Call of Duty: Black Ops – Quick Review

Yesterday, bloggers, was unofficially known as Black Ops Saturday. Millions around the globe plonked themselves down in front of their Playstations, Xboxs and Wiis, all playing their cherished, shiny new Call of Duty game. At long last, after months of waiting, it was time to play Black Ops.

Brothers, Fathers and Uncles gambolled home on Friday at a frightening pace as soon as they could tear themselves away from school or work.

Upon explaining what one’s purpose was, the simple nod of ‘Black Ops!’ answered all.
5.6 million copies screamed off of the shelves at the speed of a Blackbird. In just the first 24 hours.

This fast.

Put simply, the Call of Duty franchise is one heck of a big deal.

Have a look at that trailer.

Pretty exciting, isn't it? surely they must have picked all the  best bits from the campaign.

You are wrong. The action just didn't stop from the word go, shizzle exploding every second in pure CoD style, a headache inducing barrage of colours and lights from every direction. You forget to breath. The Single Player takes you globe hopping in every Cold War theatre; Cuba, escaping from a prison mine with hundreds of prison thugs, taking a beating from the Vietcong, VIP escort to the Pentagon to brief with JFK, infiltrating a Russian rocket launch… the list goes on and on and on, and it’s clear a lot of time and effort (and indeed money) has been put into each level.

When, and if, you should emerge from the Single Player, head spinning, The CoD Black Ops experience has only just begun.

Treyarch’s surprise success Zombie Mode from World at War is back again, with several huge maps with a sprinkling of story as well. You and your friends (either online or in person) can play as JFK, Fidel Castro or Richard Nixon, defending the Pentagon against the Zombie Onslaught, spewing catchphrases all the way. Needless to say, it is absolutely hilarious. The sight of Kennedy clutching a shotgun (“Zombies, your people thank you!) or ‘Dick’ Nixon lying prone (“I want your brains, I want your vote!”) being revived by Castro, with the omnipresent cigar, is just gold.

The iconic online multiplayer is also making a shining return. Players earn CoD Credits than can be spent on an array of weapons, perks and attachments, or gambled in the range of Wager match modes. Split screen online means that a mate can join in to.

The slightly frantic, albeit impressive Single player is added to and multiplied by the Zombies and Multiplayer modes. Both improved with an invigorating boost, Black Ops will have you crawling back long after the West and Russia kissed and made up. Call of Duty: Black Ops is the must-buy game of this year, and if you haven’t already got it, then its won spot #1 on your Christmas Wish List.

Now if you excuse me, there are some noobs to pwn on Team Deathmatch.
Namely, me.

Lucjan 'The LZ has been compromised!' Kaliniecki
November 2010