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I thought I would wait to publish a review on COD: Black Ops 2 until after I had attended a Black Ops 2 double XP party. The party requirements: bring your own television set, Xbox 360 console, a copy of the newly released COD, a controller and any other cables or power strips necessary to make your setup good to go. After setting up 13 mini-stations like this in one living room, the party began – and lasted for 15 hours. The host of our party got us right into multiplayer matchmaking for Ground Wars, which consists of a big team game mix between Team Deathmatch or Domination for 12-18 players. And then we waited. And waited. For a party at maximum size – you would think that finding (or creating) a matchmaking game would be simple, but no. If we ever found a few players, they wouldn’t stick around for the last 2 to join. Most of our matches took 20+ minutes to find since the majority of opponents would quit immediately after playing against us.
I found that the multiplayer experience for a 1-3 man party was a completely different story. I was thrown into games that had just started, or were slightly behind. I found games extremely quickly and most people would stay in a matchmaking group after finishing a game together. Needless to say, I was very surprised by the stark contrast between how multiplayer functions depending on your party size. And then I was disappointed – COD has been known for its multiplayer experience for years. Why would it favor smaller groups of people playing together? Shouldn’t it promote larger parties? You could call it a fluke – it was only that one night that we had that many people together to play – but it happened consistently for the 15-hour duration of the party.
There are tons of other playlists to choose from in Black Ops 2: Core, Hardcore, Combat Training and Party Games. Each of these playlists include a huge variety of games to play and thousands of players to join. Core games have the most variety since it includes the basic games (Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Ground Wars etc.) Hardcore games include no HUD, limited health and fewer games to choose from: Team Deathmatch, Search & Destroy, Capture the Flag and Kill Confirmed. Combat Training is a new introduction to the Call of Duty series. It allows for players to compete again AI opponents. Unfortunately, stats do not count after level 10 in this mode and challenges can not be completed either. It is essentially a practice mode. Party Games include Gun Game, One in the Chamber, Sharpshooter and Sticks and Stones. They are all unique free-for-all games that are serious fun – a good break when Core and Hardcore playlists create nerd rage.
Besides the grueling pace for finding games in matchmaking with a huge party, the multiplayer experience is fluid and strategic. You’ll find out quickly that by working together as a team, kills come easier and deaths fewer. The maps are all unique, some more annoying than others, but overall fair in design. The killstreak rewards have been designed differently than past COD games, now known as scorestreaks. These rewards are given based on how much you score in a row, rather than how many kills you get. Minor actions such as getting an assist still grant score points, just not as much as netting a kill. Loadouts are also customizable with up to 10 items equipable. This means instead of having a primary and secondary weapon with attachments, you can choose to equip a pistol with a ton of passive abilities. The fact that COD lets the choice be yours makes replayability extremely high. Who doesn’t want to try out the latest loadout of destruction? I was recommended 3 different loadouts just last night I sat and played, one of which I really enjoyed. (Primary: PDW-57 with long barrel and laser sight attachments. Perk 1: hardline and lightweight. Perk 2: toughness. Perk 3: dexterity and extreme conditioning. This loadout includes no grenades and no secondary weapon but is a lot of fun to play with.) The fact that there are so many options that can be customized through loadouts creates a highly replayable multiplayer experience.
Speaking of customization, personal emblems are also highly modifiable. There are 32 available layers for an emblem, with 5 different categories of symbols that are unlocked by playing the game: emblems, gear, ranks, type and tools – the last of which is already unlocked since it includes just basic shapes and lines. These symbols allow for users to create almost anything imaginable. I personally done the face of Bandage Girl from Super Meat Boy. Some of the better emblems I have come across are characters from Deathnote, Internet memes and old school Batman. However, with all the good there are at least 20 bad ones you’ll run into including KKK members, swastikas, phallic imagery and profanities.
The multiplayer experience is one that should not be passed over. It is highly replayable and controls extremely well.
SINGLE PLAYER:
As for the campaign, the story is easy to follow and intriguing. It is easy to pick up and play wherever you leave off since missions are relatively short. There are side missions included known as Strike Force which you can choose to complete or skip entirely. Strike Force missions take a Real-Time Strategy approach to COD where different forces are used to complete specific tasks. You are able to command and control soldiers, a CLAW unit, turrets, QUAD drones and ASDs. These can each be controlled through a tactical, above ground view (making it feel like an RTS), or you can assume control of an individual on ground (making it feel like domination) as you strive to capture points or defend them. There are a total of 4 of these missions which will alter the ending of the single player campaign. They are also available only for a limited time while playing through the single player story – once you complete a specific story mission it will no longer be available.
Story missions switch off between Section aka Mason in the future year 2025, and Woods (from COD: Black Ops) in several years past. Occasionally missions require you to play as another character from the story such as Farid or Menendez. The decisions you make and how well you complete each mission determines the ending of the game. A miniscreen pops up after completing each mission, explaining the outcome and letting you see how previous missions add up. There are at least 5 different endings to the campaign of Black Ops 2.
The main characters are interesting and their stories are intriguing – especially when connections are made between these characters. The villain, Raul Menendez, is especially fascinating as you learn about his past and how it affects his future. The story is told through the small details, something that keeps players interested in the campaign missions.
Avenged Sevenfold created a single for Black Ops 2 and makes a digital appearance when you complete the game. That’s right, Avenged Sevenfold rocks out on stage with Woods on the drums and Menendez on guitar/bass as they perform their new single Carry On. In the audience you will find several other characters from the story dancing to the music, whether they died throughout your playthrough or lived.
Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is worth the purchase if you plan on playing multiplayer on a regular basis. The single player is fun yet short; it can easily be completed as a rental. There is high replayability from multiplayer, however, and this is where the value of the game is created. It is a fluid shooter and definitely one of the season’s best.