Destructoid Review: Call of Duty: Black Ops

Destructoid: "It's that time of the year again. November is officially designated Call of Duty month. It's the reason why this time of the year no longer has a huge saturation of top quality games, as publishers scrabble to steer clear of Activision's almighty entertainment behemoth.

With its power to completely empty launch calenders, Call of Duty: Black Ops sees Treyarch taking the reins from Infinity Ward for another crack at the whip. With Infinity Ward on its knees at the moment, has the "lesser" studio stepped out from the shadows to seize the series as its own? We'll probably need a videogame review to answer such a burning question!"

[kancerkid]

Too bad he got a PC version, which is having so many problems.

Is he the only reviewer mentioning the unplayability of the PC version? It is unplayable! Worse than New Vegas. I am talking about multiplayer.

[UNCyrus]

Jim Sterling review... 'nuff said

[Micro-WAVE]

Who's nuff? :)

[DORMIN]

His inconsistencies and need for attention/controversy are an insult to game developers and gamers looking for a fair judgement.

[SnuggleBandit]

I dont see why you all are so pissed...read the damn review

"Once the multiplayer is fixed, feel free to pop at least two more points, most likely even three, into this review's score. I can only review what I've got in front of me, however, and what I've got is a superb game that has pissed all over itself."

[-Alpha]

@Snuggle

My MP experience is completely smooth, but if he is completely justified in that sense. However, I am somewhat confused with his scaling-- he knocked down 3 points for the MP mess he is experiencing?

Anyway, I got it on PS3 and it's one helluva game

[Danteh]

I like Destructoid more and more each day

Jim Sterling always shits on every other reviewer's face and doesn't give a fuck, lol :P

[Redlogic]

Instead of just looking at the score and making a retarded comment about the review, you should try reading them. I like how Destructiod reviews games. They are honest and actually use a full 10 point scale. Each number has it's own explanation and each review is explained and well thought out. Try reading kids, it's good for you!

[Acquiescence]

I hate COD/Activision...yet I also hate Jim Sterling. I know he's always pining for hits...yet I'm glad he was one of the few to call bullshit on this annual rehash.

Mighty confuzzled right now.

Y'know, while I'm here, I'll add that the most noteworthy thing about Failing Sterling is that his wrist is as wide as the widest part of his hand. So it doesn't actually look like he's got wrists at all, it just looks like his hands have sunk into his arms. Interesting tidbit for y'all.

[lastdual]

Honestly, this sounds about right for the current state of the PC version, if my friend's experience is anything to go by.

I know the 360 and PS3 versions are deserving of a better score, and I'll probably end up picking one of those up sooner or later, but I'm in no rush this year.

[GCNSeanFoster]

Yeah...This is also the same site that gave Deadly Premonition a perfect 10...

[Redlogic]

That review was a joke of sorts. It was one of those "its so bad it's good" type things. You obviously didn't read it, just saw the score...like I said above, read the reviews don't just look at the score

[pimpmaster]

dumbass gives deadly premonition a 10 and all these other way better games 6s. serious facepalm

[dgroundwater]

Hurhur Deadly Premonition was bad I know this cuz a saw the grafx and they sucked.

You do know that review sites other than IGN actually took their time and played the game for themselves. Many discovered it is worthy of scores in the 7-8 range.

Jim Sterling was simply making a point by giving it a 10. It worked, and awareness rose for a game that deserves to be noticed.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Deadly Premonition might look like ass but it's an absolutely fascinating piece of design and a truly hilarious game. I won't argue numbers but it's certainly better and more interesting than anything the Call of Duty series has ever offered.

[jc48573]

It's reviews like this we get to try bad games and they aren't bad either.

[-Mezzo-]

1 look at the score & i knew this was written by 'Jim Sterling', I honest to god did not clicked the link.

This guys working so hard to be wrapped up in a controversy.

Jim, pal you never disappoint me with you Pathetic excuse of a Reviews.

[Ninja-Sama]

Yup the stuttering on PC is near unbearable, and I have a PC that runs Crysis @ 40-50 fps on max settings.

The stuttering is rly taking away the enjoyment from the game.

[raztad]

It looks like a very legit review to me. Guy is talking about PC version. Online is essentially broken (zombie stuff works tho). SP is fine, it seems, although some people are reporting SP is stuttering as well.

Considering the DF analysis showed the PS3 version running at 40fps and with even lower resolution than MW2, clearly the only SKU Treyard/Activision cared about was the xbox one.

[PS360fanboy]

C'mon Jim, you're getting so predictable!

The king of internet videogame trolling!

[MonkeyBoy92]

he had nothing but good things to say about the game, expect the multiplayer (on the PC version).

Would you rather he recommended a game that had faults? Its the job of a reviewer to make us the consumer aware of these problems. He clearly states he would give it an 8 out of 10 once these problems are fixed, and they will be fixed.

[FrankenLife]

Unplayable my ass. I have the PC version, and it runs fine on my rig. "Worse than New Vegas.", is one of the dumbest things you could say about it. Yeah, some people are having problems, and that sucks, but nothing on the scale of New Vegas.

[frostypants]

Why the hell did they review just the broken PC version? If there are major bugs impacting it that aren't on the consoles, then publish two reviews.

After playing more last night, I've come to the conclusion that this one has the best multiplayer in the series so far. And unlike MW2 and to some extent MW, THIS one actually feels like a Call of Duty game.

[ksense]

cod haters gonna love this....

[kancerkid]

If you rad the review he rated it poorly because the MP on PC DOES NOT WORK

[frostypants]

Which is why he should have made it clear that this review was for PC only.

[Baka-akaB]

meh not a fan of cod , and still think the man is an insufferable clown seeking hits .

[Gue1]

Who reviewed this? Jim Sterling by any chance? I just don't want to give them a hit...

[kancerkid]

Read the review. He loves the single player. The Multiplayer is BROKEN though. (PC)

[kaveti6616]

And? Why didn't he review the console versions?

[TheBlackSmoke]

Well isn't PC "teh superiorz verzion" ?

[frostypants]

Who's disagreeing with kaveti6616?

It's a legit question...why DIDN'T the dumbass review the other versions? Or at least admit that this review ONLY applies to the broken PC version? I would hope Metacritic will throw this non-console review out in their 360 and PS3 sections.

[kancerkid]

Oh, so you think he gets all the versions shipped to him and can just pick. READ THE FUCKING REVIEW NIMWIT! He got the PC version first.

[solidjun5]

OH stop with the screaming over the internet. Stop insulting people, just because you want them to visit the site you work for.

[x800]

.

[Whitey2k]

the review suck he didnt mention that pc version suffers from Memory leak on the cpu hence the lag fest and i have never come across connection problems

[josephayal]

6.0 is too high

[totallysane]

thats what i'm thinkin ever since mw2 came out, those games dont deserve more than 5/10. they suck, nothing changes from game to game NOTHING.

[frostypants]

Obviously you've never played them.

If it's not for you, fine, but clearly most people enjoy it. You just don't like it. We get it. Get over it.

[AKA]

A 7 or a 8 is a much better score going by MW2 if ISA mess likeit a 7 if is better and much balanced a 8.

[Optical_Matrix]

As much as I dislike Call of Duty, no one can take this fools reviews seriously. Surely..

[AKA]

If the game is broken and it has many more issue. The review is kind of fair, the other reviews ar way to over rated full of bs.

[Panthers]

Well I havent played the PC version, but the PS3 version plays fine and I am enjoying it. But then again, I havent played a COD since COD 4 so its still pretty fresh for me.

[frostypants]

You're insane. His review basically goes like this:

"The PC version is broken, thus, I give Black Ops a 6/10 on all 3 platforms."

That's not fair, that's flat out idiotic.

On top of that, the opening paragraph makes it clear that he hates CoD games. Why the hell is he reviewing a game he has already decided he doesn't like? Which is EXACTLY why he did the above with the scoring. He KNOWS it was a cheap shot.

What a ridiculous hack Sterling is...he should go write for GamingBolt.

[MidnytRain]

"It's that time of the year again. November is officially designated Call of Duty month. It's the reason why this time of the year no longer has a huge saturation of top quality games, as publishers scrabble to steer clear of Activision's almighty entertainment behemoth. With its power to completely empty launch calenders..."

LOL, so true. But to be honest, he probably should have waited until the connection issues with the game were sorted out before reviewing Black Ops.

[totallysane]

The problem i'm having is no kills im getting are connecting, always robbed of what i should have gotten, there is lag on pc, there is lag on ps3 but guess what no lag on the lead fuckin platform. of course not, people still suck m$ teet. its bs, ps3 games to bad reviews cause the ports are half assed.

[BubbleSystemSuck]

Clowns site

Looking for hits, creating Polemic. Not funny.

[thinking]

jim sterling is a good game reviewer. quit the hating.

[meganick]

Agreed. I wish more reviewers were as honest and hard on games as Jim is. I'm tired of so many unoriginal, rehashed games being handed 8's and higher from so many other publications and websites because of fear of losing advertising and/or early review copies of games.

[TheGameFoxJTV]

These fucking 12 years olds just get offended when they see the game that they are "told" is the best game ever is a shitty console port.

[BLAKHOODe]

i guess Destructiod's check from Activision got lost in the mail.

i'm all for an honest review, but i can't see how so many review sites continuously praise the Call Of Duty franchise. it's the same game year after year with few improvements, which didn't really bother me much UNTIL i put in Black Ops and said to myself "this is just like MW2.. ugh!". i can't see gamers continuously supporting the same format and i really feel that Black Ops will be the kiss of death as far as the future of the franchise is concerned.

[ArtsyGamer]

The people that support these games are the same people that support Madden and other sports games that are exactly the same every year as well. They have disposable income and the tv tells them to buy these things.

[BYE]

COD needs to stop. Like, NOW.

[totallysane]

only problem is, people are stupid and keep buying it, so it won't stop, but i don't have to suffer. i stopped buying after cod4 came out, last decent game that was done

[LilMissGoddess]

but don't say that at a gmae stop or whatever, then you may have to watch your back! cod fanboys are something else!

totallysane- RENT it works!

[tony6767]

high five destructoid!

[ballsofsteel]

no offense but why review the game if it's this broken lots of multiplayer games have crappy launches its something that can't be helped some times i'm not saying give it a good review but why not wait a week till it's fixed if the problems presist for more than a week or so then you have right to complain but 1 day? hell gears of war 2 multiplayer was a complete clusterfuck for months after launch and they gave it a 9

[GoldPS3]

Activison makes billions from COD. Back Ops multiplayer should be running good day 1 on all platforms. We know Activison is out to make the quick bucks 1st and fix problems last. It is what it is.

[Shmotz]

Except Treyarch runs the servers and sees over the game, Activision only publishes it :)
Along with that name me one game that had a smooth launch as far as MP goes. So no this is nothing new.
And let me add that Treyarch has a much better track record of fixing problems with their game then IW.

[ballsofsteel]

COD4 was nearly unplayable on PS3 for the first 2 weeks and guess what it got from destructioid? 8. MW2 also had quite a few problems and it got a 9.5!! from them. world at war also had to launch problems and in their review there isn't even a hint of those problems. all of this is excluding the fact the the PS3 and 360 version of the game are working fairly well right now but they made a review of the only version that isn't working now

we all know activision is trying to make a quick buck by pumping out COD's every year but guess what they're not responsible for the online treyarch that people that actually make the game are. it's clear that you and nearly everyother person on this board is clearly biased against activision and COD in general and you'll use any excuse to put it down

i'm not fan of activision by anymeans but simply writing off a game because the online doesn't work properly day one when you record shows you've never taken that into account before mean you aren't being objective. there are legit reason why black ops isn't good but this isn't one of them.

[TheGameFoxJTV]

Dude, wither they fix the game before it launches, or give it away for free. NEVER RELEASE SOMETHING NOT READY FOR REVIEW. If you do, it's your ass.

[UltimaEnder]

This is a flawed review, because he only reviewed the PC version....cmon Destructoid...

[Nitrowolf2]

Playing it right now, anyone else think the graphics online are a lot better then offline?

[newflesh]

Nope. Graphics online are a lot worse than offline. I just played CoD4 and it has better graphics than this game. Not even talking about MW2. Treyarch failed to deliever.

[bunfighterii]

He's right. Online graphics are pretty subpar. That was the first thing I noticed.

[Der_Kommandant]

No cheque for destructoid?

[silkrevolver]

...but it didn’t deserve a D-. I’d give it an 8.0, so if you feed that through the Sterling-filter, it becomes a 6.0. So... I guess I expected this all along...

[R_aVe_N]

If you think about it there is no reason at all that the PC version is the worst version. After all games are created with PC's not consoles. Looks like they dropped the ball and focused on the consoles version more than anything else. Which really doesn't make much since if you ask me. How can you not have a functional game on consoles and not the PC? The answer is pretty simple if you ask me it was just overlooked on consoles. I can't stand Destructoid for the most part, but he did bring up stuff that I experienced during my play through. The single player is pretty good for a CoD game, and is a step in the right direction.

[bunfighterii]

The PS3 version multiplayer is pretty fucked at the moment too.

[Trunkz]

7.5/10

Game is great, but this game still plays very much like CoD4 and this is #4 since then. This series has now become the Smackdown vs Raw of FPS. All the big reviews I see, do not remove points due to the bugs and glitches that come with the game, other games I DO see them do it like ArmA2, great military simulator, came with few bugs and they nailed them on it even tho they fixed it faster then what their doing now.

IMO the Battlefield franchise is probably the best out there, it gives you everything that you'd want in war battle, CoD is good if you want fast INF. If they make BF3 right, it would deserve 9.5

[Nerox3]

this ....made my minute xD
FAAAAAAAAAIL COD FAAAAAAILLL

[kasasensei]

I'm going to pick the 360 version then.

[Johandevries]

The first Jim Sterling review that actually makes any sense

[Kran]

6/10? are destructoid nuts? Oh its Jims review?

Oh he doesn't count cause hes a crap writer. Carry on

[bunfighterii]

This is the first review that mentions the issues plaguing this game at the moment. Kudos. PS3 multiplayer is a total nightmare at the moment.

[Tikicobra]

I hate Jim Sterling. Even if I agreed with this review, I wouldn't give him any credit for it because he gives every good game a low score just because he can.

[likedamaster]

Consumers are turning... Good! Now stop giving us COD every year and give us something new.