Zombies
The mode that many fans of the series will be looking forward to, due to it not being in Modern Warfare 3, is certainly back with a punch. Now with Transit and Survival mode, as well as multiple difficulties, Zombies now offers even more than before. While transit is still based around survival players are no longer confined to one building and must travel between locations so they are never in the same place for long. However, miss the robot driven dilapidated bus and you’ll be left for some time in one of the locations until the bus comes back again. It isn’t massively different although it is the fresh new element that Zombies needed to stop the gameplay feeling samey.
Two Players? No Problem
Thankfully one of the best multiplayer features from previous Call of Duty titles has once again been included. Not only can gamers invite friends around for the standard split screen co-op entertainment but both players can jump online at the same time via the simple online split screen drop in and out feature. It isn’t a new feature to the industry or even the franchise but it is something that should be highlighted so that other developers take notice of its importance. We have all been there when a friend is round and you want to show off the latest multiplayer game and you’re stuck to the pass the controller method: with the ability for two players to play online at once for both Zombies and multiplayer it makes thinks a lot simpler.
Futuristic Setting
Upon hearing the announcements that Treyarch were taking the Call of Duty franchise into the future I must admit I was worried. Treyarch has been extremely clear though. By advancing the time to 2025, the core elements of run and gun are kept with the addition of some awesome military tech to spice the game up. None of the futuristic elements seem over the top and fit in well in the Call of Duty series. It also helps add fresh gameplay elements to both the campaign and the multiplayer section. The futuristic tech isn’t an overhaul to the gameplay but a pleasant addition that most gamers will have great fun with.
NOT
Short Campaign
The series has never been known for having storylines that will go on and on and this is once again the case. Treyarch has clearly gone for high intensity gameplay and missions, which while being extremely fun don’t allow for lengthy plotlines. I’m sure that if the plot was stretched out over another couple of hours that it would feel worse for wear. Nevertheless gamers will be able to complete the campaign on Regular in around 6 hours. Yes, Veteran difficulty will make it last longer but overall it was on the short side.
Broken AI
The AI as a whole does a good job of flushing out the player and pinning them down although at times it is lacklustre at best. It has fallen into the pit hole that many first person shooters seem to stumble at; getting the AI to react to the player’s presence. On numerous occasions throughout the campaign after walking into a room I would find an enemy soldier crouched behind cover. The problems start when you walk towards this enemy. The majority of the time the player will be instantly shot at, however sometimes the player can simply walk straight up to the soldier before they even react. No improvement seems to have been made since Modern Warfare 3 and some tweaking is needed.
Verdict
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a game that molds together entertainment, a fun gameplay experience, a serious ton of explosions, addictive yet rage inducing multiplayer, a blockbuster style storyline and zombies all into one phenomenally fun game. Some will say not enough has been done in the way of advancing the franchise, but the jump into the future is not only an interesting one it is a jump that Treyarch can say they pulled off. There are some issues, but with a game that is just enjoyable to play they can be easily overlooked.
[Editor’s Note: Black Ops 2 was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 platform. The game was provided to us by the developer for the purpose of the review.]