Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty Black Ops is such a huge and a fantastic game that we have three reviews from three editors making this an epic review for an epic game.

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"Call of Duty: Black Ops" is a first-person shooter game set during the Cold War. The campaign mode takes players to various locations for missions involving CIA operatives. Multiplayer mode features create-a-class system and various game types, with Zombies mode adding co-op gameplay against hordes of the undead.

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Play Modes

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,306 reviews

story10 positive mentions

music1 negative mentions

Classic game that brings back nostalgia and is still fun to play.
Multiplayer has a dedicated community with some active servers, especially for Nuketown.
Great campaign and zombies mode, making it a well-rounded experience.

Multiplayer is plagued with hackers and toxic players, making it frustrating to play.
Frequent bugs and issues, including rank resets and connection problems.
Limited active servers and often only a few game modes available, leading to repetitive gameplay.

story
21 mentions
48 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised as one of the best in the Call of Duty franchise, featuring a compelling narrative with interesting characters and significant plot twists. While some players appreciate the engaging campaign and its connection to previous titles, others feel that the multiplayer aspect, though enjoyable, lacks the same depth. Despite minor historical inaccuracies, the overall storytelling experience is considered a highlight, making it a nostalgic and replayable choice for fans.
- “The campaign was a masterpiece too with easily the best plot twist of all time.”
- “The story deviated in a really interesting direction, with new characters and new complications.”
- “It has, in my opinion, the best campaign in the series with a clear goal and everything is well explained. Characters are interesting, fun, and likable, and it does a good job of connecting to World at War's story.”
- “I don't care for the storyline, though.”
- “☑ no story.”
- “There are some problems in historical accuracy; in the first Vietnam mission, which takes place in 1963, the song 'Fortunate Son' plays, but that song came out in 1969. In the first mission, the song played in the Cuban bar (Quimbara) was released in 1974, and lastly, in the WMD mission, Hudson uses the AUG gun, which was in service since 1978.”
graphics
17 mentions
35 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their crispness and clarity, especially considering its 2010 release, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up well by today's standards. Players appreciate the well-optimized visuals and distinct art style, which contribute to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. While some mention that the graphics may feel outdated compared to modern titles, the nostalgic appeal and solid performance enhance the experience.
- “And for 2010, it has really crisp and clear graphics; even by today's standards, it would hold up pretty well in terms of graphics quality and animations.”
- “Loved the graphics and action, well thought out situations, good options, and really the mother of all Call of Duty multiplayer games.”
- “It's the classic, Black Ops, and it's well optimized with sufficient graphics.”
- “It's a very fun game and really enjoy gameplay is great and graphics are outdated but a very fun game.”
- “I used to play this game on an Xbox and the graphics were bad, and now that I have a good PC I like the game even more and this is my favorite game in the first place.”
- “Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer, in stark contrast to Cold War multiplayer, has a very streamlined and fixed aesthetic and art style.”
gameplay
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its depth and variety, featuring multiple modes, extensive class customization, and balanced mechanics that enhance both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Players appreciate the fluidity and simplicity of the mechanics, which contribute to a fast-paced yet enjoyable atmosphere, although some express concerns about the current community and player base. Overall, it is regarded as one of the best entries in the Call of Duty series for its engaging gameplay.
- “From there, more gameplay modes open up for more intensified matches and loads upon loads of class customization for the players.”
- “Simply put, still probably the best multiplayer Call of Duty title to date... gameplay (mechanics) fluid, not frantic like some newer Call of Duty titles have become and simple, not overly done load-outs keeps this one clean, lean and fun.”
- “Literally years of unlocking and gameplay gone.”
- “Simply put, still probably the best multiplayer Call of Duty title to date... gameplay mechanics are fluid, not frantic like some newer Call of Duty titles have become, and the simple, not overly done load-outs keep this one clean, lean, and fun.”
- “Gameplay and graphics held up well and it's one of my favorite Call of Duty games.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding enjoyment in the violent yet humorous interactions, such as destroying characters in a playful manner. The engaging story and interactions further enhance the comedic experience, making it a standout aspect for many users.
- “I like it; it's fun and funny.”
- “This game is funny with good interaction and story.”
- “Destroying meta slaves with HS10s is hilarious.”
music
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for enhancing the campaign's atmosphere and character engagement, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. However, several historical inaccuracies in song selections, such as the use of "Fortunate Son" in a 1963 mission despite its 1969 release, detract from the authenticity of the setting. These discrepancies highlight a need for more careful attention to historical context in the game's soundtrack.
- “In the first Vietnam mission, which takes place in 1963, the song 'Fortunate Son' plays, but that song was actually released in 1969. Additionally, in the first mission, the song played in the Cuban bar ('Quimbara') was released in 1974, and lastly, in the WMD mission, Hudson uses the AUG gun, which has been in service since 1978.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding required to obtain extra weapons, noting that the effort feels unnecessary since the weapons do not offer significant advantages. This has led to perceptions of arbitrary gate-keeping, with some suggesting that extensive grinding may require a considerable time investment.
- “Getting all the extra weapons requires a lot of grinding, and I'm not a fan of this since none of the guns are outright superior; it just seems like arbitrary gatekeeping.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users find it well-optimized with satisfactory graphics, others describe it as quite unoptimized, indicating inconsistencies in performance.
- “It's the classic, Black Ops, and it's well optimized with sufficient graphics.”
- “The game is also quite unoptimized.”
- “Performance issues make it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times indicate poor optimization.”
replayability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers a compelling story and balanced multiplayer experience, providing enough engaging content to ensure replayability for years.
- “Great story, solid multiplayer that isn't too over the top and provides just enough content and fun to be replayable for years to come.”
stability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game runs smoothly, indicating a high level of stability.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I haven't experienced any stability issues; it feels very reliable.”
- “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”