Black Ops 2: Is Call Of Duty Just For Idiots?

WC writes:

Every year a Call of Duty game comes out, and every year the same accusations and criticisms appear online from gamers who express themselves not to be fans of the franchise – that only empty-headed sheep go out every year and pay $50-$60 on a dressed up DLC pack with little to no progression and even less innovation. Regardless of how well the games do commercially or critically, that element of the gaming community never seems likely to quiet down, answering rebuttals with the same argument – that the games are terrible, and that fans are plainly wrong.

[Majin-vegeta]

Played it for about an hour or so with my lil bro and still think it's just a copy&paste game.

[Irishguy95]

I wonder what the dev team feels like, making the same thing repeatedly for 6 years straight

How boring. At least the artists and Graphic designers got to do something new for this one

[decrypt]

Understand the game is being designed with 6 year old hardware in mind (consoles).

Activision wants the game to run at 60fps. For consoles to acheive 60fps the graphics must be dumbed down.

Notice you dont see any other first person shooters on console that do 60fps and feature 9 vs 9 game play and also manage to look good. This is purely due to hardware limitations of the aging consoles.

We been stuck at the same graphics level since the last 6 years due to consoles fact lol :P

Since Console gamers tend to buy the same game ever year regardless of it being the same game. Developers pretty much know:

Console gamers.. Dont care about graphics.

Hence console gamers are fed the same rehashed crap year on year lol.

[NukaCola]

"I wonder what the dev team feels like, making the same thing repeatedly for 6 years straight"

After you hit a billion dollars in sales, I think you lose your soul man.

[Vip3r]

I doubt the devs care really. I mean, they still get paid a lot of money for C&P'ing last years content.

[LOGICWINS]

One man's trash can be another man's treasure.

[ape007]

exactly and btw your comments are mostly excellent

[LOGICWINS]

Why thank you :D

[BX81]

NO! his/her comments are mostly logic that wins.

[gamer234]

the campaign was fun though

[bunfighterii]

I have resisted getting it so far for PS3, as everything I've read about it seems like bad news and the same issues that plagued the original BLOPS- choppy frame rate, lag and connection issues, hit detection issues- the whole thing seems off.

BUT everyone at my work has it and they've been putting the screws on me to get it- I hopefully won't cave.

As a side not, I chucked in MW3 tonight, and with servers under less strain, and all the 'dodgy' players now playing BLOPS, its been really fun- smooth games, lots of good people playing, none of the kids screaming obscenities all night.

[pandehz]

Definition of Call of Duty games

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[WolfLeBlack]

The problem Call of Duty faces is a simple one: if it changes to much, fans will be complain that it's no longer Call of Duty. If they don't change it, people complain it's not changing. It's hard to win.

The second problem is exactly how much should a reviewer take off of a score for a sequel feeling like the game before it? As a sequel, it's supposed to be more of the same, just with some new features, tweaks and refinements, and whether you like it or not each new CoD title does add in some small new features, tweaks and refinements to its formula.

CoD gets a lot of flak for not changing and being released every year. But what about the LEGO games? I've just gotten yet another one through for review, the second or third in the space of a year, and yet it doesn't get much flak for it.

The final point I'd like to make is that from an unbiased viewpoint, within the FPS genre CoD is at the top of the food chain. The gameplay is slick, its intense, it's fun and they've got the formula refined in multiplayer.

So, for a proffesional reviewer, it comes down to this: CoD, from a fair standpoint, is up their with the best. But it hasn't changed massively over the years. What score should it therefore get? Do you take away loads of points, or just a little? It's a tough call to make, and one that reviewers will always get hate for, regardless of which direction they choose to go in.

[LeoDDestroyer]

You missed the fact that most reviewers will mark down games for not changing much, but relax that standard when it comes to cod and that is where the problem begins.

The inconsistency is really what drives a lot of the rage. Reviewers seem to hold cod to a lower standard then any other game in that genre.

[Tonester925]

Treyarch's COD changes everytime. None of them feel the same as the previous game.

[kneon]

Also many reviewers will just gloss over bugs in COD that they would surely bitch about if found in another game.

[matgrowcott]

Largely the people that complain won't buy the game whatever happens. The developers will massively shake things up, the diehard fan (of which there are millions) will get put off by changing systems/over-complication and those that have complained for years will say "I knew COD was just a fad!"

The only thing for the developers to do is to keep the basic game and upgrade around it.

In terms of reviews: I've always taken the viewpoint that it's impossible to actually play Call of Duty and say "this is a bad game." It's fun, there's a massive community, everything works well enough (and usually improves after release). You might not enjoy it, but that's a different thing altogether.

You have to review the title, not the culture. Black Ops 2 doesn't feel tired, it doesn't feel over-the-hill, it adds a lot to an award winning formula and that's exactly what the people who buy Call of Duty want. The same but different. Knocking points off because the basics of the game are the same is like adding points in a review for Battlefield 3 because it isn't Call of Duty.

@LeoDDestroyer

I don't think most reviewers do that, but several sites may. It's not really inconsistency, but I would say that anybody who judges a game by its predecessors is doing it wrong.

It's worth mention - especially if a title has changed massively like, for instance, the Resistance series - but more as a neutral than as a "make or break" point. The only people benefiting from a critic saying Call of Duty never changes are the people who say Call of Duty never changes, and not only is that statement untrue but those people are never going to buy the game anyway.

[WolfLeBlack]

I absolutely agree that from a review standpoint you can't play through any of the CoD games and call them bad: they're at the top of the FPS genre and for good reason.

I also think that saying it never changes is daft argument to make. Each iteration may not change the basics of the formula, but it always adds or improves. Black Ops II for example now has a branching storyline and strike missions, both of which are big changes for the franchise.

[LeoDDestroyer]

No a good majority of the major reviewers do this. They will and often mark down games because of it similar formula to the previous one which is a standard that they don't hold cod too.

You can't complain about things never changing and then a high five to the game that never changes, be consistent. Is cod a bad game, no but at least hold it to the same standard as any other game.

[braydox21]

I argree i mean like you see all those sports games that come out yer after year like fifa and what flak do they get, they barley even have to touch the game. so instead of viewing COD as Game i viewed it as a sport, the Developers have created a experiance that can be enjoyed by everyone, you don't have to worry about a lack of multiplayer games and with each new installment you get a game that keeps itself modern and entertainable as well as holding its roots as a classic game. so COD a sport is how it should be seen. and if you view like that haters you'll hate it less.

[dazzrazz]

I've got it now i wanna get rid of it, multiplayer is horrible ! Maps got shrunk even more, its like playing in a rat maze or shoe box

[The Meerkat]

I thought exactly the same this morning, its like a rat maze. The are no lines of sight longer than 60m and there are virtually no choke points. All the maps have too many alternate routes. I feel like i'm running in circles.

And what about the weapons? I've looked on Elite and discovered that I've only EVER been killed by 6 different guns!!!
MP7, PWD, MTAR , Type 25, S12 and SVU AS.
I've been killed over 500 times and excluding explosives, knifes and streaks its the same 6 guns.
To be fair the S12 and SVU have only killed me 4 and 12 times so we can even count them out.

So its basically everyone running in circles with no choke points using the SAME 4 guns!!!!!

Its got very boring. But as all my friends are scared of Halo 4's MP because it takes real skill I have no choice but to join them in BO2.

[Tonester925]

The MP7 is one of the first guns you play with so of course it's a brand new game everyone's going to be playing with the early unlocked guns.

[mayberry]

Thats why I love Killzone 3 multi-player! Awesome maps!

[MRMagoo123]

"Its got very boring. But as all my friends are scared of Halo 4's MP because it takes real skill I have no choice but to join them in BO2." LMAO!!!! Takes real skill omg lol !!! you forgot the /s tho otherwise ppl may take you serious

[fullymoated]

Typical COD hater. Buy the game. Instantly hate it. Continue to play it for 100 hours. Buy the next one in a year. Repeat.

If you actually hated the game, you would simply go sell it used and get some of your money back. But you are so addicted to both the gameplay and the opportunity to complain to everyone that you’ll hang onto it and keep playing for 15 hours a week.

[SolidStoner]

yes! pity I am one of those idiots! :( since Im ps3 owner and BO2 dont work properly and latest patch did nothing.. sorry it did! now I have 50 mb less memory on my PS3 HDD!

[sway_z]

I agree with you on the idiot thing ;)

[SolidStoner]

:)

[Slyfamous]

If it is , then there is allot of idiots in this world.

[Thatlalala]

You say that like people don't know it yet. Thought this was common knowledge.

[sway_z]

I'm not defending Activision or the developers, personally MW1 is the best in the series.... but actually, Treyarch at least tried to add more emotion and choices to Black Ops 2 in spite of the old game engine...

Yes, the PS3 version got less love than 360 (I own PS3/Copy), but it's not the game breaker some sites report it to be....

Truth be told, the same people who complain about rehash COD games...still go out and purchase them!

So maybe COD games are for those two faced dummies who STILL go out and buy them ALL year after year..

IMHO they're the real idiots!

[_LarZen_]

"Is Call Of Duty Just For Idiots?"

No, but the commenting fields for the game is THE playground for the worst gamers in the gaming community. A playground mostly for children and sadly now and then some adults.

We all know them as trolls, and gamers around the world just hate them.

[Mac420]

I don't mind the lack of time put into the campaign of the COD franchise, Never have not what I bought it for. Don't mind the small maps an no choke points or the guns with no recoil because that is what COD has always been, run n gun & pray an spray what made it fun. You didn't have to spend countless hours in multiplayer to be good at it like arena style shooters (Halo, Unreal Tournament, Quake). The reason I hate the game an the reason I haven't purchased a COD since the original Black Ops is the simple fact they outsell every game, movie, an electronic device year in year out but yet still refuse to put money into a new engine. You gross $500 mill every year an can't for once build a new engine from the ground up.There still using the same engine from the original MW rumors out there state its older then that(Rumor Quake Arena engine with AAA tweaks). Maybe gripping about graphics is stupid but what did Sony an Microsoft an all the developers blow up our ass that year at E3, they promised us, next gen visuals an gameplay. That's what they pumped in our heads 7 years ago with those amazing CGI visuals for all the games to come. An to date besides a couple of PS3 Exclusives, Halo 4 an give or take 3-5 multiplatform games I have yet to be impressed. They have made $5.7 Billion in PROFIT as of Sept 2012 for the COD franchise. Add the other $500 mill for BO2 as of now an its amazing. There so worried about pushing a COD title out every year for profits they can't have Treyarch or IW not come out with a title 1 year in place of a new game engine. An as long as people keep eating it up, they will just continue to shove it down our throats. I don't blame either studio, I blame Activision for worrying about profit margins an sales figures then a quality product. Wonder how the guys feel that work there, or do they just come to work to get a paycheck cuz they know its pretty much copy an paste every year.

[MasterD919]

I'm going back and forth on it...on one hand, I'm ready to trade it in and get my money back. On the other hand, I like it but I think the campaign is good, zombies is actually really boring and the surprisingly unique, but cramped multiplayer maps + lack of hit detection absolutely ruined what would have been a more solid experience for the series. Seems like I have more enemies behind me, than in front too. Which again, goes back to the map layouts. Not to mention how Campers have exploited every crevice and corner of every map.

And I did notice that the gun roster just seems to be small, or people just end up using the same 3-4 weapons. It plays slightly different, but of course it is the same game underneath.

Still not sure what I want to do, but I'm leaning towards getting rid of it while the TIV is still high enough.

[MRMagoo123]

I think the maps would feel a lil better and bigger is there wasnt so much crap in them like 60 million building, they should have made some that are less cluttered like the mw1 maps.

[MasterD919]

The maps could be big enough for all I know, but they are designed like some sort of rat-maze with things constantly to your left or right, and a doorway here and there. I am surprised that anyone can use an ACOG or Sniper without seeing how pointless it is.

I've been using more SMG's than any other COD game because I know someone is either waiting around the corner, camping in a crevice or area or waiting to kill me from behind. I've been killed more times from behind than ever too, which again, falls back to the map layouts. Which is funny because I actually think some of these maps are quite refreshing, aside from the way they were planned out.

It's a catch-22 for me because I hated MW3 immediately, and I'd like to stick with BO2, but at the same time I can just as easily trade in BO2 and play MW2 or BO1 if I get the need for COD. Maybe BF3 has spoiled me a bit because of how ridiculously huge those maps are, but still...There really is very little line of sight in these maps and that is a huge concern.

[MRMagoo123]

The thing is they dont need long line of sights for ppl cos the only reason to have them is for snipers and noone snipes in the game they just run around using "mad skillz" /s quick scoping thinking its something impressive using the auto aim feature to one shot with it. I too have been mostly killed from behind it seems the spawn points can be pretty awful too which i think doesnt help with it, having been spawned directly infront of the enemy about 5 times a match is getting annoying now.

[jjb1981]

It's perfect for me now that I'm older and only have time too jump into a quick game or two. To each his own.... Suckas

[Omnislash]

The game is like the Budweiser of video games. Its lame, its bland, but alot of people play it and for some reason they believe it is good. Not to mention the advertising, the game comes out to be like a must-have for all video gamers. I played Black Ops to see what the fuss was all about and the game was lame, I ended up trading it back in, in other words I got the hell outta there while the gettin was good.

[artdafoo]

Depends, if you buy Doodie every year hoping and praying that this time they really did revolutionize the game then yes, you are an idiot. If you buy it every year knowing full well that it is the same turd then you are still an idiot, just an idiot with no expectations.

[STARRHUNTER29]

IF U DONT LIKE THE GAME PLAY SOMETHING ELSE ..THE GAME IS NOT FOR EVERYONE...50 BUCK OR100 BUCK ILL BUY THE GAME...PEOPLE WHO DONT LIKE THE GAME IS BECAUSE U SUCK

[Sidewinder-]

Yes it is.

"Babies and people who have brainpower less than a 1GHz processor will enjoy it." - should be on the game box.

This is why the field of view is capped at 80. Any more explosions and ridiculous vehicle segments crammed into a higher FOV would cause the said babies brains to fry. I've seen it happen. Little puffs of smoke come out of their ears like a Looney Tunes cartoon.

Me? I play Wargame European Escalation. This game is far beyond the comprehension of COD babies.

It makes for a fun multiplayer scene.

[josephayal]

Its the same experience over and over. Same game mechanics and engine, same online...MEH!