Game review: Call of Duty - Black Ops
Set in the cold war era of the early to late 60s, COD:Black Ops follows the story of an American operative known only as Mason. The entire game is actually Mason’s recollection of all the events that led to his current predicament; being held, restrained, in an interrogation room with an unknown group pressing him for information.
By Jared Vaillancourt [creative writing bureau chief]
Games aren’t just an escape from realism anymore. The art of video gaming has evolved from simple entertainment to something akin to the latest installment of the Call Of Duty series.
Set in the cold war era of the early to late 60s, COD:Black Ops follows the story of an American operative known only as Mason. The entire game is actually Mason’s recollection of all the events that led to his current predicament; being held, restrained, in an interrogation room with an unknown group pressing him for information. In this manner, even the most difficult missions feel like they shouldn’t be a challenge, since it’s already known that Mason has survived everything he’s remembering.
The game is remarkably similar to the same style of play that has become a staple of the COD series; looking down the sights virtually guarantees 100% accuracy (and if you aim quickly enough, the game automatically targets the head of the closest enemy), melee attacks are always fatal (thanks to your tactical knife) and damage is represented by splattering the screen with what looks like raspberry jam.
Ever since the infamous “airport shootout” of Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops offers the option to skip over what is considered “objectionable material” – in this case, not a single morally horrific mission, but the very content of the game itself. With the censors on, swear words are simply blanked out, enemies that you engulf in flames don’t melt (really should avoid seeing that, it’s not pleasant) and the explosive arrows, well, you get the message. Black Ops is a game that has no shame about just how violent and grotesque real warfare can be… and rubs your face in it.
The storyline is historically appropriate, accurately depicting places like nuclear launch sites and POW camps. Mason even participates in an assassination attempt against Fidel Castro during the Bay of Pigs incident (you get to kill the communist leader, but later learn you shot his body double). In fact, the game centers on Mason’s mission to assassinate several people – all enemies of Mason’s best friend, a Russian revolutionary named Reznov, who acts as something of a deus ex machina when the odds seem strangely overwhelming.
Although the campaign is fascinating, the multiplayer seems to pall in comparison to the multiplayer modes of previous COD titles. It would seem that the ability to thoroughly design one’s own emblem gives players a little two much leeway to display, deeper personal beliefs. The Zombie mode is a lot of fun, however – you get to play as JFK and use a shotgun against Nixon, Castro… basically, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, with the censors, of course.
Black Ops is more than just a game. It’s an experience. To the seasoned gamer it’s a wild ride that hits the spot, but if you’re new to video games, it’s an acquired taste. Just keep that in mind.
