PC GAMER: Critical Review of Call of Duty: Black Ops

I believe PC Gamer has some of the best reviews because they are good at avoiding influence from hype. They finally reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops, and I am posting it because it seems to be the first critical review from a good source of the game.

Verdict: 64/100

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

" ...Your team is fleeing an avalanche. An enemy with an RPG pops out, so you shoot him. No dice: he's invincible, because he hasn't played his part in this scene yet. So he fires his RPG at the walkway you're on, beneath the guy in front of you. That guy's in front of you because if you try to run ahead of him, you're blocked by an invisible barrier. So the guy falls through the gap, and so do you. And if you weren't near the gap, you're teleported there to make this scene work ..."

Seems like a proper score. The series really has not changed since CoD4.

So they took off points because it's heavily scripted...? Wow, haven't they played a COD game before? A what reviewer uses words like ******ing in a professional magazine review? GeneralShowzer

So they took off points because it's heavily scripted...? Wow, haven't they played a COD game before? A what reviewer uses words like ******ing in a professional magazine review? GeneralShowzer

One that has little time and paitence for a rehash?

[QUOTE="GeneralShowzer"]So they took off points because it's heavily scripted...? Wow, haven't they played a COD game before? A what reviewer uses words like ******ing in a professional magazine review? Ikuto_Tsukiyomi

One that has little time and paitence for a rehash?

I agree with the score but disagree in the reasons.

The game isn't unbalance due players with more hours have access to more powerful weapons. This isn't true due in most of cases the initial weapons are pretty much similar to the latest ones, and it take me 49 hours in 8 days to reach level 49 -a few minutes ago-, so anyone will be able to unlock almost all the stuff in a small amount of days.

But is true that is a bit lazy game: the sound implementation -specially the surround, which affects in gameplay- isn't good, the respawn system is one of the worst even used in a shooter, and the game overall lacks deep and complexity: above all the cosmetic stuff, basically you have only about 15 different weapons and a few game modes that except maybe for Search & Destroy Hardcore are almost always played like a mix between maniatical deathmatch and furious camping.

Is not bad, and is more balanced and better than MW 2, but throws nothing new on the table. A bit primitive, too.

[QUOTE="millerlight89"][QUOTE="subyman"] [QUOTE="subyman"][QUOTE="millerlight89"][QUOTE="subyman"] Adult gaming magazines typically use adult language. Sadly, after playing I have to agree with them. The franchise is becoming stagnant, but it is still selling well so no need to change.subyman

fair score

Oh it's a practice in the "adult world." Yea I guess that's why all my business professors frown upon it? Give me a break dude. It is a lack of vocabulary, nothing more. I cuss at times, but I would never dream of it if I was getting paid to write. It seems that saying **** **** and **** make people big boys and girls in our world. :roll:millerlight89

Of course you don't say it in a work place, but a magazine written for adults for recreation is quite different. What say you about GQ, Wired, and Rolling Stone? Are they unprofessional as well? It is a different type of magazine pure and simple, it is no worse or less professional than a completely clean Nintendo Power because of their choice of words and I highly doubt he lacks a wide vocabulary haha.

Oh it's a practice in the "adult world." Yea I guess that's why all my business professors frown upon it? Give me a break dude. It is a lack of vocabulary, nothing more. I cuss at times, but I would never dream of it if I was getting paid to write. It seems that saying **** **** and **** make people big boys and girls in our world. :roll:millerlight89

[QUOTE="subyman"] Adult gaming magazines typically use adult language. Sadly, after playing I have to agree with them. The franchise is becoming stagnant, but it is still selling well so no need to change.millerlight89

So PG-13 rated films should throw in grown up words despite the fact that kids have access to them?gamer620

Why are you getting mad at this....:|XxspritexX

I highly doubt he lacks a wide vocabulary haha.

subyman

cosign with Miller, its a 9/10 for me and miles better then MW2. Its much more balanced and the campaign is better imo.

I'm sure the people saying it is a "fair" score have played it? :Pmillerlight89

nope but i did see a video of it on youtube last week, does that count? :P

oj im on the last level of the campaign (i think)

Who said I was mad, astonished by how little people know about the real world.

millerlight89

:lol: ????

Then one would expect him to use better adjectives.millerlight89

What's a more powerful adjective to express frustration than that word :D

PC gamer is a joke imo. Their whole magazine stinks. Not just reviews.

millerlight89

I haven't read the magazine in a few years but when I used to have a subscription they were excellent, some of the best written reviews I've ever read. They also never gave me the slightest impression of hype bias with a couple of exceptions. Most other review sites do this on a regular basis.

I'd give it a solid 9.millerlight89

Same here.

[QUOTE="millerlight89"]

PC gamer is a joke imo. Their whole magazine stinks. Not just reviews.

superfluidity

I haven't read the magazine in a few years but when I used to have a subscription they were excellent, some of the best written reviews I've ever read. They also never gave me the slightest impression of hype bias with a couple of exceptions. Most other review sites do this on a regular basis.

So they took off points because it's heavily scripted...? Wow, haven't they played a COD game before? A what reviewer uses words like ******ing in a professional magazine review? GeneralShowzer

you did'nt actually read the review did you?

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

Turtlecream

False.

Of course, certain people will feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, having their self-righteousness validated. The same magazine gave The Witcher 67% ("An RPG in poor action-game disguise") and claims Dragon Age is the RPG of the decade. Need I say more?

cosign with Miller, its a 9/10 for me and miles better then MW2. Its much more balanced and the campaign is better imo.

kozzy1234

this

[QUOTE="Turtlecream"]

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

Baranga

False.

Of course, certain people will feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, having their self-righteousness validated. The same magazine gave The Witcher 67% ("An RPG in poor action-game disguise") and claims Dragon Age is the RPG of the decade. Need I say more?

To be fair, The Witcher does have rather poor combat and they're certainly not alone in praising DA:O to hell and back regardless of what you and I think of the game.

And while you may not like their description of CoD MP, exactly what part of it is wrong? It's not even in context here.

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

And while you may not like their description of CoD MP, exactly what part of it is wrong? It's not even in context here.

Filthybastrd

- the level up system is much faster. You're not grinding anymore, weapons unlock very fast and you're no longer restricted by level for perks and attachments. Most unlocks are actually cosmetic. Also the weapons and perks are balanced. In the first hour of play everyone can figure out what cIass archetype he is and specialise on that instead of wasting points and grinding hours for the equipment he needs. Hell, I'm level 39 and I still use weapons available from level 1! Their complaints are as stupid as claiming Quake 3 is unfair because players memorise weapon spawns and timers and you never get to the plasma gun... And nothing modifies damage dealt or health in Blops.

- killstreaks don't lead to other killstreaks. Some have counters. The helicopter goes down in two missiles or a bit of sustained fire. Anyone can change his cIass to a launcher carrying cIass and destroy it in 30 seconds. There's no game ending killstreak, only the stupidity of players leads to such a situation.

[QUOTE="Turtlecream"]

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

Baranga

False.

Of course, certain people will feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, having their self-righteousness validated. The same magazine gave The Witcher 67% ("An RPG in poor action-game disguise") and claims Dragon Age is the RPG of the decade. Need I say more?

[QUOTE="Filthybastrd"]

" ... It's still grossly unfair, of course ... Yeah, give the players who already have the advantage of skill and experience the added advantages of better guns, more damage, more powerful perks, and – when they inevitably achieve a streak of kills – a ****ing helicopter to kill everyone on the map for them. That'll even things out ..."

And while you may not like their description of CoD MP, exactly what part of it is wrong? It's not even in context here.

Baranga

- the level up system is much faster. You're not grinding anymore, weapons unlock very fast and you're no longer restricted by level for perks and attachments. Most unlocks are actually cosmetic. Also the weapons and perks are balanced. In the first hour of play everyone can figure out what cIass archetype he is and specialise on that instead of wasting points and grinding hours for the equipment he needs. Hell, I'm level 39 and I still use weapons available from level 1! Their complaints are as stupid as claiming Quake 3 is unfair because players memorise weapon spawns and timers and you never get to the plasma gun... And nothing modifies damage dealt or health in Blops.

- killstreaks don't lead to other killstreaks. Some have counters. The helicopter goes down in two missiles or a bit of sustained fire. Anyone can change his cIass to a launcher carrying cIass and destroy it in 30 seconds. There's no game ending killstreak, only the stupidity of players leads to such a situation.

Well, he certainly had a colorfull way of expressing himself in that bit but I read it as the MP not being particularly noob friendly (a noob here meaning someone like me, who has'nt played much MP and as such would be destroyed by an overwhelming gap of skill and unlockables).

Now I'm not really into military shooters but from reading the review, I got the impression that it was mainly decked points for being overscripted, buggy and more of the same. While his opinion of the game is'nt the determing verdict on it, I'm pleased that a review such as this exists since it's much more relevant to a gamer like me than the one on fx GS.

I'm pretty sure most of the world will disagree with PC Gamer on Blops, but it's a welcome perspective for those of us, who have been wondering how the CoDs, Halos, BFs, etc kept being so popular.

I judge it without playing it, because I've played enough first-person shooters in my time to know what the game feels like. Fair score.kdawg88

To be fair guys, this is the PC version of the game. In the article he said he had to install it on 3 separate computers because it kept messing up. This is probably a big factor in his score as most websites played the console versions which may not have these bugs.

Also, is what he said really that wrong? He says the campaign is a short 4-5 hour blast that feels the exact same as the last 2 games and is highly scripted. Multiplayer is still good, but is it really AAA worthy after 3 years of pretty much the same thing with a few tweaks? I'm just asking you guys, not making accusations. After playing the game I feel it is worth around an 8, it is still a solid game for sure.

[QUOTE="millerlight89"]

Oh it's a practice in the "adult world." Yea I guess that's why all my business professors frown upon it? Give me a break dude. It is a lack of vocabulary, nothing more. I cuss at times, but I would never dream of it if I was getting paid to write. It seems that saying **** **** and **** make people big boys and girls in our world. :roll:subyman

Of course you don't say it in a work place, but a magazine written for adults for recreation is quite different. What say you about GQ, Wired, and Rolling Stone? Are they unprofessional as well? It is a different type of magazine pure and simple, it is no worse or less professional than a completely clean Nintendo Power because of their choice of words and I highly doubt he lacks a wide vocabulary haha.

Well atleast they reviewed it unlike gamespot with the complete copy paste treatment and lack of any information to the Pc platform in the review (dedicated servers, any drm, controls scheme, Lag, graphical quality, hardware used, server browser, etc etc etc etc...)

I don't personally like PC gamer but atleast I can assume they didn't get coaxed into that LOL resort milking other reviewers were caught into (flown out to resort, pampered etc etc just to play the game lol). Games about a solid 7.5-8 on the PC platform. Weak single player length, bad fps for hardware that should easily blast this game, and multitude of online lag issues. Very similiar to mw2/cod4. Nothing really new to the table. Just plain blunt quake/unrealT style shooter fun with a complete focus and spray and kdr rape.