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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,453 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

One of the best FPS games out there with a nostalgic story that continues to resonate.
Great graphics and smooth gameplay, especially on high-end PCs, making it visually appealing even years after release.
The multiplayer experience is still enjoyable, with a dedicated community and various game modes available.

Severe backend server issues have rendered many multiplayer features unplayable, leading to frustration among players.
The game is plagued by hackers and cheaters, significantly diminishing the multiplayer experience.
High price for an old game with limited player count and many features that are no longer functional.

graphics
30 mentions
43 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised, with many reviewers noting that they remain impressive even by today's standards, particularly for a title released in 2010. While some comments suggest that the graphics may feel outdated compared to modern games, the aesthetic and clarity are appreciated, contributing to a nostalgic experience for players. The game is recognized for its solid visual quality, which enhances the overall enjoyment of gameplay.
- “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.”
- “A classic COD with a gripping story and a brilliant multiplayer, the graphics still stand up to today's standard.”
- “Amazing nostalgic game with amazing graphics for 2010.”
- “Other Call of Duty multiplayer titles aren't as enjoyable or populated, and most games older than this leave much to be desired in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
- “It's a very fun game and I really enjoy the gameplay, but the graphics are outdated.”
- “I used to play this game on an Xbox and the graphics were bad; now that I have a good PC, I like the game even more.”
gameplay
28 mentions
25 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is praised for its solid mechanics and engaging, fast-paced action, reminiscent of classic "boots on the ground" Call of Duty experiences. Players appreciate the depth of customization and the balance of weapons and perks, although some note minor glitches and a dwindling player base in multiplayer modes. Overall, it is considered one of the best entries in the franchise for its enjoyable mechanics and multiplayer offerings.
- “This game's mechanics are solid, along with the intense gameplay that can absorb you for hours on end.”
- “Simply put, still probably the best multiplayer Call of Duty title to date. The gameplay mechanics are fluid, not frantic like some newer titles have become, and the simple, not overly done load-outs keep this one clean, lean, and fun.”
- “Pretty fun multiplayer, although it lacks players, it has the best custom class mechanics of all Call of Duty games and, in my opinion, it has the best base maps and DLC maps.”
- “I got tired of the gameplay loop.”
- “Nec Nuketown will ban you if you shoot through walls; using an actual mechanic in the game to kill people is banned.”
- “"Legitimate 120+ kill games" were done because of abuse of this mechanic being horrid.”
story
27 mentions
52 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised as one of the best in the franchise, featuring a compelling narrative with interesting characters and memorable plot twists. While some players express indifference towards the story mode, many highlight its engaging campaign and connection to previous titles, making it a nostalgic and enjoyable experience. Despite minor historical inaccuracies, the overall storytelling and multiplayer integration contribute to its lasting appeal.
- “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 connecting to World at War's story.”
- “These days it's a bit dead but still worth the money for the story and zombies, and also the occasional online Nuketown 24/7 binge.”
- “I don't care for the storyline though.”
- “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 connecting to World at War's story (something BO3 could learn about). Though there are some problems in historical accuracy, in the first Vietnam mission which takes place in 1963, the song 'Fortunate Son' plays, and guess what, that song came out in 1969. In the first mission, the song played in the Cuban bar (Quimbara) is released in 1974, and lastly, in the WMD mission, Hudson uses the AUG gun which was in service since 1978.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting minor glitches and stuttering that do not significantly impact gameplay, while others highlight serious performance issues, particularly on Linux. Although the game is considered well-optimized in terms of graphics, players note higher mouse delay compared to previous titles, suggesting that system tweaks may be necessary to improve frame rates and overall performance.
- “Great game! I play on a tactical crouch server. Check online for system tweaks you can make to increase FPS and performance of your game.”
- “It's the classic, Black Ops, and it's well optimized with sufficient graphics.”
- “In theory, this could be an all-time classic; unfortunately, they absolutely butchered the performance compared to MW2 or COD 4. Mouse delay is higher than in the other aforementioned titles at the same frame per second.”
- “Serious optimization issues.”
- “Also quite unoptimized.”
- “In theory this could be an all-time classic; unfortunately, they absolutely butchered the performance compared to MW2 or CoD 4. Mouse delay is higher than in the other aforementioned titles at the same frame per second.”
music
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly the lobby theme, evokes strong nostalgia and is widely praised for its impact. However, some users noted historical inaccuracies in the song choices during specific missions, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, especially in modes like zombies.
- “The lobby music still hits after all this time; nostalgia hits hard.”
- “Lobby music will make you feel a rush of excitement.”
- “Lobby music will make you cum”
- “The first time I clicked on zombies mode and everything went black and the music started playing... I closed my PS3 because I thought I broke the game.”
- “In the first Vietnam mission, which takes place in 1963, the song 'Fortunate Son' plays, and guess what, 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 has been in service since 1978.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark and absurd elements, with players finding amusement in violent interactions and the destruction of in-game characters. The engaging story and interactions contribute to the overall comedic experience, appealing to both new and veteran players alike.
- “I like it; it's fun and funny.”
- “This game is funny with good interaction and story.”
- “Old players in an old game, still funny.”
monetization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game has drawn mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the modern FPS mechanics and features, while others criticize it as a cash grab, particularly in relation to microtransactions and the reliance on RNG elements. Despite these concerns, some still recommend the game as a worthwhile experience.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players into spending money to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without forcing players to buy in-game items.”
- “The balance between free and paid content is well done, allowing everyone to enjoy the game without feeling left out.”
- “I'm not a big fan of Activision with their cash grab series pumping them out like hot cakes; however, this is one of the CoD games I would recommend everyone check out!”
- “When the CoD games weren't horrible RNG fests that want you to pay out your cheeks in microtransactions.”
- “Even their re-launch was the same, thus a horrid cash grab.”
stability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, the presence of cheaters, and some minor unpatched bugs that can cause stuttering in the menu. However, overall performance is generally stable and does not heavily impact gameplay.
- “It runs great.”
- “The game is incredibly stable, with minimal crashes.”
- “I've experienced no lag or glitches during gameplay.”
- “Filled with glitches, cheaters, hackers, etc. I had this for 2 hours over the return period in the same day, and they wouldn't refund me after seeing a cheater shoot me and half my team while spawning over and over while he was shooting up in the air.”
- “Some minor unpatched glitches exist, such as stuttering in the menu screen, but they mostly don't affect gameplay.”
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers a compelling story and enjoyable multiplayer experience, making it sufficiently engaging for repeated play. While some users find it only semi-replayable, many believe it has enough content and fun to keep players returning 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.”
- “It's good and semi-replayable.”
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 demand an excessive 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.”