Multiplayer Overview: Call of Duty: Black Ops

[lacktheknack]

Must be the xbox360 version then.

PC version is completely BROKEN.

And again the only review mag that has the BALLS to point this out and substract points appropriately, is Destructoid.

Let's see (PC).
-I can't play zombie with my friends. It's broken.
-NONE of my friends can play private matches.
-90% of the times clicking servers in the list doesn't do anything. Me and all of my friends have this same problem.
-The game stutters like an idiot (both sp and mp, and yes I have a pretty high-end pc that plays far superior games on max with no problems).
-Buy a new gun -> DOWNLOADING NEW GAME CONTENT -> 3 mins later it's done. And NO it's not my connection. I get like 40 ping in game max.

What an absolutely crap review. Go play the PC version.

Call of Duty - Beta Ops.

None of these are problems with the game I was given to review on the Xbox 360. Unless you're suggesting we review games we aren't reviewing in the review for the game we are reviewing?

By that logic, all reviews of the Orange Box should have been based on the PS3 version.

That's rubbish and you know it. This game was released on 3 platforms, and the performance of this game is horrendous on one of them. I understand you didn't get a PC version to review, but the least you could have done is at least mention the fact that (so far) it's nigh unplayable on one of the three platforms it's been released for. All you had to do is read the CoD or Steam forums for this game for five minutes to get an idea of the problems. This review, in its current state, is incomplete. PC gamers who read your review will think 'hey wow, the multiplayer sounds really great, let's go buy this game!'. They will end up with a broken beta version of a game that should NEVER have been released in its current form. You could've at least warned them.
Journalism (which happens to be my major) always requires additional fact checking, even if it's just for a game review.

Who in their right mind would trust the first round of user reviews, even in unanimity? For all Funk knew, it's a troll surge, or a massive section of hatedumb, or anti-Activision squallers. Hyperbole is king.

I wouldn't trust a dollar to user reviews, they're more often wrong then right.

 

[darkfire613]

Does anybody have any interesting words on the difference between this and MW2 specifically for split-screen local multiplayer?

There is absolutely no splitscreen custom game support unlike MW2. If you want custom game modes, you're going to have to play private matches of Xbox Live/PSN. Also, you don't unlock stuff like you did in MW2 splitscreen; everything is unlocked from the beginning.

 

[Section Crow]

won't be getting black ops because of previous titles failing my long term fps standards

SOUNDS good though

 

[Duffeknol]

Must be the xbox360 version then.

PC version is completely BROKEN.

And again the only review mag that has the BALLS to point this out and substract points appropriately, is Destructoid.

Let's see (PC).
-I can't play zombie with my friends. It's broken.
-NONE of my friends can play private matches.
-90% of the times clicking servers in the list doesn't do anything. Me and all of my friends have this same problem.
-The game stutters like an idiot (both sp and mp, and yes I have a pretty high-end pc that plays far superior games on max with no problems).
-Buy a new gun -> DOWNLOADING NEW GAME CONTENT -> 3 mins later it's done. And NO it's not my connection. I get like 40 ping in game max.

What an absolutely crap review. Go play the PC version.

Call of Duty - Beta Ops.

None of these are problems with the game I was given to review on the Xbox 360. Unless you're suggesting we review games we aren't reviewing in the review for the game we are reviewing?

By that logic, all reviews of the Orange Box should have been based on the PS3 version.

That's rubbish and you know it. This game was released on 3 platforms, and the performance of this game is horrendous on one of them. I understand you didn't get a PC version to review, but the least you could have done is at least mention the fact that (so far) it's nigh unplayable on one of the three platforms it's been released for. All you had to do is read the CoD or Steam forums for this game for five minutes to get an idea of the problems. This review, in its current state, is incomplete. PC gamers who read your review will think 'hey wow, the multiplayer sounds really great, let's go buy this game!'. They will end up with a broken beta version of a game that should NEVER have been released in its current form. You could've at least warned them.
Journalism (which happens to be my major) always requires additional fact checking, even if it's just for a game review.

Who in their right mind would trust the first round of user reviews, even in unanimity? For all Funk knew, it's a troll surge, or a massive section of hatedumb, or anti-Activision squallers. Hyperbole is king.

I wouldn't trust a dollar to user reviews, they're more often wrong then right.

That's not exactly the point, now is it? It's a reviewers job to review a game, good points and bad. If there are strong indications there's some bad points (even if the reviewer hasn't experienced them for obvious reasons), they should at least be mentioned.

Also, the problems on the PC have been confirmed multiple times by Treyarch. On day 1. It was on the lead programmer's twitter ffs.

 

[Daedalus007]

Why was there no Halo: Reach Multiplayer review?

 

[s0m3th1ng]

Was that a multi-rocket launcher at the end there?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Mostly realistic... ya... on the same level of realism as Mario Kart, you even got blue shells to help out when you suck
But I'm glad they realize this and add fun gameplay elements to spice the whole thing up.

I'm tempted to try it, but we still don't have the full report on all the glitches people will abuse to cheat at it, they took away quick-scoping but I'm sure others will be found.

 

[TitenSxull]

The Multiplayer for Black Ops is pretty bad, at least for the 360 version. Match making ends up kicking friends from parties nearly every time you try to join a match. The spawn system is even more frustrating than the one in MW2 and I have yet to play a match in which I wasn't spawn killed at least three times (unless I'm using tac insert). The hit detection is absolute garbage players can be completely around the corner or behind cover and still get hit by bullets. They claimed increased melee distance (like Commando) wasn't in the game yet I have players lunge twenty feet through my bullets to knife me all the time. Drop-shotting is still a huge problem despite the dive. The sound is terrible, when my player walks it sounds like an elephant is walking around yet I can't hear any one else's steps. There are a few upsides such as the lack of quick scopers, the rarity of noobtubes, theater mode and the fact that the maps are pretty awesome. All in all though the multiplayer is borderline unbearable.

 

[Egitor]

Does anybody have any interesting words on the difference between this and MW2 specifically for split-screen local multiplayer?

There is absolutely no splitscreen custom game support unlike MW2. If you want custom game modes, you're going to have to play private matches of Xbox Live/PSN. Also, you don't unlock stuff like you did in MW2 splitscreen; everything is unlocked from the beginning.

Well, that's a massive disappointment. I guess I'll go shopping for some fresh Gamecube controllers (and for once we're drunk some Wii Zappers ) and pick up the new Goldeneye then. Let the paintball mode mayhem begin!

 

[Viik]

I've spent 46 hours playing BlackOps, that should be enought to draw some conclusions.
Yes, MW2 had some very bad things as noob lunchers, quickscoping and etc. but at least there was a diversity. I had a build with revolver and speed knife, that was fun to play and still effective in combat. Another build with RPD + damage + penetration, fun and effective. Akimbo P90 aka spray man, maybe annoying sometimes to others but again fun to play.
In Black Ops playing something different than lightweight\guily + sub-machine\assault is a waste of time. There is no real purpose in making MG build unlees you are low level. Sniping is a bullshit because of the map design and cause submachine guner can give you a headshot from one side of the map to another. Calymores can't be re-deployed if they explode, so playing as a sniper, they can help you only to catch one flanking enemy per spawn. Shortguns was fun at the beginning, get a lot of fun running around with a spas untill a moment when majority of player get a better grip on playing a game, now it's less effective than sub-machine guns.

Main issue for me is diversity of play styles that is gone here, so I'm getting back to BC2 where I can change my loadout and class anytime and still be effective and have fun. Running around with the same perk, same gun and using the same tactics for hundreads of hours is not my cup of tea.

no akimbo shotguns here...

The classified auto shotgun can be akimbo'd

But do they have the range and accuracy of pistols?

Nope, that shotgun is a complete waste of money, it's useless without akimbo and with akimbo it's good only at very close distance, where using a knife is simplier and more silent.

 

[[zonking great]]

Honestly? Waste of money, this. The multiplayer is not too different. Wager Match is all. Skinning? Wow. Way to buy a game for THAT.

 

[John Funk]

Must be the xbox360 version then.

PC version is completely BROKEN.

And again the only review mag that has the BALLS to point this out and substract points appropriately, is Destructoid.

Let's see (PC).
-I can't play zombie with my friends. It's broken.
-NONE of my friends can play private matches.
-90% of the times clicking servers in the list doesn't do anything. Me and all of my friends have this same problem.
-The game stutters like an idiot (both sp and mp, and yes I have a pretty high-end pc that plays far superior games on max with no problems).
-Buy a new gun -> DOWNLOADING NEW GAME CONTENT -> 3 mins later it's done. And NO it's not my connection. I get like 40 ping in game max.

What an absolutely crap review. Go play the PC version.

Call of Duty - Beta Ops.

None of these are problems with the game I was given to review on the Xbox 360. Unless you're suggesting we review games we aren't reviewing in the review for the game we are reviewing?

By that logic, all reviews of the Orange Box should have been based on the PS3 version.

That's rubbish and you know it. This game was released on 3 platforms, and the performance of this game is horrendous on one of them. I understand you didn't get a PC version to review, but the least you could have done is at least mention the fact that (so far) it's nigh unplayable on one of the three platforms it's been released for. All you had to do is read the CoD or Steam forums for this game for five minutes to get an idea of the problems. This review, in its current state, is incomplete. PC gamers who read your review will think 'hey wow, the multiplayer sounds really great, let's go buy this game!'. They will end up with a broken beta version of a game that should NEVER have been released in its current form. You could've at least warned them.
Journalism (which happens to be my major) always requires additional fact checking, even if it's just for a game review.

So again, by that logic, everyone who glowed about the Orange Box on PC should have included the fact that the PS3 (and to a lesser extent Xbox 360) version was a horrible port? No, that doesn't make sense.

This overview is for the overall *design* of the multiplayer based on the Xbox 360 version, and none other.

 

[Duffeknol]

Must be the xbox360 version then.

PC version is completely BROKEN.

And again the only review mag that has the BALLS to point this out and substract points appropriately, is Destructoid.

Let's see (PC).
-I can't play zombie with my friends. It's broken.
-NONE of my friends can play private matches.
-90% of the times clicking servers in the list doesn't do anything. Me and all of my friends have this same problem.
-The game stutters like an idiot (both sp and mp, and yes I have a pretty high-end pc that plays far superior games on max with no problems).
-Buy a new gun -> DOWNLOADING NEW GAME CONTENT -> 3 mins later it's done. And NO it's not my connection. I get like 40 ping in game max.

What an absolutely crap review. Go play the PC version.

Call of Duty - Beta Ops.

None of these are problems with the game I was given to review on the Xbox 360. Unless you're suggesting we review games we aren't reviewing in the review for the game we are reviewing?

By that logic, all reviews of the Orange Box should have been based on the PS3 version.

That's rubbish and you know it. This game was released on 3 platforms, and the performance of this game is horrendous on one of them. I understand you didn't get a PC version to review, but the least you could have done is at least mention the fact that (so far) it's nigh unplayable on one of the three platforms it's been released for. All you had to do is read the CoD or Steam forums for this game for five minutes to get an idea of the problems. This review, in its current state, is incomplete. PC gamers who read your review will think 'hey wow, the multiplayer sounds really great, let's go buy this game!'. They will end up with a broken beta version of a game that should NEVER have been released in its current form. You could've at least warned them.
Journalism (which happens to be my major) always requires additional fact checking, even if it's just for a game review.

So again, by that logic, everyone who glowed about the Orange Box on PC should have included the fact that the PS3 (and to a lesser extent Xbox 360) version was a horrible port? No, that doesn't make sense.

This overview is for the overall *design* of the multiplayer based on the Xbox 360 version, and none other.

I'll stick with my point, but I guess it goes more for reviews, not overviews.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

What does it say about a game when it requires two separate reviews detailing single player and multiplayer?

[sub]I'm a bit indifferent on the subject as a whole, but it just seems...odd.[/sub]

 

[Kinokohatake]

So since I lack XBox Live, this game truly isn't worth it?

 

[Viik]

What does it say about a game when it requires two separate reviews detailing single player and multiplayer?

[sub]I'm a bit indifferent on the subject as a whole, but it just seems...odd.[/sub]

It slowly becomes a norm. Take a look at Bad Company 2 for example, single player and multiplayer are two almost completely different games, that just use the same engine. Playing only one of them dosn't give that much of experience that you will get from other. SP in BC2 is really lame, but MP is almost perfect and as there are players with preference to both or only one side it's fair to review them separately.

 

[HarmanSmith]

There's an extremely important point you missed in your review; all of those game customization options are absent from local multiplayer. I bought black ops just so I could play splitscreen multiplayer with my friends. When we got to the multiplayer menu there were no choices for match customization at all, so we could only play the predetermined game modes. When you compare that to MW2, Black Ops is a huge leap backwards. I really feel like I've been bitchslapped by Treyarch.

 

[Nokterne]

The maps are too big and they ruined the sniper rifles, other then that it's an enjoyable game.