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Call of Duty Black Ops The Cold War gets that much cooler

ur vision is hazy. “What is your Black Ops is decidedly different from insidious new chemical weapon called name?!” A blinding white light any of its predecessors. Nova 6. It’s a very personal tale that O burns our eyes as we try hits harder emotionally and goes desperately to blink away the blurry The Dark Side places other games never images surrounding us. We’re covered In contrast to Call of Duty: Modern could, leaning on Mason’s obsession, in blood. It’s probably ours. Probably. Warfare 2—a breathless, modern-day paranoia, and deteriorating mental “Where were you born?!” terrorist rollercoaster careening state to create mood and tension. The distorted voice seems to come toward certain nuclear annihilation It’s also much grittier than any other at us from all sides—deep, demanding, with every outlandish twist—Ops game in the series. Imagine interro- colored with a strange sense of explores the darker underbelly of the Duty 3D gating a man by shoving glass in his urgency. We struggle against the Cold War. By comparison, it’s far more Though we’re mouth and punching his face until he still not convin- coarse leather straps that bind us to an psychological. Whereas Warfare 2 ced that 3D is talks. That’s not even as dark as it examination chair. Then we notice the focuses on the events of a few short the way of the gets. But all that unflinching violence wires attached to our chest and arms. (and extremely dramatic) days, Ops future, Black Ops pays off: Ops is fresh without feeling “Answer me!” revolves almost entirely around one provides deep, forced, and maintains the intensity Just 30 seconds into the campaign very broken man: Alex Mason, an well-executed we’ve come to expect from Call of Duty 3D visuals for and it’s already clear: Call of Duty: accomplished American soldier and those with while providing a deeper, more former CIA operative. equipment and substantial narrative experience. Through a series of violent flash- inclination to The plot becomes a little predictable backs, the story traces his turbulent enjoy them. and some of the supporting characters Info Stereoscopic! Format PS3 Pub military career across the 1960s—from could have been more fully fleshed Dev Treyarch Price $59.99 ESRB Mature It’s like our own the Bay of Pigs to the Tet Offensive and out, but the story is easily our favorite personal Vietnam flashback…in beyond—as he tracks a rogue Russian since the original Modern Warfare blew the best possible way. militant bent on developing an our minds.

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Even multiplayer maps teem with life: Swirling smoke, passing trains, and...guys with guns.

“Black Ops is the Find an ideology and promote it, one bullet and one corpse at a time. complete package.”

The gameplay between those discrete dramatic moments is varied and unique as well, offering a vast array of settings and situations—from stealthily swimming under huts in Vietnam to leading a massive prison War Is Hell uprising in Siberia. While it doesn’t Despite the Cold War-era narrative, provide as many of the overwhelmingly the gameplay feels nearly identical to chaotic battles that definedWarfare 2, the modern-day combat of Warfare 2. its consistent creativity elevates Ops Not that we’re complaining. If anything, above the depressing legion of indistin- that’s a massive compliment. The guishable corridor shooters. gameplay first laid out by theWarfare Unfortunately, Ops retains a few of experience for everything from basic games helped establish Call of Duty as Warfare 2’s bad habits, such as kills to ultra-specific ambient Cast List the world’s most powerful interactive infinitely spawning enemies and challenges remains firmly intact. The Broken Hero Whether the targets are franchise, so for developer Treyarch to vague instructions. Other than one The fast-paced, hyper-competitive commies or zombies, Black produce a game that matches that specific mission where both factors action can still be frustrating for Ops delivers shooting fun. caliber is no small feat—even if it didn’t left us extremely frustrated, however, newcomers who lack the gear and the always feel like we were knee deep in Kills earned using these issues didn’t crop up often skill to avoid being shot in the back crossbow and an under-barrel addictive arcade-style fun we’ve had ’Nam or the Cold War. demonstrate a subtle attention to kill streak bonuses enough to bring down the eight-hour repeatedly, but it’s also easy to see flamethrower) and new kill streak in years. no longer count All of the game’s core mechanics detail that’s truly impressive. toward the next solo experience. The campaign’s how this series set the bar for rewards—the runaway favorite being Then there’s Treyarch’s patented are on par with anything superstar Even more important than the bonus. This should world-class gameplay, along with its player-vs.-player action. Taking out Mason the RC-XD remote-controlled bomb on co-op Zombie mode, which pits up to The unfortunate developer ever created: brilliant mechanics, however, are all help keep the rich richer, darker story, makes Ops well two vehicles and four opponents with a soldier whose wheels. More importantly, the game four players against an endless zombie The flawless aiming mechanics, the the exhilarating things Ops lets us do from getting richer. worth replaying. single grenade during a demolition memories we relive. contains 14 brand-new maps, all of horde but allows them to purchase spot-on camera, the physical impact with them. From jumping off a cliff to match may have been the high point for The which manage to be intricate but not weapons and upgrades as they of every bullet, the consistently escape an avalanche to legitimately Our Idea of Fun us. And that was just one round of many. suspect overly complicated, offering a healthy progress through the level. We would Mentor intelligent enemies—this is as close to piloting an attack chopper, there’s such And then there’s the main event: There are a few key updates both mix of wide-open and close-quarters buy Ops just to play this mode—it’s that first-person shooter perfection as a wealth of memorable moments that multiplayer. Treyarch follows the longtime fans and series newcomers environments with no obvious fun. And topping everything off, there’s we’re likely to get. Plus, while the we aren’t too concerned about classic formula much closer than will appreciate. Treyarch has imple- bottlenecks. Top notch. also the experience-and-upgrade-free difference isn’t dramatic, this is the exposing a few of them here. And it does with Ops’ single-player, and the mented a currency system allowing Bare Bones mode; the offline, best looking and best sounding Duty amazingly, it never felt like overkill— developer captures the experience players to select their upgrades rather Full Metal Jacket bot-based combat training; the game to date. Environments explode the game’s meticulous pacing allows perfectly. The addictive progression than simply take whatever the game In addition to this robust foundation, optional risk/reward contracts adding Resnov with life, and the sound effects each moment to stand on its own. system that allows players to gain gives them. Most items are locked until Mason’s seasoned Treyarch has added a staggering ambient objectives to multiplayer; and players reach a certain experience but mysterious amount of additional (and completely a seriously impressive theater mode Russian ally. level, but this system gives create-a- worthwhile) content. Tops on our list is that lets us record and play back our class greater depth and players The Good Cop wager matches: These six-man favorite online moments. 5 Deaths Black Ops’ most creative online killings greater freedom to create a specific free-for-alls come in four unique Black Ops is the complete package. role for themselves on the battlefield. flavors and, much to our delight, With an impressive balance of new You’re Toast Stupid Cupid It’s a Gas Car Bomb Eaten By a Grue We wish we could preview items before eliminate character customiza- ideas, smart changes to the The “Launch” multi- The all-new crossbow The Nova 6 gas Remember: derelict Black Ops is full of we purchase them, but hey, cash tion in favor of pure, acces- existing formula, and nearly player map features features exploding grenades not only vehicles are more than Easter Eggs. Really, comes easily enough so mistakes are sible action. Everyone flawless gameplay a working rocket that arrows that let blur vision and slow just scenery. Damage really amazing Easter 1 2 3 4 5 usually short-lived. Woods enters on a level playing execution, it’s arguably totally barbequed us us kamikaze our movement, they them enough and they’ll Eggs. Study the Naturally, a slew of new items have Mason’s reliable field and competes under a the best game in the Call upon take off as we attackers once they gradually chip away at explode, taking out Trophy list carefully partner on his trip to stood beneath it. stuck us. Hilarious! health as well. anyone nearby. for a few hints. been added as well, including weapons hell and back. very unique set of rules, of Duty series to date. and weapon attachments (such as a and the results are the most 10 SCOTT BUTTERWORTH

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