IGN: Call of Duty: Black Ops Review

"Call of Duty: Black Ops is a great overall package that has a ton of content to enjoy. The multiplayer modes are largely based on what was established by Modern Warfare, but the twists that Treyarch throws in work well. My biggest issue with the multiplayer is that the new Wager Matches, while fun in their own right, don’t compare favorably to the high-quality and addictive leveling system and game modes from Modern Warfare 1 and 2. Single-player is as exhaustingly fast-paced as ever with large set pieces that try to take the attention off of the lackluster AI of both friends and enemies. Thankfully, the story is the best I’ve ever seen from a Call of Duty game. Couple both of those substantial offerings with more Zombie content than some full-fledged zombie games and Black Ops is certainly worth your time, even if you aren’t already a fan of the series."

[Call_me_Ishmael]

huh,they actually gave it a decent score

[thong_pounder]

they had to give this a game a lower score, because it pretty much the same thing with some tweaks and new story. Lets not forget ign give castlevania a lower score, because it didn't play different then the one's before, so it would look bad on them for giving a higher score. still picking it up for the modes it has, hope it's on sale on black Friday or then Christmas

[DORMIN]

Good score. IGNs main complaints were too much action and much of the same 'CoD'.

I think I might be getting this. Really liking the addition of Split-Screen online, theater mode, and HOPEFULLY balanced MP.

[Winter47th]

*facepalm* that's even worse than GameSpot's Ratchet & Clank review where they complain about the game having too much "variety", maybe the reviewer should go back to his Monster Hunter and leave the game in the hands of another critic that knows his ass from his elbow.

The game SHOULD be more of the same, it SHOULD have as much action as possible, it's a little thing called "trademark", you immedietly identify the COD franchise by 60FPS and omgwtfw8forit action.

The dedicated fanbase know what the fu*k they want and that's why they put their trust in a franchise in the form of +4 million pre-orders, they KNOW what to expect just like the Pro Evolution Soccer/Madden/NBA players know what to expect and are happy with it. You got a problem with it then go back to your other favorite games and leave the record breaking Goliath to its fanbase.

Treyarch seriously smacked their collective balls on the table just to fix the clusterfu*k that is MW2, the shafted Stopping Power & Deathstreaks, no more Commando & Danger Close, went all guns blazing with the single player story and the AVATAR mo-cap really paid off, EVERYTHING in multiplayer has a counter now, and there comes IGN saying "ugh there's just too much action like reallyh, and wtf is up with this game not being Mario Kart like ugh". My god at the IGNorance.

So while the little fannies are butthurt saying it's the same, the game will keep shattering records not giving two shit balls about their non-objective opinions, so enjoy what leeeetle spotlight you have that gets overshadowed by millions of fans enjoying a franchise that EVERY developer out there wants a piece of in the form of a copy-pasta games like Medal of Honor and whatnot :)

[Red_Orange_Juice]

good review, honest score

[nix]

"So while the little fannies are butthurt saying it's the same, the game will keep shattering records not giving two shit balls about their non-objective opinions, so enjoy what leeeetle spotlight you have that gets overshadowed by millions of fans :)"

you know.. just because millions 'loved' it, doesn't mean the rest of the world (billions and billions>millions) has to like it too.

[RedDead]

Winter not rally, why would you want almost the exact same game you played the last 3 years?

For example, Halo Reach brought in Armor abilities which changes the gameplay drammatically for the better imo.

GT is bringing Nascar.

Every MGS has something differant that changes the gameplay but still leaves it as a naction stealth, but it'sdef differant.

Ico and SotC, alike but very differant.

I've heard KZ3 beta changed alot from KZ2 aswell.

Best thing about Black ops is it seems to be a final Package of Cod or somethin, you have te best bits out of cod 4 and WAW in it and a new minigame top down and theater mode. Seems like a buy for me now, I honestly though I wouldn't have a chance of getting this a month ago. Honestly.

[No FanS Land]

So complaining the game could be only a new coat of paint made by Treyarch instead of iW is not a good argument?

[raWfodog]

So you don't think 8.5 is a 'good' score? You're not really getting upset over that score, are you?

[antz1104]

So since when is 8.5 a BAD score? I don't get why everyones bitching that it didn't get a 9.

"Well its better than MW 2 and this scored lower, duh."

Well even if the last installment recieved a higher score from IGN it doesn't mean its the same ppl reviewing it and everyone is going to have things they personally really like or dislike about it....guidelines be damned.

[ABizzel1]

They should have done the same thing with Modern Warfare 2. People get sick of playing the same thing over and over and over again.

[LoVeRSaMa]

I can hear a *Sigh* on the internet, a mood as such..

Everyone is slightly disappointed with black ops, its hard not to be with COD 4 towering as the best game out of all of them still, COD seems to be going downhill each game.

I have accepted it personally, cant wait to see what other FPS's are born out of its Ashes.

[el zorro]

8.5 is a good score and honestly I don't even care that much about this game anyway, but IGN's reviews are mostly worthless.

Their reviews don't have even a semblance of consistency. Black Ops gets marked down for being too much of the same old Call of Duty, but I bet you anything that suddenly that won't matter when the next Infinity Ward COD game comes out. It will be the same old formula, yet IGN will heap praise on it and act like it is god's gift to gaming.

Many of IGN's recent reviews have been complete crap. Castlevania, for example, is one of the best games I have played all generation and deserved a far better treatment than IGN gave it.

[HolyOrangeCows]

"IGNs main complaints were too much action"

Oh, don't twist it. Their point was that there's no tension because everything starts to get numb from being constant.

[Tron_Rocks]

"@winter
"you know.. just because millions 'loved' it, doesn't mean the rest of the world (billions and billions>millions) has to like it too. """

BILLIONS??? What a dumb statement. When it comes to the amount of people that play Millions is the correct term, your dumb statement acts as if there are a billion out there that has to play it to make it important.

Go eat your cookies and milk and let momma read you a story Winter...

[swishman]

you are so right great comment

[Digitaldude]

Imo it deserves at least a 9. This is coming from someone who was trolling MW2 a year ago.
The SP is amazing and the online is tight.
Too many IW fanboys.

[Close_Second]

... deserves a 9. 8.5 is a good score for this.

[KyRo]

Agree 100% MW2 was a broken mess but was still given 9s and 10s. I've always preferred Treyarch's work compared to IW though.

[NnT3291]

I agree. Black Ops has more content, and a better SP than MW2, it deserves a 9

[Close_Second]

...the SP story is better but the gameplay mechanics, (i.e. linear gameplay, poor AI, easy gameplay) are still the same as previous COD titles.

[Digitaldude]

@Close Second.
The gameplay is rater linear but wasn't MW2 that doesn't stop it from being a good game. The AI is very poor but that's probably the worst thing, Every mission they throw something different at you.

I mean Black Ops comparing to MW2 has a better story and its longer, Zombies + Dead Ops Arcade instead of Spec Ops and probably a better MP with more features and more maps and gets a 8.5
Yet comparing MW1 to MW2, adding a worse SP, crappier maps, unbalanced MP and Spec Ops(which is awesome to give it credit) it gets a 9.5 from IGN. The little additions didn't stop MW2 getting a 9.5.

I really don't care since I got the game already and discredit IGN most of the time but the inconsistencies are interesting.

[Kaneda]

It got 6.5.. :)

[el zorro]

I honestly get the feeling that IGN is filled with fanboys -- fanboys of consoles, and fanboys of certain developers or franchises.

People say "8.5 is a good score" and they are right, it is a good score. The problem is, IGN have no consistency. Black Ops seems to be a better game than MW2, yet IGN gave MW2 super high scores and marks down Black Ops for the very same things that they overlooked in MW2.

Then people say "well, times change and you have to keep evolving, that's why Black Ops got a lower score". Hmm...that's nice...then why didn't MW2 get knocked down for being mostly the same as MW? I also bet anything that they give the next Infinity Ward game a higher score whether it innovates dramatically or not.

I get the feeling that there are a lot of fanboys in the industry that just want to maintain the status quo. They feel more comfortable that way. They almost seem determined to keep Treyarch in Infinity Ward's shadow.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

I personally rate both CoD:WaW and Black Ops as superior to MW1 & 2, perhaps that's because I prefer the time periods the former are set in.

[DigitalAnalog]

There's only so much you can improve upon especially when your series is being released year after year. Improvements are nearly impossible to differentiate and all boils down to the story to make up for the score.

This is where it goes stagnant from now. Unless they push something innovative in the future, I don't see much going on with the franchise.

-End statement

[Close_Second]

...would ditch the boot camp at the beginning of the game. I also wish they'd ditch that whole you fall and your buddy catches you thing. Or at least modify it - maybe you have to do the catching and if you miss, you have to advance 1 short.

[meetajhu]

No always IGN wants some goodies from Activision to give high score. How can 9+8.5+9.5+8+9=8.5 isn't is 8.8? or round up to 9?

[RedDead]

They don't round it up like that, they give it an overall value, Say for example, Gameplay is way more important than graphics and should have a bigger effect on the final score than graphics

[PirateThom]

Not an average, IGN work on a 20 point scale.

[jjohan35]

You're telling me that sound is equally important as gameplay? Thank God IGN doesn't average their individual scores for the overall score.

[Nerox3]

it says not an average >.< facepalm

[Mayle]

21 point scale

[RBLAZE1988]

And i have to say this is more like a 7 or lower. The multiplayer is worse than medal of honor the graphics are hideous and the story is dull. Not to mention the action online is soo dull. The sound effect sound terrible. Grenades sound like tin cans full of nails exploding. Guns sound like toy guns and all the other killstreaks sound and feel cheap. Don't even get me started on the fact that ice cube is yelling orders during multiplayer which is do corny it makes me want to throw up. The spawn system is more broken then mw2 at one point 2 guys spawned behind me on a big map and i turn around snd i'm dead. On nuketown my entire team spawned in the opposing teams spawn area and it became a clusterf#ck. The players move around faster than any lightweight marathon setup in mw2. The analog stick controls are terrible and i can barely aim at somebody before i am obliterated. Seriously every match i had a 5-22 kill death ratio i had to stop it was embarrassing. I am a really good player in mw2 but treyarch butchered this game entirely. The single player campaign is soo farfetched that it's really corny. The whole prison revolt felt like a C movie scene. Seems like 2 years wasn't enough for treyarch and i guarantee you 90% of players will go back to mw2 in a month. God i wish i could circulate this post sll over the internet because this is the gods honest truth. For christs sake i got a trophy for completing the mission then a cutscene came on where i was on rails in the pentagon in a meeting and when the scene ended i got a trophy for completing the cut scene. This game didn't deserve a midnight launch and if you think i'm a fanboy you'll find out how terrible this game is when you guys play it. Can't believe i got suckered again.

Dead ops arcade is the only thing worthwhile on this disc.

I'm def returning this but not to gamestop f them i want my money back so amazon will be getting this shit back while i go back to playing the killzone 3 beta. It's infinitely better than cod black ops. Compared to black ops mw2 is gsming heaven...seriously it's that bad

*edit - btw sorry for the spelling errors i fat fingered this message on my ipod and it'd be a pain to go back. Anyway run from this game like the plague. There is literally auto aim in multiplayer where bullets get pulled toward a player if they are at a close range.

[Blasphemy]

@ rblaze I thought the multiplayer is WAAAAAAY better then MW2. I got tired of MW2 in a weak because of the horrid map designs. I have been playing this all night and I am loving the maps. I have to agree the graphics are not as good as MW but they look okay.

[RBLAZE1988]

I waited in line to get this...well waited til 12 in the car bullshittin with friends but at 12 we all lined up and when i got home i set everything up, started up the campaign and played through a couple missions. Theres no tension... I barely died at all. The mission design is so boring and so poorly presented. The concept is really cool but the presentation and design fails. So then i hop on multiplayer and it feels so cheap. There are dudes around every corner and i can't aim on them til it's too late and even then half my bullets don't register as hits. It feels like w@w all over again people will only be playing this for zombie mode. Oh yea and the dogs are cheap killyou by touching you and they're so difficult to kill. I don't have any problem getting kills or winning matches in mw2 but this game just feels like same old treyarch. They shot themselves in the foot and activision has killed it's best franchise i think by not funding black ops development well enough. I had doubts before the game released and last night those doubts were confirmed. This'll be the last cod i get and next year there will be a subscription because activision knows that the market will buy complete trash as long as cod is on the cover.

[newflesh]

Agree 100%. Boring game, boring mp, dull maps, etc. Treyarch failed to deliever.

[RBLAZE1988]

Hurray for sanity!! Lol

[cleanhealthy12]

going 5-22? the problem isnt the game, the problem is you suck.

doubt you were also any "good" at mw2. unless you had a 3.0 k/d youre pretty much average.

[RBLAZE1988]

@cleanhealthy12

Dude you don't know how wrong you are i was always first or top 3 in free for all in mw2 but in black ops the controls feel different and less polished. I can't prove my skill to you unless you have a ps3 and mw2 so whatever you can believe me or not.

[chazjamie]

you had me at you "90% of players will go back to mw2 in a month".

best news ever

[VenGencE999]

Wats ur psn screen name? I'd luv to see ur skills up close and personal, then I'd take ur comment seriously. Right now it seems u dislike the game cuz u suck at it

[VenomProject]

LOL @ all the people throwing "you just suck" around like 1337 badasses.

[vhero]

A REAL review score wow.. Guess somebody didn't get there Activision promo pack with a bag of money..

[VenGencE999]

sorry vhero, this is for venomproject.
u can add me as well if you want to see how good or bad I am. I'm not 15 so I have no idea wat 1337 means, but I do know that people often diss a game because they aren't good at it. anyways u see my screen name, I'm not hiding, and I'm not just talking COD'S we can play ANY fps that you might own. I own them all from H:reach,K1,K2,gears1,gears2,ha ze,R1,R2,BC1,BC2, etc so it's no biggie

[WithMyLastBreath]

Winter I almost completely agree with you. When I play a COD game, I want it to play like it's part of the franchise. Just as when I played God of War 3, it was very very similar to the previous, didn't introduce too much new and I loved it. Black Ops definitely keeps my interest after I hated MW2. It may be because I am a fan of Treyarch (here come the disagrees) and loved WAW.

But hey want to know something awesome about gaming? You don't HAVE to buy games you don't like. haha.

[ReservoirDog316]

At least people can't scream that the hype for the game gave it all 10s. I doubt the review matters to people already getting it though. It's CoD.

Off topic but it deserves to be said, Enslaved is $25 today at amazon. People cry it isn't worth $60 but you have to admit that $25 is a good deal. Just buy it!

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

I got 20$ credit at amazon so I could get it for 5. I probably wont get it, but that is a good deal.

[MEsoJD]

You people disgust me.

[Organization XII]

and what are you ??? an IGN fangirl?

[mugoldeneagle03]

This should've been at least a 9. I don't understand how critics last year PRAISED MW2 when that game was a carbon copy of the first game w/ broken online play and tons of glitches at launch.

I think what Treyarch did was great. Sure the gameplay is the same and what not, but they added a lot of little things to online play that will completely change the game, making it a lot more skill based than MW2.

Yet Black Ops is the one that gets penalized for being "the same old thing".

I'm not saying Black Ops should be GOTY by any means, GOW3 is that for me so far until GT5 comes, but I completely disagree with reviewers, not just IGN, docking points based off of the same gameplay. It makes no sense.

2 years of the same thing after COD4 is fine, but 3 means it's starting to get old.

Sorry for the rant

[rezzah]

They should of atleast improved on the graphics, the umsmoothe and jagged edges are really annoying and pathetic for a next gen game.

WaW looked like shyt too, the grenade launcher looked like a dick when you walked around with it. seriously these guys could atleast given everythign a clean look.

[frostypants]

I think the general consensus is this: Black Ops is the pinnacle of the CoD formula, and what MW2 should have been.

BUT...after this, it's time to move on, because they can't take this any further.

[theEx1Le]

^^^^This^^^^

[BYE]

8.5 from IGN is like a 6 from regular gaming sites.

[RedDead]

Other way around since Ign changed it's reviewing process. Ign have gotten harsher I think. Which is good, it means a 10/10 gae probably is actually 10/10

[frostypants]

IGN is a lot tougher now.

[Organization XII]

theyre acting strict now, probably activision didnt give them the promised check

[electricshadow]

I am literally surprised this didn't get at least a nine from IGN. Oh well, I'll rent this.

[Jack-Pyro]

8.5, alright, good score!

[GoldPS3]

Shocking! I thought IGN would give it a 9.5 like they always do.

[KenjiWB]

Finally a review NOT from a fansite.

[StarScream4Ever]

An 8.5?! Has IGN man it up a bit? :O

[SSKILLZ]

Just got this from the midnight launch in Los Angeles and holy crap it was packed like if it was the second coming of Jesus . Gonna go rip some ass online ASAP !

[tudors]

to be honest with you I think it is about time we stopped having a new COD every year and they focus on a classic, COD has become the windows of the gaming world, don't get me wrong XP and WIN7 are great OS but it feels like COD2 and MW2 are the same thing, 2 classics followed by little tweaks, it's a cash cow.

[EXID]

that's business. if people will buy it, they'll keep making them~ sad but true.

[user858621]

f*ck sake, a caved in n ordered the game -_-' but a promise a wont like it!!!

[The_Zeitgeist]

After seeing this review I am happy I have Medal of Honor instead.

[Kratos_1986]

its the same thing over and over with every new game they release it should have been just a DLC new maps not a hall game for 60$ with all do respect but only fools buy a COD game every year

thank god i got medal of honor

and LoL at this going againts god of war 3 for goty or even GT5

[Maini8000]

im sick of review sites hating on treyarch... this game is AMAZING... ive played online for 2 hours and its already been more fun than the entire year with MW2... IGN can shove their 9.5 for mw2 up their A*ses imo

[Senden]

So what if the game is amazing... is it a fully fledged sequel? I think not.. it's not the same massive leap forward from WaW to MW2 and the score reflects this.

[Blasphemy]

Except MW to MW2 was an inferior experience. I couldn't play MW2 for more then one week.

[rezzah]

There was no leap from Waw to MW2, because both games were made from differnt companies. Its why MW2 looked like a true next gen game along with MW. Whereas WaW looked like crap and so does Black Ops. Just look at the details and sharpness in MW2 comapred to Block Ops.

But it is obvious they improved on Black Ops from Waw because what else did they have to do? Simply copy off of MW and change things around, add stuff and make it a better gameplay experience. Which it suprisingly is, just need to downgrade your veiwing sensitivity to match with the crappier graphics.

If anyone disagree with Black Ops having worst graphics, maybe you should go buy the game and play it for yourself.

[frostypants]

I think they liked it better than MW2. But MW2 came out a year ago. Competition is tougher.

[Senden]

Finally a more accurate review.. everything i've seen from this game is mw2.5 and while that's a great thing, it isn't a significant leap forward to charge the same premium price they did for mw2.. i'm glad the score reflects this.

[Loadedklip]

That problem is that MW2 has not been beaten. So if Black Ops is just a slight step up from MW2 ... then that means Black Ops is the best FPS game out there today.

So you are taking about a new campaign, new zombie maps, all new MP maps, several dozen tweets to how things work in MP btw ... all on what was already the best FPS game engine around.

That should be at LEAST a 9.

[Senden]

Sure it is the best fps game, but it's not a big enough leap forward to deserve such high accolades.. after playing mp for five hours, I'd agree its an 8.5.

[ElementX]

Can somebody tell me if the graphics are a pixelated mess when you stand up close to something?

[visualb]

they have been using the same engine for 3 BLOODY GAMES

=P

[R_aVe_N]

As long as people keep buying it they will not make it any better.

[bunfighterii]

Yeah they are. Multiplayer is particularly bad, looks worse than MW2. Graphics aren't its strongest point.

[NickX]

Decent scores coming in for this game, got mine coming today hopefully. Well done Treyarch on delivering the goods. Looking forward to playing it.

[Prcko]

as i said,gonna skip

[R_aVe_N]

I could agree with this review, but I would of gave it a max of 8. The game is not impressive at all, but it is fun for the most part. I think IGN is heading in the right direction with their reviews as of late. Looks like they made them take the fanboy goggles off to review now.

[SnukaTheMan]

And I love the dig treyarch gave dice ...."YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MULTIPLAYER EVER" I was so pissed that I could not sell off my copy of medal of honor because no one wanted to pay for the online pass...fuggem...so many options to play multiplayer...zombies...its also looking like a great single player experience as well....this game is great.

[Garrison]

all the kids who haven't got the game make comment's on how a review is fair or not.

[Rezca]

I don't care what scores it gets i'm still getting it no matter what at least I don't have to play sh*tty mw2 anymore :D

[Paradise Lost]

It's a great game! I don't understand the hate, im sure like most of the haters don't even have the game to begin with.

[bunfighterii]

I've been playing for most of the afternoon, I got it today, and I've got mixed feelings.

Maps and level designs for the multiplayer is great, and I'm enjoying the campaign (not having played a COD campaign since the very first COD game on PC), but there's a a lot of annoying 'polish' issues that hold this game back.

[RBLAZE1988]

That's exactly how i feel, this game lacks the polish it needs to be the go to game for the next year in both onlone and single player. IW really were the masters of this series even tho the community turned mw2 into a noob fest. ( ok iw def helped with kill and deathstreaks) people will be back on mw2 once the dust settles.

[renegade]

No check no niners....

[Zezo]

Finally a decent review by IGN

Well done!!!

[turgore]

LESS THAN 9 ! From IGN !!!! No way !!! Well played !

[XTerminator]

They must be kidding, the game is at least a 9

[JonnyBigBoss]

Finally they punish the series for being redundant. I'll be playing this game tonight either way, but you can't help but notice how closely it resembles MW2.

[Relientk77]

Great score, can't wait to play it

[Nerox3]

i told u guys this game will fail

[Paradise Lost]

Have you played it? So don't start fucking judging a game based on one mans opinion.

[saint_john_paul_ii]

how did it fail? 8.5 is a good score. what sucks is that the PS3 version currently doesnt have Dual PSN logins for multiplayer, something that has been around since resistance 2.

[gamingisnotacrime]

what else is coming to take CoD out, besides GT5, but still CoD and GT5 combo is good way to spend the holydays

[Steven21]

@ Close_Second

This game is not at all easy. Have you played it on veteran yet??? the mission SOG and the one before are the most frustrating levels i have ever played in any cod game. i would much rather play mile high club a million times over than go back and play through the 2 i mentioned again. The enemy AI in this game is not bad at all the only problem i have with them is that they only go after me. Now our teammates AI is some bull shit. they just fire off random shots and seldom actually kill someone leaving the infinite respawn killing all up to me. thats the only qualm i have with this game. everything else is amazing. It plays and feels like MW2 and Treyarch did a way better job on this than WAW that is probably my least favorite game of all times minus zombie mode.

[jjank11]

If IGN still had the regular .1 scoring system they would have given it in the 9's.

Anyhow, from what I've played so far it is good but the MP just feels different to me. I'm not talking about the weapons and/or graphics. Its the feel of the game, maybe its a bit more slower gameplay.

and I'm seriously kind of pissed that AIM ASSIST is still and option in these FPS games!!! and that I can't play Hardcore mode right away

[Nerox3]

you fail at math .....

[PlaystationArmed]

Hopefully sver took a day off but before they come back Valor can snatch some contracts.

Black ops is just a bit too arcady for me. While its fun that snap on auto aim is insulting. Good luck yall.

[XI_-Minty-_IX]

...and I expected right. Good god, the maps are way too large for CoD-style gameplay. The graphics don't even look as good as CoD4(<3) and everything about the game just feels off to me. Good thing I got this as a gift and didn't shell out any money for it. Honestly, if this is the direction that modern FPS games are going, then consider me out. Killzone 3 and Resistance 3 seem to be the last hope for FPS games for me. If they both aren't good, which I doubt but you never know, then it's back to Counter-Strike I go.

[dkgshiz]

Besides for the currency system and the betting thing. This game has barely changed.

[Gameplay999]

Eh, think I'll stick to Bad Company II. I am looking forward to Oasis and Harvest Day maps being released.

[smithdown]

that it shoulda been 9 - you do realise you are talking about a 5% difference right? That is so small that you would barely notice it in most other areas of life. But as soon as people start talking about games it suddenly becomes the difference between awesome and shit?? Grow up and get some perspective.

[CaptainKratos]

AWESOME!