There is an uncomfortable truth that not many of you know, and no it has nothing to do with global warming. Black Ops 2 released a few months back and unbeknowest to many it revolutionized and changed the way we look at storytelling in a modern day first person shooter. In this thread I will provide you with cold hard facts and truths. Now to do this, I have once again crafted almost-professional charts and graphs and presentations to help you better understand and compute this information. The brain acts as a sponge you see, and I have figured out how to unlock certain barriers so that you can sponge up my know-hows and factual-awareness. I've had a few drinkns so forgive me if I ramble a bit.
It's quite simple really. Blackl OPS 22 's campaign is driven by choice. Never before in a setpiece driven FPS shooter has choice played such an important and defining role. Treyarch's implementation of said choices is ingenious, and dare I say even puts some heavily story driven RPGs to shame. It's brilliant in the way how it presents it's choices to the player. I doesn't wave a big flag in front of your face and yell "HEY A*SHOL*, you're making a choice now you stupid imbread *****in ***** piece of ***** &*****."
Sometimes you the player are totally unaware that you're even making a choice. It just happens and for all you know that's the way it was meant to play out. But god damit that's NOT how it happens in this game. This isn't Bioshock. This isn't Halo. This isn't Battlefield. Those games are all on set paths. NOT Blak Ops2. This game is constantly evolving based on your actions and THATS WHY it's campaign is better than those games. It's all about depth you see.
For example, at one point you bust into this meth lab place or some sh*t (I don't remember if that was in this game. Could have been from a different one or something else entirely, but my point will still stands) and your guys are likee FREEZE MOTHER ******" and one of the meth lab guys are like "sh*t we gotta burn the papers before these military dudes and Michael Rooker find it because it has secret CIA sh*t written in it" and his buddy is like "WELL DONT STAND THERE AND TALK ABOUT IT F*CK*NG DO IT!" and the guy takes off running to burn the papers.
Naturally, we the audience are tricked into thinking "ok boring cutscenes over time to kill sum b*tchez" but that's what the game WANTS you to think! Treyarch being the masters of game design and storytell that they are distracted you from the fact that those papers are IMPORTANT and give you more insight into the story. If you actually paid attention and stopped him, you could have learned more. That's just one of MANY! And btw thinking back I don't actually think there is a meth lab in the game but the stuff about the papers happened.
That is the first important element to Black Ops 2's vastly underrated understated underappreciated and underrated story. The SECOND part... is emotion. Emotion is important, because it's something we feel. It's that little guy that sits down in every single one of us, and tugs on our heart strings once in a while. He pokes the back of your eyes here and there to get a little tear out of you. He rubs your belly a bit to give you that warm fuzzy sensation in the pit of your stomach. Well unlike Halo, Black Ops 2 IS that guy. Ya see a true emotional experience should have you feeling both the highs and the lows. Think of a good story as a roller coaster ride. Black Ops 2 has a good story because one moment it will be rubbing your belly, and the next second it will kick you in the nuts. Highs and low.
Now I took Agricultural Business back in high school. Being that I live in Iowa, knowing how to farm is important. I eventually didn't become a farmer and am considered a failure amongst Iowans because of that, but whatever. The fact is my Ag Buisiness teacher was a brilliant man. He taught me everything I know, and one of the things he taught me is the difference between Warm Fuzzies, and Cold Pricklies. You see for any good business relationship to thrive you need to build report with your partner and this is achieved through warm fuzzies. Ask the guy about his kids once in a while. Ask about his wife. If one of his grand parents died, pat him on the back. Make him feel good, aka, warm and fuzzy.
And THAT is what Black Ops 2 does with it's audience. It asks about your kids, gives you a hug, and tells you that everything is going to be alright, metaphorically speaking of course. Halo 4 doesn't do that.It doesn't take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, or asks you about your symbolic kids. Allow me to show you a graph that illustrates the "emotional rollercoaster ride" that Black Ops 2 takes you on...
Black Ops 2 makes YOU apart of the experience, and unlike a lot of these other modern day games, makes you feel like you are IN the game. And of course it's setpieces are incredible as well. Easily the best of the franchise. So in closing, Black Ops 2's campaign is a work of art. A modern day masterpiece that puts to shame other lesser shooters like Halo 4 and Tribes Ascend that lack emotional depth. Black Ops 2 is the finest example of FPS storytelling to date.
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