My favorite CoD game to date
In my humble and honest opinion, this is the most feature-packed and best Call of Duty game to date. It is a true game made for its fans and delivers a product that lives up to its hype. Though still ripping a many good things from the Modern Warfare series, it creates its own identity. (Side note: It does what Halo: Reach could not)
Graphics
They are pretty good. In fact, the opening and closing cinematic moments (Small scenes involving a shadow covered women speaking into a microphone) look so good if they weren't real that I could faint. The actual game engine's graphics aren't bad… They are still lacking compared to games such as Final Fantasy XIII, but they never get in the way. You can't really complain about them.
Controls
The exact same control scheme as always… It works well. There are a couple of vehicle controlling sections where you have X and Y axis control of the vehicle while the Z axis is controlled for you. These sections also work. They didn't frustrate me in any way.
Game Play
Except for the vehicle controlling stuff, generally more of the same. This game feels pretty much exactly like Modern Warfare . However, the reason that I like this game so much, is the added features and easter eggs put into the game. There is a hidden text game, a hidden dual-stick shooter, bots, and of course, Nazi Zombies…
Wait, let me say that again in case you missed it, Call of Duty: Black Ops has computer controlled BOTS to play against in multiplayer (With another player splitscreen if desired) that you can fight against if you didn't want to… I've missed this feature in so many shooters that have come out in the last 5 years… More on the awesome new multiplayer features in that section.
Nazi Zombies. If you've played Call of Duty: World at War, then you are probably familiar with this feature (Unless you played it on the Wii). If you haven't heard of it, basically you and up to 3 other players (Only 1 locally) are in a confined space and must defend yourself against waves of zombies (Horde mode style from gears of war). There are powerups and different guns to unlock and strategies aplenty. This is definitely an upgrade from the World at War Nazi Zombies as it is so much more over the top and the maps are more difficult. In addition to that they each feature a super campy unique story (There are two maps thus far).
As far as the hidden games go, there is an easter egg where you can break out of your chair (In the main menu) and solve a little mystery games to unlock these features. I have yet to solve them and only know about the unlocked features from gaming podcasts (The Final Score, Gamespot's The Hotspot).
Multiplayer
At its core, the standard multiplayer is the exact same thing you're used to from Modern Warfare (or World at War), but the features that have been added are pure awesomeness. There are new free-for-all wager matches that add a lot to the game as well as the longed after improvement of being able to play split screen with a friend online (YES! THIS INCLUDES ONE GUEST!) which is almost reason alone to buy this game if you are a huge fan of the multiplayer. Nazi Zombies can also be played over Live.
The Wager matches involve you pitted against 5 other players in some interesting game types. In one of them all players have the same weapon, but after a small time period everyone's weapon changes.
In another, you all start off with a pistol and a knife with only 1 bullet. Each kill earns you another bullet (One hit kills in this mode), but by using the knife you conserve bullets and can build a small stash to out strategize your lesser equipped opponents.
One of the modes involves everyone starting with a pistol and a knife. Each kill you earn with your gun will turn your gun into a more advanced gun (AKA: Kill someone with the pistol, get an assalt rilfe). The objective in this mode is to work your way through the entire tree of guns and kill someone with the last weapon.
Its crazy modes like this that make the multiplayer not just a tacked on feature with a few minor updates, but a fun place to be for new reasons.
Story
Engrossing, sweet, gritty, and awesomeness. Whether you liked the Modern Warfare campaigns or not, you cannot help but realize that this games storytelling is much more immersive. Instead of the standard Call of Duty jumping everywhere to a strange assortment of soldiers all over the world, you only control 2 people who are deeply connected through the story, Mason and his CIA Agent handler Hudson. You start the story as Mason, strapped to a chair being interrogated while also possibly going insane. You are not sure who is interrogating you or why, but they are trying to pry something from your brain that you do not recollect at all. The missions you play are flashbacks to what happened to you previously with each mission and interrogation scene in between adding more and more depth to the story. Even with such a short campaign you become attached to the characters in this world much more than you should in such a small amount of time. This is mostly due to the talented voice acting and writing involved in the story. It is almost all completely believable (yet super over the top) to the point where you can't help but wonder how it is going to conclude. It ends on somewhat of a mysterious note, yet at the same time still feels complete. This is the first game I've reviewed on this blog that gets an "A" for both its story, and the way it pans out over the course of the game.
Bottom Line
A really good game. If you haven't entered into the Call of Duty universe at all and it even seems remotely interesting, then you should most definitely pick this game up as soon as possible.
If you already have played Call of Duty before and wonder if there is enough in this game for it to warrant $60 more dollars, I would argue on the side that it is.
If you, like me, are a little skeptical of this game because of the lack of cool features in the last couple CoD games, then I suggest you give it a chance too. I assumed that this game would merely be an averagely alright game when I got it, but I was impressed and shocked at the same time.
Personal Notes
For someone who generally takes the stance that the Call of Duty games are super overrated (While still being good games), I would like to say once again that this is an awesome game. I have had a lot of fun with it so far, and will still continue to do so. Features like Bots in the multiplayer and bringing guests online allow for so many more scenarios in which to play this game. The bringing back and additions to Nazi Zombies make it exciting again.
If you hadn't figured it out, I love when there are bots in first person shooters. Oh yeah, and turning the bots difficulty onto Veteran is ridiculous, and awesome. Try it.
Last but not least, I am a person who generally finds it hard to get into the stories of first-person shooters, especially with stories that last 6 or so hours long, but I broke my own rule and connected with this universe in a short time and was a little sad that the game was over. Thank you Treyarch, you have thoroughly blown my mind and kicked Infinity Ward's butt at the same time.