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Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Finally, A Call Of Duty Game That’s More Than Just A Call Of Duty Game

By now, even if you’re reading this at midnight on launch day, you’ve probably already managed to get your hands on a copy of Black Ops 2. If so, anything that I say in the following paragraphs will have very little influence on how much of your paycheck Activision is going to get their hands on. But if you’re one of the few people waiting until the review scores come in, it’s probably safe for you to go and pick up a copy. Trust me.

Now, I know that what I’m about to say will probably make me sound like a mindless Call of Duty fanboy, but Activision’s latest outing is quintessentially different from anything they’ve ever done in the past. Sure, Black Ops 2 has that unmistakable CoD flavor, but it’s also a bit angrier, and it has more depth and more surprises than any of the previous incarnations.

The single-player campaign, for instance, is arguably the most impressive in the Call of Duty franchise. Obviously, there will be those who argue in favor of MW1’s superiority, but the replay value in Black Ops 2 is what edges the competition.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Screenshot

The story itself was written by David S. Goyer, who also wrote the previous Black Ops script and penned a couple of small, indie movies called Batman Begins , The Dark Knight , and The Dark Knight Rises . The story arc builds heavily on Black Ops 1, but where the first BO’s storyline was incoherent at points, BO2 manages to stay focused without becoming monotonous.

The timeline in Black Ops 2 is split between the recent future (2025, to be exact), and the recent past (the 1970s and 80s). This time the narrative follows David Mason, who is the son of Alex Mason. You might remember Alex as the guy who spent most of Black Ops 1 being tortured and interrogated.

The thing that makes BO2’s single-player campaign genuinely unique within the CoD franchise is Treyarch’s decision to add branching plot lines. Throughout the campaign, you’re going to make some difficult decisions about which characters live and which ones die. These choices will change the way the narrative progresses and can drastically affect the end game outcome. A few weeks ago, I got that chance to sit down with Mark Lamia, Studio Head at Treyarch, and he mentioned that the game has roughly six primary endings. However, the way that the Black Ops 2 plotlines interweave with one another will have a surprising effect on the overall outcome.

I ran through the campaign twice, making completely different decisions both times, and was genuinely surprised by the aftermath (literally, in some cases). Also, the fact that Black Ops 2 also allows you to customize your single-player loadout (to a certain extent) makes playing throughout the campaign a second time almost as interesting as the first.

Another one of BO2’s defining elements is probably going to be its most controversial feature: Strike Force Missions.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Screenshot

Treyarch created these missions in order to insert a level of sandbox-style RTS gameplay into an otherwise FPS experience. Players control squads of soldiers and equipment from a top-down “Overwatch” viewpoint. But, at any time, you’re able to select a unit and take over first-person control.

The Strike Force Missions are non-linear, meaning that you can choose not to play them if they’re not your thing. However, given the branching story lines, avoiding them could have certain consequences within your campaign.

Now, as much as I wanted to love these missions, I couldn’t bring myself to overlook their flaws. If you’ve had any past experience with real-time strategy games, these missions are going to be incredibly frustrating. The A.I. of your friendly units makes them uncontrollable. If you don’t tell your squads, with incredible specificity, where to go and who to kill, they will be dead within seconds of finding an enemy. Eventually, I would simply just horde them all into a corner take control of them individually in order to complete the mission.

In fact, if I’m being honest, there’s a good chance that I would have given Black Ops 2 a higher rating if Treyarch had removed the Strike Force missions altogether.

However, whatever frustration I had during the single-player campaign was quickly forgotten when I loaded up the multiplayer. Treyarch has really done an amazing job taking the CoD franchise and carving out unique title within the overall framework.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Screenshot

They’ve axed the standard perks/attachment loadout system in favor of what they’re calling a “Pick 10” system. This allows players much more control over the individuality of their loadout.

For instance, if you’re the type of person who prefers gunplay to perks, the Pick 10 system would allow you to add a third attachment to your gun in favor of a third perk. Or, if you’d rather have 2 extra perks, you have the option of removing your weapon attachments altogether.

Now, hardcore CoD players are going to love the customizability that the Pick 10 system offers, but I think there’s a good chance that it will eventually cause some unforeseen balance issues when people start to get the hang of it. Hopefully Treyarch will keep an eye on the way certain types of unbalanced loadouts affect the overall gameplay, because CoD players love exploits.

Fans of the previous Treyarch titles will be happy to know that the mechanics and gunplay feel familiar. Explosives may be toned down a bit, but that’s probably a good thing. Actually, I know for a fact that it’s a good thing. Screw everyone who likes that grenade attachment.

Treyarch has also taken it upon themselves to create a new league-play system from the ground up. Players who want to participate simply need to create a team and log onto the matchmaking system. After a few qualifying matches, your team will be added to a ladder where you’ll be continuously matched up against teams of your specific skill level.

Also, if you want to show off your team’s prowess, you can stream the match using BO2’s Live Streaming function. Or you can recruit a mouthy teenager to commentate using the CoDCasting feature.

Hardcore Call of Duty enthusiasts will undoubtedly be hitting BO2’s level 55 prestige cap numerous times. But this time they won’t have to reset all of their features. (Weapon XP, for example, is held over after the reset.) Instead, players will have access to a variety of Prestige Rewards, which will undoubtedly give players with no job a slight advantage.

Now, in some players’ minds, I’ve left off the most important part: Zombies.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Screenshot

Don’t worry, though. Treyarch has also included three zombie-survival maps that will probably keep zombie lovers busy for quite some time. Two of them are reminiscent of the previous survival-style Zombies mode that we’ve all grown to love. However, they’ve also added a level called “Transit,” which is essentially made up of three separate maps that are connected via a trolley system. Players will have to fight their way through waves of zombies in order to find the trolley, hop on board, and hope the zombies don’t overtake them as they travel.

Black Ops 2 also features a new zombie mode called “Grief.” Grief mode allows two teams of four players play against each other in a survival mode competition. Whichever team lasts the longest takes the crown.

I’m not sure how they got away with it, but Treyarch has essentially created three separate games and rolled them into one convenient package. Don’t tell them I said this, but I would have been willing to pay for the single-player, multiplayer, and Zombies modes separately. So, I almost feel like I’m stealing a little.

In a lot of ways, it feels like Treyarch is giving a gigantic middle finger to Infinity Ward, the Modern Warfare developer that always seems to dominate the spotlight. Black Ops 2 isn’t just the culmination of the Black Ops series, it might become the most-loved title in the Call of Duty franchise. Either way, fans won’t be disappointed this year.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
Activision has managed to squeeze an impressive amount of performance out of this outdated generation of consoles. 4.0 Control
Everything you’ve already grown to love. Nothing more. Nothing less. 5.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Perhaps the most surprising new element. All of the sounds have been completely revamped from the ground up. And it shows. 4.5 Play Value
Whether it’s the single-player, multiplayer, or Zombies, the replay value is incredible. 4.5 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • All-New Create-A-Class: Create-a-class has been re-imagined, introducing players to a new “pick-10” allocation system, allowing an unprecedented number of combinations of create-a-class content. Players no longer have to take content from each category; instead, trade items from one category for extra items in another—any combination of 10 items makes almost anything possible.
  • New Score Streaks: Score Streaks reward players for helping their team win the game: capturing flags, defending your teammate with an assault shield, and getting kills and assists are all examples of actions that help your team win and thus give you score. Each action has a different value and can influence the theater of operations.
  • eSports via League Play: COD: BO2 introduces League Play, offering skill-based matchmaking and seasonal ladders. Play a small number of matches to get your skill rating, and from there, you’ll be placed into a division with players of similar skill. Keep winning and you’ll move up in rank—steady progress will move you up the ladder and into upper divisions. Skill-based matchmaking ensures that you are challenged but not out-gunned. League play is for everyone. Additionally, CODcasting is part of the mix, allowing fans to commentate their favorite games.
  • Upgraded Weapons, Attachments, and Equipment: Near-future warfare means upgrades in technology that soldiers will use in the field. Additionally, weapon perks are now built into the attachments.

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