Call of Duty, what does the infamous gaming phrase even pertain to? In the beginnings of the franchise, it was attributed to the men and women of our nation answering a call of duty to their fellow citizens during a time of need. While Black Ops may not necessarily follow this same path, the men of Black Ops are certainly answering the unseen call of duty. A much darker, less broadcast series of events shrouded in confidentiality. Treyarch has gone through great lengths to distinguish themselves as a powerhouse in the CoD series, and Call of Duty: Black Ops is easily their crowning gem. Black Ops primarily follows the horrors that Captain Alex Mason has delved into during his service for the SOG or Studies and Operations Group. Unlike any CoD game released, the focus is aimed directly at Mason’s missions that lead to his capture and imprisonment. The narrative jumps back and forth between flashbacks that lead to Mason’s capture and interrogation by an unknown group. Mason must fight to remember the events that lead to his current predicament in order to free-himself and solve a pattern of numbers that threaten our country. Black Ops premise is a wild one, with said numbers flashing repeatedly across through screen, even in mission, to make Mason appear to be delusion, perhaps insane. Are these events all in his head? Do the numbers actually mean anything whatsoever? All the mysteries are played out over a 7-8 hour campaign that takes you through missions leading up the “current day.” You not only look through the eyes of Alex Mason, but you also delve into a few missions performed by operatives such as Jason Hudson, Mason’s ice cold handler, and a fan favorite from World at War.
I can easily admit that Black Ops will reside in my mind as one of the most memorable Call of Duty campaigns that we’ve had the pleasure of delving into. Every mission is wildly varied, hopping back and forth from a variety of locations throughout the 1960’s as you hunt down Russian extremists. These antagonists are seeking out a horrifying WMD that has been placed in the hands of hundreds of operatives within the borders of our country. Mason holds the key to stopping the terrorist attack, if he can recall the meaning of the numbers that haunt his thoughts. While the campaign takes place during the skirmishes of Vietnam, Mason rarely finds himself in the trenches of Vietnam. In fact, each mission is so wildly varied in terrain, that I’d be hard pressed to say that any mission feels even remotely similar to another. Every scenario in the lead up to the game’s twist is compelling and feels necessary to fully explore Mason’s insanity. Black Ops impresses by delivering missions that feel fast and furious, leaving each character with little time to take a breather. Essentially, Treyarch compels players to blaze through each mission, with major set pieces always taking place within view as you fly past them. If any of the Call of Duty campaigns can be called a thrill ride, Black Ops easily takes the cake and then some. I really wish I could say more about the events of the campaign, but it would easily detract from the initially “wow” factor that can be found in nearly every mission. Words certainly don’t do the set pieces any form of justice.
Most of the initial complaints I’ve seen people take offense to, is the fact that the game isn’t set in the near future setting that the Modern Warfare series has capitalized on. While there are certainly a few missions that feel akin to World at War, the majority of the game is focused on emerging military technology. Mason and crew get their hands on some pretty modern weaponry, ranging from guided missiles, to guns equipped with red dot scopes. While staying believable to the time period, Black Ops features some great gadgets and moments that rival gameplay elements you’ve encountered in Modern Warfare. While Black Ops takes the series in a new direction with narrative, it doesn’t feel like any vast improvement over any other game in the series in terms of design. You haven’t seen most of the scenarios, but the engine and environments don’t exactly revolutionize on the franchise. The physics and destructible environments feel downgraded from anything you’ve seen in Modern Warfare, but you’ll be so focused on the mass of scripted events, that you’ll have little time to stop and smell the roses. Complimenting the entirety of the campaign is a fantastic, booming soundtrack that may be the best in the series. Hits from the 60’s play at the perfect moments, delivering a much more cinematic scope not unlike a few famed war movies as well as a few stunningly orchestrated pieces that play well on the game’s often exploding landscapes. There are actual times in the Black Ops campaign where just the right song turns-on at just the right moment (think CCR) – creating that ever-difficult emotional connection between the player and the video game.
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