REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 2

Call of Duty's Black...and better than ever.

Unlike its bovine alternative, the Call of Duty – or CoD, as it’s commonly abbreviated – franchise is capable of being milked just twice in a yearly period. And yet, as the company tugs furiously at the now ample udders of its cash cow – the warm, rich liquid passing the lips of everyone on the way down; from CEO to meagre warehouse attendant – one has to admire their monopolisation of the first person shooter genre.

On a factual basis, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 marks the ninth  in the series of the popular FPS; and judging by its continual, financial success, shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. But the question is this – is it any good? Have Activision – courtesy of Black Op creators Treyarch – delivered a game that’s as sharp, gripping and consuming as a blockbuster should be?

The simple answer is yes; but then again, when has Call of Dutyever been simple?

Playing as David Mason, son of Alex Mason from the previous instalment, you must work alongside fellow Navy Seals Harper and Salazar in a frantic effort to stop part cyber, part tangible terrorist Raul Menendez from World Domination. As ever, the usual tenets are common throughout – over aggression across the board; a somewhat exasperated level of explosions and near death experiences; and an all or nothing battle that, considering its importance, seems to rest solely (or thereabouts) on your shoulders. No pressure there then.

However, obviously sensing the ennui beginning to associate itself with the franchise, Activision have – to their credit – tried to add a spice of originality to the otherwise bland format (blah blah violence, blah blah war torn area - you get the picture); and such an attempt is certainly commendable...especially when one considers the fickle nature of the clientele (we’re not the most forgiving of consumers, are we?).  And so, to paraphrase Master Chief for a second, CoD welcomes combat evolved.
Whilst possessing a similar sort of campaign, with its somewhat ‘Team America, f**k yeah’ undertones, Treyarch really have tried to mix up the gameplay. First off is the Mass Effect-esque decision based storyline. For the first time in its history, the users decisions – such as the ability to take life or simply wound – will directly affect both the flow and outcome of their individual campaign, a feature that’s sure to please fans and critics alike. After all, this is a series that has been accused as ‘one directional’ in many regards; plus it’s nice to feel like they’re not just rebranding, repositioning and reselling the same ol’ spiel.

But what of the storyline itself I hear you ask? Well, it’s CoD at its very core – gritty, fast paced and with more than a hint of Michael Bay’s explosive focal point. Also, it’s clear to see the boys at Treyarch (and the whipping boys at Acitivsion) have done their homework. Information presented is accurate, with great depth across the board; and ties in nicely with the games futuristic combat. With this in mind, one could look upon the campaign as a sort of glass ball effect – a look at the imminent evolution of warfare, littered with nods to past and present combat techniques. Plus, unlike previous editions, the threat is very real – the pandemic of fear associated with terrorism infused with the constant worry of internet/computer security makes certain of that.
Nevertheless, as you progress through the campaign a seed of doubt plants itself firmly, growing with each moment of lag, A.I glitch or monotonous explosion. Eventually, the seed blossoms, maturing at an incredible rate until it stands a majestic oak of worry; eroding your enjoyment in the process. And so, as you try to focus on the intense combat unfolding before you, one cannot help but wonder…is the graphics engine showing its age; and unfortunately yes…yes it is. Sure, it can still house the demands placed upon it, but it’s lost its ‘wow’ factor; that moment of jaw-dropping excellence common among competitors such as Crysis and Battlefield.  A victim of its own success, where once it was revered, now it is mocked; and where once it was fresh, now it is tired. One would hope that Activision will address this before the next inevitable spin-off, as there really is no room for improvement within its current engine.
Back to the positives, the multi-player experience is, once again, incredible. What with the new array of weaponry, users should once again say goodbye to their social lives. Gameplay is fast, server strength seems to have been improved and, while finding a game does tend to take longer when compared to previous instalments, once in them they are far more reliable. Map choice is fantastic, complimenting the ferocity of the combat perfectly, and with the ever expanding list of unlockables/rewards there’s enough to keep you busy for a long, long time.

The biggest disappointment, however, comes courtesy of Treyarch’s highly acclaimed Nazi Zombies play mode (or Zombies, as it’s presented...although I find that title a little ambiguous). Perhaps they set the bar too high in Black Ops, but there’s no denying that the Zombie mode in Bops 2 is weak. The levels featured – once a key part of the enjoyment – seem to have been thrown together last minute. Short, unappealing maps – with names as tedious as their gameplay - offer little after the first or second play through, tarnishing the respect once held for this play mode in the process. What’s worse, ‘Zombies’ now feels like nothing more than a clip-on to the main campaign, rather than its own entity with an individual identity. All things said and done (or not done, as the case may be), one can only hope that significant improvements and map depth are added through regular DLC releases, otherwise it’s back to ‘Call of the Dead’ for me.
And yet, overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a thoroughly entertaining release; one that worries not about controversy or cynicism. While graphical restraints and lazy features do let it down somewhat, there are few titles that can offer the global audience, online experience or gross addiction that Bops 2 serves as standard.
For any self-respecting Call of Duty fan, or merely the connoisseurs of the FPS world, this is a must for Christmas 2012.