Reviews - Call Of Duty: Black Ops - PC, Xbox 360, PS3

[Knoxville]

This game IS better than MW2, despite it's teething problems. Give it time, I've been rinsing the 360 version and it is worth it!

Yeah... it's just another corridor shooter, in the same way Heat is just another heist movie... it just doesn't matter how tired the setting is if you like your shooters theatrical, slickly produced and well written. It's merits far outweigh the formulaic approach and as far as the single player game's concerned even without spec ops it relieves itself all over MW2's bonfire from a great height!

I don't even know where to start with the multiplayer.. there are some awesome things going on there, it's going to take time for everyone to start using things to the full. But today alone I've had more fun with camera spikes than I ever did with a riot shield. Everything seems relatively well balanced for a game like this in its first week and the wager matches.... oh lord the wager matches, stick and stones and one in the chamber could very well eat my life. Both harken back to the days of pistols and slappers only on goldeneye for me, that extra level of tension being restricted by your kit and the added knowledge cash is on the line makes for BIG fun!

I can't help feeling that on the multiplayer side of things at least this is something a "best of the console shooters collection", it blends elements from the Timesplitters, Killzone and Halo series and with some Perfect dark thrown in, into an all round package that, if it worked, would be difficult to beat imo. Well played Treyarch

[GheeTsar]

its bloody laggy on my system, everyone else is moaning aswell so not just me.

Have you tried tonight's patch? It seems to have improved MP no end for me.

[jackvdbuk]

Have you tried tonight's patch? It seems to have improved MP no end for me.

yeah just finished a little session, 100 times better.. why couldn't they release it like that.

you tried zombies yet? not played that mode


add me on steam , same name as on here

[Tunnah]

problem with video games nowadays is there's no original content; everything is based on building ideas already established in other medias, be it film, books, tv, a story some guy spouts drunkenly at a bar

everybody saying this is the best COD ever is because it's built on and refined what other games have already done and gaming is the only media that allows this to happen, can you imagine a film that rips off another film or a book being labelled as the greatest thing ever ?

can't wait for technology to stop advancing so much that people recognise the storytelling itself rather than the methods to which its brought to us

[Terbinator]

problem with video games nowadays is there's no original content; everything is based on building ideas already established in other medias, be it film, books, tv, a story some guy spouts drunkenly at a bar

everybody saying this is the best COD ever is because it's built on and refined what other games have already done and gaming is the only media that allows this to happen, can you imagine a film that rips off another film or a book being labelled as the greatest thing ever ?

can't wait for technology to stop advancing so much that people recognise the storytelling itself rather than the methods to which its brought to us

It happens with books and films all the time, you only have to read Knoxvilles post.

[Biscuit]

I never bother with single player, they are just too short nowerday and not worth the time spent making them.
The multiplayer has potential for sure, they need to get it cleaned up though it runs like apsolute balls. Baring in mind my PC laughs at MOH and BFBC2, im barely getting a steady 50fps on pretty nominal settings. Typical way with treyarch, release a lump of crap then fix it over the course of the year while they gradually lose more and more of their fanbase.

[Terbinator]

Apparently the patch released earlier has fixed the vast majority of lag issues ?

[Biscuit]

released earlier as in when though, i played from 6-8:00 then from 9-9:45 and i had tonnes of issues still

[Terbinator]

Tonight at some point, i haven't been on so can't say whether or not its improved for me personally.

[Robscure]

I'm waiting for Medal of Honor

I really enjoyed MoH:AA

[Terbinator]

Medal of Honor is already out...

[Robscure]

Medal of Honor is already out...

Oh, I haven't heard any talk of it, it must not be so good then..

[crossy]

everybody saying this is the best COD ever is because it's built on and refined what other games have already done and gaming is the only media that allows this to happen, can you imagine a film that rips off another film or a book being labelled as the greatest thing ever?

As you said earlier - this happens all the time. Avatar - greatest film ever (apparently - but I'd argue that) but it's a retread of Dances With Wolves. Magnificent Seven - a redo of Seven Samurai, and so on - I'm sure that Hexusites can think of many, many others.

I don't mind these "reimaginings" of a good story - what gets me are sloppy reduxes that don't add anything - e.g. Italian Job, Clash Of The Titans, etc. And I've got to say that it's the same for video games - I'll forgive less than cinematic graphics/sound etc if it's a good story, even if it's a (vaguely?) familiar one. Speaking of Call Of Duty, I liked 2, MW1 and W@W for being a good script, whilst not being so keen on 3 and MW2 for poor scripting. Bad Company 2 and Assasin's Creed 2 get my critic "thumbs up" for a good script.

[GheeTsar]

Patch was about 10pm last night I think. It made a huge difference for me.

[crossy]

"Medal of Honor is already out..." Oh, I haven't heard any talk of it, it must not be so good then..

I'm sure other folks have different opinions, and I know I'm in a minority because I liked MoH:Airborne (I don't play many games on my PC because it's too slow - so it's XBox for me). Also I've not had a chance to play MP on MoH, so I'm basing my evaluation solely on the single player experience.

Summary: if you're a real FPS fan then it's probably worth getting - but I'd be a little hesitant about paying full price for it. So if you can get it on RePlay (HMV), Pre-Owned or trade in then I'd say it's worth a spin.

The story isn't anywhere near as good as BO's, and possibly also worse than MW2's. I'd argue that it's a bit more linear than BO, and certainly less frenetic, and I've come across a couple of irritating glitches (where I've had to revert to a previous checkpoint to be able to continue). Balancing this is that it's actually not bad - it's probably similar in "feel" to MW2 - and there's some nice features like being able to replay any of the single player missions as scored runs (if you liked The Pit level in MW2 then you'll adore this feature!). I also prefer the Apache level in MoH to the Hind one in BO.

Weapons seem to be relatively well balanced - certainly I've not spotted any superguns - and I'm sure I've seen the RPG7 occasionally go wide of the aim mark, which according to Discovery Channel is a failing of the real RPG7. Being able to select the close-in-support weapon to be used is also a nice touch (think you get an achievement for being able to zap a technical with a bomb).

Like I said, if you're an FPS fan and you can get it at a good price then I'd say go for it. Be interesting to hear what other folks think.

[Spud1]

Oh, I haven't heard any talk of it, it must not be so good then..

Very mixed opinions from lots of people - the SP is good, entertaining and for me at least had plenty of surprising moments. It's too short but then thats nothing new these days (sadly). The ability to replay as scored runs with only 1 life does make that better though, although some of them are very difficult

MP is a different beast..it has lots of potential but imo just isn't right. It's not quite COD style and its not quite Battlefield..it reminds me why I didn't buy into Bad Company etc, a very watered down BF experience (comparatively I love BF2 and 2142, so go figure). Like most people now that i've finished the SP i'm now only holding on to it for the Battlefield 3 beta access..it's almost like they knew they were gonna have to do that!

I've not picked up COD yet but was planning to today for a bit of a blast this weekend. Wasn't so sure based on early reviews but then MOH was slated and I enjoyed that, so i'll give COD a try also. That's if I can find it in stock in town