented game instead of "let's hope this chopper takes out the whole team and gets me a new chopper" game. Let me just say this now, I hate flak jacket.
With controls and mechanics nearly 100% carried over from Modern Warfare 2, the gameplay remains smooth but somehow feels a little slower and sluggish compared to Modern Warfare 2, I don't know why, it just does. Also, in multiplayer, they brought back the ability to revive people with the Second Chance (Last Stand) perk and added the ability to drive to prone from sprint, much less useful than it seems.
Oddly enough, being a year newer than Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops has a lower quality of graphics and more lazily produced maps. Knowing today's general capabilities and designed maps for other FPS games, I'll give it a 7/10. I don't understand how a game takes an old engine and makes it look worse. Also, maps lack the magic feeling that Modern Warfare 2 pulled off with swirling leaves and other objects that catch your eye and keep you alert. Sure, Black Ops has them, but they feel forced. Also, I like to use my environment, like tall grasses and rocky outcrops, to hide in. Treyarch used minimal grass features and placed too many ridiculous invisible barriers around rocks and other land formations to keep people from "camping" and make the games have more action. If I wanted to get shot every second, I'd go play Unreal Tournament.
I don't really know what to say about the sound, other than the fact that it's nothing special. Old grenade bounces and headshot pings still exist, with no improvement and even at times worse than the old games. Sometimes you'll hear the signature "ping" but not be rewarded with a headshot. The shellshock from mortars is nice, but still, that was around in Modern Warfare 2 and little to no effort was made to improve the sound. Then again, it was already well-developed in the previous title and footsteps and the clicks of enemy reloads could really help out when you're sniping out by your lonesome. 8/10 for the mic men.
Replayability, the reason why Black Ops has sold so many copies. At first I didn't want to, but I'll give it a 10/10 in this category. Online multiplayer just keeps me coming back with more, which I'll mention in the next segment for originality, for they tend to run together.
With the ability to buy contracts to complete that change daily and a rather well-made currency system, people are forced to play day after day to buy the items for their perfect emblems and build all the custom classes that they could ever imagine. With guns and attachments and whatnot no longer unlocked by level (well, guns somewhat are) and action, they are now purchased by CoD points, which are gathered by playing games, performing contracts and wagering amounts in special wager matches. The currency is used to buy weapons, purchase attachments and equipments, from silencers to claymores customizing face paint and adding clan tags and emblems to guns. It's really the first console FPS that lets you be who you want to be.
With the addition of camera spikes, toxic gas, decoy grenades and modified class perks, you see a lot more playing styles and classes running around. As opposed to the carbon copied M4s with silencers in Modern Warfare 2. Unfortunately, maps have been designed to discourage sniping, which I shouldn't consider original, but maybe original in the Call of Duty franchise. I'll had the originality a 8/10, little generous, considering the fact that we've essentially been playing the same FPS for nearly four years now.
Ratings
Storyline: 5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Replayability: 10/10
Originality: 8/10
Overall: 7.5/10
//Nate
