Call of Duty: Black Ops is a FPS video game developed by Treyarch, published by Activision and due for release on November 9, 2010. The game is the seventh installment of the Call of Duty series and the third game in the series to be developed by Treyarch. It is a sequel to the developer’s previous title in the series, Call of Duty: World at War.
Call of Duty: Black Ops takes place during the Cold War. The player mainly controls two characters: Special Forces operative Alex Mason and CIA agent Jason Hudson, both members of the Studies and Observations Group, a clandestine black operations unit tasked with carrying out critical missions behind enemy lines.
The single-player campaign will revolve around an experimental Soviet chemical weapon code-named “Nova-6,” whilst trailers have shown Mason being interrogated by an unseen tormentor. The game will include locations such as the Ural Mountains in central Russia, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam. Black Ops also allows the player to enjoy the experience of piloting a Hind helicopter and guiding friendly troops from an SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft in single player mode.
Viktor Reznov, a key character from the Soviet campaign in World at War has been confirmed to return for Black Ops, joining Mason and the Studies and Observations Group in Vietnam.
The game features a star-studded voice cast, with notable actors such as Gary Oldman (Reznov), Sam Worthington (Alex Mason), Ed Harris (Jason Hudson), Ice Cube (Corporal Bowman), Emmanuelle Chriqui (unnamed character), Topher Grace (Special Agent Harris), and several others lending their voice.
The online multiplayer mode of Black Ops retains the experience points and unlockable reward system that has been kept since Call of Duty 4. The game’s multiplayer focuses on socialization and customization.
Here is an unbelievable one hour long overview of Black Ops multiplayer mode, courtesy of Gamespot:
“Create-a-Class 2.0” will allow enhanced personalization with appearance items as well as upgradable perks: weapons will be extensively customizable with clan tag writing, emblems, attachments and camouflage painting. Even reticles can be modified. There will be more than one style for an attachment, which allows for a lot more personalized weaponry; for example, the player can choose between a Red Dot Sight or a Reflex Sight, both of which share the same traits only visually look different. Character models will depend on the first tier perk instead of the weapon’s type. Furthermore, face paints can be unlocked.
A currency system has been implemented allowing players to buy weapons, accessories and clothes. Players can gamble with their “COD Points” in a free-for-all based playlist called “Wager Match”, which is composed of four game modes. Time limited objectives known as “Contracts” can be purchased to gain more currency and experience points. New custom killstreak rewards include RC explosive cars, guided missiles and controllable attack helicopters.
For the first time in the series, clips from online gameplay can be recorded. Players will be able to play alone or with friends against AI opponents in “Combat Training” with a separate progression system.
Online split screen (which was featured in Call of Duty 3) is re-introduced on Xbox 360 and PS3. The guest account can rank up but will be reset after each sign out.
The zombie mode of World at War will return as a four-player online and two-player split screen co-op mode in which players take the roles of John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, and Fidel Castro as they fight zombies at the Pentagon. Limited editions of the game will offer four zombies maps from World at War.
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