Call of Duty: Black Ops- Call of Duty’s Return To Glory?

Call of Duty is one of the most respected shooter franchises right now. Often compared with the likes of Halo and Goldeneye, Call of Duty is obviously a very influential, and a very high quality series. Lately, though, respect for the franchise has been dwindling, especially after the release of Modern Warfare 2. MW2 gets a lot of hate from everybody- CoD fanboys or not. And for good reason. Though the game is good and all, it had a lot to live up to, especially since the original Modern Warfare was such a success. The online in MW2 is said to be broken, and the single player campaign is far too short for hardcore fans of the series’ likings.

The next game in this revered series, Call of Duty: Black Ops, is being developed by Treyarch, the creators of Call of Duty 3 and Call of Duty: World at War. Though their experiences with the franchise have been nothing out of the ordinary, they seem adamant to deliver perfectly this time around. The multiplayer, as if compensating for the lacklustre multiplayer of Modern Warfare 2, looks brilliant this time around. And for those who’re thinking Black Ops will be just another ordinary CoD game, check this out. Black Ops will be typical Call of Duty, based on a script written by Infinity Ward back in 2003. And not only that, Activision have announced that they have spent more money on Call of Duty: Black Ops than on any other game they’ve ever made, even more than Modern Warfare 2, which was previously their biggest game ever.

Not only are they improving upon what faults Modern Warfare 2 and the previous CoD games had, they’re also retaining some fun things from their previous Call of Duty title, World at War. The popular Zombie mode is making a return. And the special editions look great too.

But the question still remains: just how good will Black Ops be? Will it deliver as well as the developers are saying it will? Will it truly be the best CoD game ever, better even than Modern Warfare? Or will it simply fail to live up to all expectations? Will Black Ops be Call of Duty’s return to form, after the panned (by players, not critics) Modern Warfare 2? Let’s take a look.

Our Expectations From The Single Player

Plot

The stories have always been good in Call of Duty games. Though most of the times they have been typical shooter stories, just ways to pit the players into intense action sequences and dramatic cinematic firefights, they have never been forgettable or lacklustre. The story of Modern Warfare comes to mind when one thinks of good CoD storylines. The story provided for excellently presented, fast paced, relentless action sequences, and several moments in the game sent a chill down our spines.

Modern Warfare had an excellent, compelling narrative with mind-blowing action-packed sequences

Seeing as Black Ops is based on a story written by Infinity Ward back in 2003, there can be no question that players will be treated to the same kind of action-packed narrative and intense, breathtaking levels driven forward by a truly compelling story. Set in the Cold War the game takes place in several locations, like the Ural Mountains, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam. Some main characters from Call of Duty: World at War, like Reznov, will make a return in Black Ops, thus making it a direct sequel to Treyarch’s previous CoD title.

Prepare to get blown away with the game’s breathtaking story and the exhilarating, fast-paced sequences as we take the role of black ops operatives and get involved in missions behind enemy lines.

The Game Looks Spectacular So Far

Just look at that video and tell me you’re not excited about Call of Duty: Black Ops. With cave exploration, melee fights, tense gunfights, spectacular gunplay, cool explosions, blowing up of entire sections of a forest, enemy choppers and encampments, and aerial combat, Call of Duty: Black Ops looks to be one of the most impressive shooters in the market till date. I mean, what more does one want in a shooter? It has everything! Not only that, the visuals are astoundingly detailed, and the sound effects provide for an involving background.

Even the water looks great. Like there’s this level in which we are trapped in a chopper underwater. We have to break out of our vehicle, swim through the murky water, with dead bodies floating all around you, and sneak into the enemy encampments to blow up their hideouts. All the while, the framerate never really stuttered, in spite of the fact that the screen had to handle a lot of firefights, explosions, and tiny little details like blood and debris.

Link's Crossbow Training! No, not really.

Black Ops will be featuring several things that are new to the Call of Duty series, like the Dragon Breath gun, Ballistic Knives and a Crossbow, with alternative explosive ammunation (thanks, Wikipedia). This time around, the player will also be able to pilot different kinds of air-bound vehicles, ranging from the likes of an SR-71 Blackbird to a hind helicopter.

Black Ops sure looks spectacular, but what good would a Call of Duty game be without the multiplayer?

The Multiplayer

That is the first, and the last (till now) multiplayer footage released for Call of Duty: Black Ops- and it looks nothing short of mind blowing. It’s quite hard to put my finger on what exactly I think is so good about Black Ops’ MP. It must be the fast-paced gunplay, or the strategising of weapons selection to kill of your enemies. Or is it just the sheer excitement and thrill that one gets while playing the MP mode in any CoD title? Either way, I’m excited. Not only does the multiplayer mode improve heavily upon Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it also adds several new features and tweaks that will definitely make this the most replayable Call of Duty title out there.

Vehicular sections for the MP mode will make a return, and thankfully, the handling will have improved upon that in World at War’s multiplayer. PC gamers will enjoy the return of features like lean, and dedicated servers, something that Modern Warfare 2 did not feature. An all new version of Create-a-Class, “Create-a-Class 2.0” will allow for much more customizable perks and as well as appearance items. Primary weapons can now be customized extensively, and not only can players add custom writings and decals to any parts of their weapons (along with the usual attachments), they can even change the aiming point for their weapons.

Black Ops will also introduce all new killstreaks, adding to the depth and addictiveness of the gameplay. The likes of napalm strike, a guided missile and an RC explosive car will be included. Four Nazi Zombie maps will also be available to those who get the Limited Editions of the game. Players will also be able to record their multiplayer matches, and share them online with their friends.

A four player co-op mode will also be available.

To say the least, the multiplayer looks amazing. Not only does it completely make up for the glitchy and buggy multiplayer mode we were given in Modern Warfare 2, it also completely trounces any other MP mode, and blows all competition out of the water. The same thrilling online matches, without any bugs and glitches, and all these new additions will be paradise for all Call of Duty lovers.

So… Just How Good Will It Be?

This much is clear: living up to the name of Call of Duty is no joke. The series is one of the most prestigious franchises out there, and boasts of titles as influential as Call of Duty and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Not only that- Call of Duty games are known to have the best online modes in the market. And with so much to live up to, each new CoD game is threatened to be overrun my overhype and anticipation. But each time, the franchise delivers, and excellently at that. Even Modern Warfare 2, which is known to have a short single player campaign and a glitchy MP mode, is a good game on all grounds. Definitely, then, Black Ops will be no different. And with all the new things Treyarch have been claiming, and the new features that have been announced, Black Ops looks all set to dethroan Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the best Call of Duty title ever created.