Posted January 21, 2012
Alright, first of all - I let my curiosity get the better of me. For years I have laughed along with everyone else at the COD fanboys, the mindless shooter fans, the ones who would look sidelong at an RPG, mutter something about "too much reading," and move on. When I was able to pick up CoD: Black Ops for $8 on my PS3, I decided to give it a try. I've been playing it off and on for a few days now (I just won an achievement for playing five hours, which is just...wrong somehow) and it's finally time to write a bit about it, and get your impressions of the game.
Please keep in mind that this is my first exposure to a multiplayer shooter (okay, apparently SW: Battlefront II had online multiplayer). I bought it purely because CoD: Black Ops has two different modes (one with stats and unlockables, one with everything already unlocked) that allow me to play single player skirmish matches.
First off, let me say this - many, if not all of the criticisms leveled at CoD and its fans, seem to be valid. In some cases, laughably, stereotypically valid. Regenerating health is a joke, and apparently in place only to make people use the cover system. The game is full of ways to die instantly - it's not tactics or planning so much as speed and pinpoint accuracy that matter. That seems to go with the genre, so perhaps doesn't count as a valid criticism. The game itself isn't too terribly overall, but I think I would have been very peeved had I paid $60 for it.
The campaign is...well, I have no idea what it is, what it is about, or what I'm supposed to be doing in half the given levels. The three rules of CoD: Black Ops' campaign missions seem to be:
1: Everything explodes.
2: Everyone yells.
3: Everything else explodes.
I'm not sure if there are recurring characters. I finished the prison escape mission and was drained and overwhelmed. I had a similar experience last time I watched Cowboys vs. Aliens - it's not that it's a bad movie, it's that it never stops. The mission structure is bizarre and although there seems to be an overarching plot, it is rather perplexing and full of much groaning in pain. Seriously, I've seen Casino Royale, if Bond can tough that out, this Mason guy should be able to handle shock therapy. (On a side note, how did Mason get back to earth that fast? Shouldn't he still be on Mars?)
Combat Training (the sort-of-offline singlemultiplayer) is better. It's enjoyable, the weapons seem varied, shooting mechanics are fairly solid, but even on recruit difficulty both sides seem prone to cheap deaths. The AI generally scores headshots and is incapable of missing, so usually the game seems to be about staying under cover and spinning around constantly. Hit detection seems spotty - quite a few times, I've been sure I scored a headshot or tomahawk strike and the enemy has gunned me down as I was recovering.
Now, the amusing part to me was my two or three experiences in online play. I did decently well - finished fifth out of six in my next to last match, hee - but was struck by the prevalent stereotypes. In one lobby, a few guys were talking about their ability to tell how hot a girl was from her voice on chat (their words, not mine). In another, two kids were squawking at each other about their kill death rations. In a third, I and another newbie were threatened by name and told we'd be massacred (I relished shooting that fellow in the subsequent match, even if he did kill me ten or fifteen times). In another, a kid started complaining volubly after he was shot. I'm sure all multiplayer matches aren't like these, but it was amusing - all we lacked was someone cursing constantly whenever his teammates screwed up, and we would have been set!
Perhaps multiplayer is more enjoyable with people you know. Apparently combat training may be played with friends against bots, and that would be thoroughly entertaining.
I think my first draft came across too negative.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is this - CoD: Black Ops isn't a great game. I actually prefer Brink, as far as it goes (I do wish Brink had more game modes). It is fun, though, if you are just playing it for mindless entertainment. There are times when I'm studying, tired, and need a fifteen minute break, and this is the kind of game that suits that need perfectly. I don't really see the need to keep buying games from this series, but I don't regret buying CoD: Black Ops. I still reserve the right to laugh at rude or lewd online players, though.
Oh, and as a last random comment, the M14 is awesome.
Please keep in mind that this is my first exposure to a multiplayer shooter (okay, apparently SW: Battlefront II had online multiplayer). I bought it purely because CoD: Black Ops has two different modes (one with stats and unlockables, one with everything already unlocked) that allow me to play single player skirmish matches.
First off, let me say this - many, if not all of the criticisms leveled at CoD and its fans, seem to be valid. In some cases, laughably, stereotypically valid. Regenerating health is a joke, and apparently in place only to make people use the cover system. The game is full of ways to die instantly - it's not tactics or planning so much as speed and pinpoint accuracy that matter. That seems to go with the genre, so perhaps doesn't count as a valid criticism. The game itself isn't too terribly overall, but I think I would have been very peeved had I paid $60 for it.
The campaign is...well, I have no idea what it is, what it is about, or what I'm supposed to be doing in half the given levels. The three rules of CoD: Black Ops' campaign missions seem to be:
1: Everything explodes.
2: Everyone yells.
3: Everything else explodes.
I'm not sure if there are recurring characters. I finished the prison escape mission and was drained and overwhelmed. I had a similar experience last time I watched Cowboys vs. Aliens - it's not that it's a bad movie, it's that it never stops. The mission structure is bizarre and although there seems to be an overarching plot, it is rather perplexing and full of much groaning in pain. Seriously, I've seen Casino Royale, if Bond can tough that out, this Mason guy should be able to handle shock therapy. (On a side note, how did Mason get back to earth that fast? Shouldn't he still be on Mars?)
Combat Training (the sort-of-offline singlemultiplayer) is better. It's enjoyable, the weapons seem varied, shooting mechanics are fairly solid, but even on recruit difficulty both sides seem prone to cheap deaths. The AI generally scores headshots and is incapable of missing, so usually the game seems to be about staying under cover and spinning around constantly. Hit detection seems spotty - quite a few times, I've been sure I scored a headshot or tomahawk strike and the enemy has gunned me down as I was recovering.
Now, the amusing part to me was my two or three experiences in online play. I did decently well - finished fifth out of six in my next to last match, hee - but was struck by the prevalent stereotypes. In one lobby, a few guys were talking about their ability to tell how hot a girl was from her voice on chat (their words, not mine). In another, two kids were squawking at each other about their kill death rations. In a third, I and another newbie were threatened by name and told we'd be massacred (I relished shooting that fellow in the subsequent match, even if he did kill me ten or fifteen times). In another, a kid started complaining volubly after he was shot. I'm sure all multiplayer matches aren't like these, but it was amusing - all we lacked was someone cursing constantly whenever his teammates screwed up, and we would have been set!
Perhaps multiplayer is more enjoyable with people you know. Apparently combat training may be played with friends against bots, and that would be thoroughly entertaining.
I think my first draft came across too negative.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is this - CoD: Black Ops isn't a great game. I actually prefer Brink, as far as it goes (I do wish Brink had more game modes). It is fun, though, if you are just playing it for mindless entertainment. There are times when I'm studying, tired, and need a fifteen minute break, and this is the kind of game that suits that need perfectly. I don't really see the need to keep buying games from this series, but I don't regret buying CoD: Black Ops. I still reserve the right to laugh at rude or lewd online players, though.
Oh, and as a last random comment, the M14 is awesome.
Post edited January 21, 2012 by Runehamster
