Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Review: Anything new?

Genre : FPS
Developer : Treyarch
Publisher : Activision
Platform : PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Web : www.callofduty.com/blackops2


I finally got the last game of one of the most popular game series. People play this series every year with pleasure. But gamers don't want to play same game anymore, new games got to have new features. What about Black Ops 2? Does it have extra features, any new thing? Let's find out.

Back to the future

First Black Ops game came out with a complicated scenario and impressive characters. We finished the first game in a query chair and game was about Cold War and Vietnam. It was a good game but gamers wanted new features, a new game. Treyarch took that situation seriously and gave the leading role to David Mason's son with high technology weapons. The storyline is between past and future with flashbacks to 1980 and 2025. Ok, storyline is successful but when you start the game, you will see the same gameplay that doesn't have any differences than the first game. Non-stop coming enemies, a lot of explosions, enemy soldiers who jump in front of you and say "hit me, hit me"...Storyline goes that way.

Future parts of the game are much more fun because your enemies are better equipped and that makes you use new weapons and eqipments. They wear camouflages similar to Nanosuit and you have to use different ways to see them when they are invisible. Also you need to use some equipments like EMP hand grenade to eliminate robots and defence systems. You are able to use mechs too. Don't expect much about story in that future parts but gameplay is fun. There are also side missions in that parts which are more fun than main story missions. You will like that side missions because you have to use some strategies. Did you play Natural Selection? The same system is here. You can be a commander and order your soldiers or you can be the part of a squad and fight. I don't know why but I liked that missions more than main story missions.

You are the man Mason

There are some slow motion parts and action scenes in the game and they look amazing. You have to make some decisions in some parts of game that really affect the storyline. Mason's inability to decide by the effect of brainwashing affect that parts. The storyline goes well but sometimes you stop and think "What the heck am I doing?". You are fighting against one thousand bullets in a part of the game with just a katana in your hand. Also you eliminate 4 helicopters and 5 tanks in a part while riding a horse like "Rambo" and that part made me think twice on the "amazing" comments and critics about the game. So campaigns are a little unbalanced for me. There are missions that you will love and others that you will hate. I wished to play more connected and logical missions.

What about bugs? Actually I'm not sure of talking about that. Just type "Black Ops 2 bugs" on the internet and see the results. Horses that fall into invisible places, enemies who shoot through walls, weapons that get into the walls, some scenes you need to trigger that never start and more. Graphics look good but graphic engine is showing its age now, that's obvious. Call of Duty series needs a new engine. In spite of old engine and low quality textures, game still has nice looking scenes such as drops of rain on your face, falling down from high places that really make you excited and more.

In conclusion, single player mode is better in this new game but there is still a truth; Storytelling has started getting worse after Modern Warfare 2. The source of Black Ops 2's power is multiplayer again, as every Treyarch game. Let's see what multiplayer mode brings us.

I paid 60$, of course I'm gonna play for a year!

Multiplayer mode of Black Ops 2 is much more successful than story mode. After playing the story mode as an immortal Rambo, fighting against real players may be tough. You need to be on the alert at all times. There are many different points to enter and exit to every structure. That means there are not much blind spots. That makes you be on the alert. You should always move to different points if you don't want to be taken down. otherwise, be ready for a knife in the back.

We are a little more free this time in character creation. This time you are not limited with classes. Game gives you 10 points to use them on weapons and perks. It's up to you now. But unlockable weapons are more effective than the weapons in the beginning. I don't know if it's a disadvantage but you have to spend time to unlock them. Be patient and keep playing. There is a new system for skills that you gain after reaching Kill Streak. Streak is now depends to your score instead of kill number. But people are complaining about the robots that you get as a Streak reward. Especially that flying drones always find you wherever you hide. They are great for players who use them but it's very annoying to deal with them. Names of game modes are changed but they are technically same. We got a new game mode named "Hard Point" which is similar to "King of The Hill" mode. Also there is a Multi Team option. Multiplayer game modes are actually same but they are still so much fun and addictive.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 satisfies the fans of the series, I agree with that. But why are we paying 60$ for a game of the series that is actually not different from others? Just install the old games and play them, why do we pay money for same games every year? For different weapons or maps? Almost everything looks the same as old games. What next? They will release a few maps for 15-20$. Also Zombie mode is not a new thing for me(I prefer Left 4 Dead instead of it).

In conclusion, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a good game but not a new one. Campaign is sometimes exciting, sometimes boring and sometimes unbalanced. It couldn't satisfy me. Multiplayer is still fun and fans of the series will like it. If you want to play the game with the same old mechanics, don't think and play it. But if you want something new like me from Call of Duty series, think twice. Because it's not the game you expect.

Positive :

• Game atmosphere
• Future parts of the game
• Musics
• Multiplayer is still fun

Negative :

• Unbalanced campaigns
• Bugs
• Old graphic engine

SCORE : 8,6/10