I was actually kinda sad to find out that Resnov was just a hallucination and he died after the second level. I mean he was fucking cool! When you brake out of Vercudia (however you spell it) he looks like a Pirate! How cooler could he get?
I know, I was absolutely gutted too. When it got to Reznov shooting Steiner I had my suspicions that something weird was up, and they were confirmed in the next scene... honest to God, I'm not a massive CoD fan (I like RPGs most usually), but this is the best of the entire series, hands down.
I thought the story was fine, but the voice acting really didn't help it.
Maybe it would've been a good book.
Also the campaign fights are kinda choppy and glitchy, but, maybe thats just me bein' a n00b.
Most CoD fans don't don't give 2 shits about what developer worked on the game.
Most of the people that bought the game probably weren't even aware that it changed hands.
1) Black Ops is better than any Infinity Ward CoD released before this; and
2) Is Infinity Ward still Infinity Ward without half the founding members, including the original founding bosses, there?
This is the only time i have to disagree with a reviewer from this site. it doesn't even feel like he has played the game!
I love how MW2 gets really high scores for an adrenaline filled crap story, but when a COD game with story acctualy comes out and try's something new (for COD games at least), the reviewer simply bashes the hell out of it.
1). The characters/voice acting are fantastic, i usually don't care for my guys in COD games (except for Price and Gaz/Ghost, they were awesome i admit), and at least your guy had a bit of character to him, much more character than Soap(or arguably most other shooter games) ever did. the voice acting was great as well (Again much better than previous COD games)
2). The Graphacs, you see, this is where i really hate this review, the graphics are EXACTLY the same as MW2's, arguably better. Have you seen the faces on these characters! (the blood, the sweat, even the mouth moving is incredible and the smoothest i have ever seen)
3). The story, let me just quote someone for this because i really can't be arsed explaining.
x434343 said:
Um, wow. You missed the point. There is a definitive reason that there's a LOT of flashing lights in your face. Mason is mentally unwell. He developed Dissociative Identity Disorder (Or Schizophrenia, take your pick over whether you want realism or Hollywood) after Vorkuta. The flashing is probably a combination of his hallucinations and the fact that Hudson likes the electricity button on your chair. In "Revalations", the hallucinations become far worse. Mason does get 'better' by "Redemption" because he's been shown everything he knows is wrong and also, he doesn't have an electrical chair. Probably your biggest insult is the Pentagon scene. There's a reason it's there. I mean, for those who have been married, do you remember it because you were in the midst of action, or because of sheer excitement and honor felt in the presence of something greater? THAT'S why Mason remembers meeting JFK so vividly: It was exciting AND relavant to his life.
As for the jumps to Hudson missions, remember, HUDSON INTERROGATES YOU. There are no flashing lights of lighting flash in those segments. Hudson, while interrogating you, thinks about those times himself.
Actually, my biggest problem that they got a fucking Brit (no offense Brits) to voice act for the American PC, a voice you will hear so much. His accent slips out FAR too often.
All in all, it does NOT deserve a 2/5. 3/5 is far more acceptable, but you really should think less about "How is this Call of Duty" and more "How is this an interactive storyline?"
you liked my explanation. Let me add on to your 1 and 2, if I may be honored to.
1. Hudson, Woods, Bowman, Weaver, McNamara, Kennedy, Nixon, Castro, Kravchenko, Dragovic, Reznov, Petrenko, Dr. Clarke. These people had WONDERFUL voiced. Mason... Well, he was Sam Worthington, AKA Jake Sool-Ley, AKA Blue Cat Human in Avatar.
2. Speaking of Avatar, the character face and body movement was filmed using the same techniques. The scripting is more naturalistic, therefore, and that means... even if the graphics aren't the best, the animation is superior.
EDIT: the patriotism could've been scaled back a little at the end though.
glorious battleships with american flags flapping in the wind, while a squadron of jetfighters flies overhead as you climb aboard, being congratulated for saving America from certain commie doom...
I know it goes along with the cold war theme guys, but can i get a bucket please?
I agree. Quite a few levels felt like they at least "Borrowed" from the MW and MW2 quite a bit. Among what I caught was Favela inverted in the Clarke level, WMD being a combination of "Death from Above" from MW and "Contingency" in MW2. And the Rocket Launching is getting a bit predicatble. Okay, it was really cool in MW and worked pretty well in MW2 but the mission in BO seemed kind of odd, particularly from a historical perspective.
And the last mission felt like an(Old School) James Bond endgame so, so much(movies like "They Spy who loved me" and "Moonraker"). Particulary the very last scene.
this is why The Escapist is not factored into the metacritic scores, because the big publishers pay good money for rigged reviews and they can't have some independent-thinker out there can they?
sad, really, as this is the ONLY site that has fairly judged Black Ops for what it was SUPPOSED to be, and that was an intense, gritty game that made you excited, not bored or angry.
now all we judge games most games off of is their multiplayer... i weep for humanity...
Will I bought the game on launch day (more by whim then expectations really) and I've beaten the campaign and dabbled with the multiplayer. I liked the actual story, but the presentation was...interesting. Some things work others don't, as always. The flashy interogation scenes are just dumb though. Like Mr. Pitts says, the missions just jump all over the place.
The graphics are ok. While they're not bad (and not as good as MW2) they have that wierd Halo 3 shiny thing going on...whats up with that? Overall, it's pretty fun, but still kindof short.
EDIT: OH! For those who have played World at War, there's some really cool crossover stuff going on. I loved that!
See now its not that people take his review as the final word. Some of us are strapped for cash you see, so we cant spend on games that are bad. I paid a visit to the local store, and whats this??? Black Ops is cheaper than MW2 by 40bucks???? Not related but hey..
Finished up my rented copy just this afternoon, seeing as I don't play Multiplayer.
The story was.. quite frankly, pathetic. It flits back and forth between location to location with little to no reasoning or explanation for doing so. The "Cutscenes" are usually just random clips stitched together with effects I'd expect from Windows Movie Maker, I about had a stroke from all the flashes and twitch effects.
You get captured and almost killed so many times it's ridiculous, yet you're always able to spring back up from your wounds, escape from your prison cells and overcome small armies of soldiers with relative ease, the same happening to your comrades.
So far, over the course of less than a year, Weaver has his eye gouged out, is shot, jumps 100 or so feet, landing on a solid steel roof then bouncing right back up, is punched/kicked/stabbed repeatedly, and even thrown out of a helicopter. Yet, at the end, he leads the assault team down without a problem.
The voice acting differentiates from person to person. Mason sounded fine, but Kennedy sounded like Treyarch took a random person from the art department, handed him a script and told him to put on a Southern accent.
The gameplay was fine, typical COD style, but those expecting a story worthy of remembrance will be sorely disappointed.
It's sad, I love the escapist, but people take these reviews as if they're only right. I think their shouldn't be perfessonal reviews anymore for any game, only user reviews.
No offense, but seriously, people read this and then say "well this guy says it sucks, so it must suck." Without ever even trying it. People should try games for themselves, not just going off the opinion of others.
I am not saying this review is right or wrong, its someones opinion and I don't want to change that, I just hate when reviewer's opinions are taken above anyone elses.
And user reviews would be different...how, exactly? Assuming, of course, people paid any attention to them, which is all folks are doing here. They're reading the review, and deciding for themselves whether or not they still want to get the game. Paying attention to a professional reviewer and paying attention to an amateur one is no different.
I'm reminded of the ZP episode Mailbag. Mr. 12's opinion seems a bit tunnel-visioned considering some of the responses posted before disagreed with the review. Which people are allowed to do. I never plan to take The Escapist's word on the game as scripture though they do hold credence as the reviews are always entertaining on their own and they do come from those who do experience the game from top to bottom and left to right(not to mention having the enviable addition of chance interviews with devs and publishers). Those who share their own input maturely in the forum thread also help me decide on whether to cough up the cash.
I never tire of your review on Splosion Man, Susan. I wish Steam would grab that game.
[sub]I am a bit mind-fatigued so I am hoping this made sense[/sub]
this is why The Escapist is not factored into the metacritic scores, because the big publishers pay good money for rigged reviews and they can't have some independent-thinker out there can they?
sad, really, as this is the ONLY site that has fairly judged Black Ops for what it was SUPPOSED to be, and that was an intense, gritty game that made you excited, not bored or angry.
now all we judge games most games off of is their multiplayer... i weep for humanity...
Isn't it a pity that they don't simply market the multiplayer as a separate product? I mean it effectively is a different game, like Team Fortress. They could just set up an eternally updating service that people pay a yearly subscription for. New modes, features and graphical updates would be delivered regularly. Then just focus an entirely separate team on creating the most gripping and immersive single-player campaign possible. They might even increase overall sales this way. If only from the goodwill of multiplayer-weary gamers hungry for substantial single-player games.
this is why The Escapist is not factored into the metacritic scores, because the big publishers pay good money for rigged reviews and they can't have some independent-thinker out there can they?
sad, really, as this is the ONLY site that has fairly judged Black Ops for what it was SUPPOSED to be, and that was an intense, gritty game that made you excited, not bored or angry.
now all we judge games most games off of is their multiplayer... i weep for humanity...
Isn't it a pity that they don't simply market the multiplayer as a separate product? I mean it effectively is a different game, like Team Fortress. They could just set up an eternally updating service that people pay a yearly subscription for. New modes, features and graphical updates would be delivered regularly. Then just focus an entirely separate team on creating the most gripping and immersive single-player campaign possible. They might even increase overall sales this way. If only from the goodwill of multiplayer-weary gamers hungry for substantial single-player games.
The game looks like hammered shit? The only thing that looks like hammered shit is your desire to bring down the game, this review borders on lies. I personally think the gameplay in MW2's single player was much more fun, but the story in Black Ops was actually pretty interesting, and I never found it confusing myself. The link between 'flash' and confusion doesn't fit, I don't see how you made it.
As for multiplayer, it's the most balanced and best COD package ever released. I really like it
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