Black Ops II's Best Console Version is the Wii U

Needless to say, Nathanial Rumphol-Janc had played a lot of this game already before purchasing it for the Wii U, so he sort of knew he would enjoy it if for other than the fact he didn’t need to borrow the game anymore. Sure, part of him felt guilty playing the game because it’s supposed to be “generic and unimaginative”. It’s definitely no Borderlands 2, and Nathanial would hesitate to say it’s better than other IP’s out there. But man, after all these years Nathanial not only understand why Call of Duty is so appealing, he now has a definitive view into why Nintendo is so high and mighty about the Wii U being as good if not better than whats available for hardcore games. To put it bluntly, of the console versions of Black Ops II… the Wii U is simply the best of the bunch. Period, end of story.

[Neonridr]

While I agree with this article, I still feel it's a flame-bait fanboy war waiting to happen...

The only thing I was disappointed about was Treyarch didn't include the Stereoscopic 3D mode in the Wii U version. Why they left it out and made the rest of the game identical is beyond me. I played Black Ops 1 on my 360 in 3D mode and loved it. Even AC3 on the Wii U has the Stereoscopic 3D mode available to use, so it's not like the system isn't capable of doing 3D. Ubisoft clearly got it to work no problem. Just lazy on the part of Treyarch I guess.

Other than that, a great version of the game and definitely worth purchasing for any Wii U owners.

[Kevin ButIer]

Come on, it would be disappointing that the WiiU couldn't beat by a small marging 2005/6 consoles.

[Neonridr]

Do you think that's due to the limitations of the Wii U or the laziness of the developer to optimize it for the system? Trine 2 had no problem significantly outperforming the competition in terms of graphical quality and effects, not to mention running at a silky smooth fps and streaming to two screens simulataneously. If the developer is willing to take a bit of time to actually optimize their stuff then the Wii U will have no problem outshining the competition. Gearbox stated that the Wii U version of Aliens will look the best so I will look forward to the face off of that game.

The lack of developers willing to optimize their codes is the reason that 99% of multiplats look worse on the PS3 over the 360. And reasons why games like Skyrim are unplayable. Developers are always in a rush to get things out, and they build all their games off the 360 platform first. Not a smart way to port a game to a system (Wii U) where the GPU is designed to perform calculations that would normally be done by the CPU.

[Lior]

I think people are forgetting the pc version has dedicated servers, higher frames rate and better graphics.

[AO1JMM]

"Console version" is clearly in the title.

[dark-hollow]

The ability to play on the gamepad, wiimote and the pro controller makes it the best version IMO opinion, but the major drawback is the community isn't their yet which is why I will stick to the Xbox version.

[EddieNX]

Agreed. But you missed the Fus Roh dah of the wiiu version. The reason it's BY FAR the superior version is because , when your friends come over (you need friends or a brother for this to work) You can fight each other with a screen each. You can have a screen each and take down a load of bots together. AWESOME.

Hijacked - dual screen local multiplayer. This.

[metroid32]

I play wiiu version and its awesome very special plus you do feel part of a solid community it just feels fresh and the online is silk very smooth zero lag better graphics and all that,best COD out there and i don't think there even using 10% of the power maybe less going off games on ps3 at launch to say Crysis3 ps3 to soon be released sort of shows that WiiU having better graphics on BO2 and at native 720p and 480p on gamepad at the same time shows wiiu to have serious power in my eyes.

[Knushwood Butt]

Nobody bought this game on the Wii U.

If you want to play multiplayer, you'd get it on another platform.

[ChickeyCantor]

Isn't that kinda the reason why there is no community? It's because people claim there is non and rather play the xbox or Ps3 version.

It's kinda ironic/

[the worst]

what ever
ps3 version 4 me

[AbsoluteZelda]

I love your completely sound logic.

[EddieNX]

Yeh !! The hacked , worst looking version with a bunch of lag. I love that version too.....

Oh wait.....

[Riderz1337]

But you can't even play on the Wii version... there's like 1000 people online.

[Mikeyy]

according the the official COD forums, Lag compensation by far plagues the 360 version the most. Also 360s hitbox's are oversized.

[KillerBBs]

It's Not lag compensation but client side servers that rewards slow connections speeds.

A wireless connection will be better than my wired connection.

If you have Comcast 50mb you will report being hit faster than someone with bottle necked on a wifi connection.

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

The lag compensation is pure bs. I've got a 30 MB connection low ping and get smoked with 3-4 bullets all the time after I empty a mag into someone's back and they can turn around and kill me near instantly. It's better than the 1st game on the ps3. Up until the most recent patch now the lag is even worse.

I've got this coming from eBay here in the next few days, can't wait to try out the Wii u version. The only complaint I am hearing is the smaller community which may be a blessing. I can do without all the cheaters, thugs and Internet tough guys. The game pad option is what I'm looking forward to most to see how well it integrates while playing on the tv and to see what we have to look forward to in the future games

[sandman224]

I still think that the ps3/360 version are better. I'll give you 3 reasons, 1 they have a better online crowd, 2 they both have 3d support, they both have a trophie/achievements to make us feel rewarded for playing single player. I also could mention the faster load times when the match is about to start, So that would be 4 reasons.

[MasterCratosKong66]

entitled to your opinion. i respectfully disagree. the gamepad only play and lack of racists on the wii u makes it a winner for me

[AbsoluteZelda]

Reasons for Wii U

1. Better overall community online. No 12 year old wankers.
2. Achievements that what, tell you that you killed this and did that. I don't need a trophy to tell me I "played a game". Progress and completition of the campaign should be it's own reward. Also, it's Activisions fault if their aren't achievements, not Nintendos. They are optional.
3. The most important part: The controls are superior. It cannot be understood unless you play it for yourself.
4. Less lag.

[Bordel_1900]

The Wii U version of Black Ops II matches the X360 version visually, but the X360 version is the version that performs best fps-wise with PS3 second and WiiU 4th.

[Bordel_1900]

You want evidence? Here, from Digital Foundry.

"True, Treyarch have had years to optimise the COD engine for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and would not have had this luxury in preparing the game for Wii U. Furthermore, on a basic level, Black Ops 2 itself would have been designed with no regard for the Nintendo hardware. That said, we find it hard to blame the developer here - we have seen generational leaps in CPU, GPU and RAM technology since the launch of the Xbox 360 seven years ago, and for the Wii U hardware to under-perform to this extent on such a crucially important game doesn't look good for future prospects. Bearing in mind the specific areas that are causing the most noticeable dips in performance, once again it looks like the CPU is the main bottleneck."

[AbsoluteZelda]

IT should be noted this is just their opinion, and several other opinions have gone in the other direction.

[Bordel_1900]

@AZ

True, the statement above here is just their opinion, but the performance and FPS measurements in the face-off are not opinion but real data.

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

Lmao. They have had years to optimize the ps3 version and yet it still sucks ass. I've got it and had the 1st game for a month and a half before I traded it back in. The combat mode is the only thing they got right on the ps3 version and its a downgrade from the 1st game. I look forward to the Wii u version I've got coming.

[Mikeyy]

Are we talking FPS in the Campaign? or Online Multiplayer?

There is a difference.

[Bordel_1900]

Campaign.
Talking about the Wii U version:

"Still, on the plus side, the multiplayer component of the game has emerged unscathed - if that's your focus, and you're willing to be patient for the online audience to grow in number, Black Ops 2 on Wii U is still worthy of consideration. "

[Darkkphoenixx]

You are 110% exactly right....I can't tell you how many times I've pinpointed online opponents with the Gamepad & how awesome the online play is....& keep in mind I'm on a WIRELESS CONNECTION WHICH PLAYED BETTER THAN MY X360 WIRED!!! NIntendo got something right:)

[AbsoluteZelda]

Sure did. The only problem with the Wireless connection stuff is that the Wii U has problems with routers that are 3+ years older. It's not a problem for me with my new wireless N+ last year, but I know many have problems with the older routers.

[KillerBBs]

Client side servers suck!
If you want your your 360 to run better.. Lag your connection speed (everyone is doing it now)... or go wifi on Xbox.
What you say is true with connection speeds and client side servers but not so much with systems.
Agree with pinpointing and just about everything else.

[TongkatAli]

Meh, Super Mario Bros Wii U all day everyday. I've seen the PS3 version online in action at my boys house, it was lagtastic if that's a word.

[AbsoluteZelda]

Indeed. The Wii U, however, isn't. :)

[PopRocks359]

I don't see why you got so many agrees. The Wii U version the PS3 version is not.

A good example is the technical comparisons between versions that suggested the 360 version was better than the Wii U version also suggested the Wii U version was a little better than the PS3 version.

Finally, I'd like for you to show me even one online shooter that doesn't suffer from at least a few latency problems.

[Darkkphoenixx]

3D support? No. PS3 version better?? HELL NO. I have all 3 systems & have all but sold ALL of my PS3 games , EVERY COD FOR THE PS3 HAS BEEN SHIT!! The Wii U version is vastly superior in every way.

[Bordel_1900]

Digital Foundry says otherwise:
"The COD experience fails to impress on Nintendo's new hardware."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Edit: It must be sad to buy a new console in 2012 that struggels to keep up with a 7 year old console?

[Neonridr]

so it's a few FPS behind in certain areas. But the graphics are leaps and bounds better than the PS3 version and are on at least on par with the 360 version.

[PopRocks359]

@Bordel_1900

It must be difficult to make games on brand new (and changing) hardware over the course of eight months?

Fixed.

[RAZORBACKpr]

its Says "The COD experience fails to impress on Nintendo's new hardware." that doesnt mean that it is inferior to 360 ps3 versions !! it can still "FAIL TO IMPRESS TO SOME" because they have high hopes on Wiiu power, but still be the better version of the 3 consoles !!

[ape007]

i agree CoD on PS3 is very blurry

[vickers500]

"EVERY COD FOR THE PS3 HAS BEEN SHIT!!"

MW2 ran perfectly fine on ps3. Agree on all the others though.

[OmniSlashPT]

Yeah, you can play with the other 3 people in the world that have the Wii U version lmao MP based games (which CoD obviously is) are not even about perfomance and graphics, but about the community. I doubt the Wii U version has a better, bigger and more solid community than the PS3/X360 versions.

Besides, who the f*ck will play CoD with the tablet controller? So you have to buy the pro controller if you want to play CoD. So that's extra money. Best version right? lmao

[quantae06]

No doubt..

[BIGTAMR]

People forget the wii u has different architecture than the ps3 and Xbox so it's good they managed to get it running.

And you can check on mii verse how many people have the game and Europe I've seen 15K, USA 35k not seen Japan but that's a lot there's and everyone is forgetting the ps3 and Xbox has 70 million users each wii u 2 million so ratio is pretty good. I'm no fanboy I have every console and think the wii u is the best purely for off tv play!

[wiiulee]

i've been saying it all along..the wiiu black ops2 is the best version of the game...but then all publications lies and fanboy lies rate the wiiu version low so that not enough people support the game or the wiiu system to keep third parties happy to continue to support the system.....

[porkChop]

It isn't the best console version, for a couple reasons.

1) The game is focused around it's multiplayer, and the community on the Wii U is nearly non-existent at this point.

2) One of the main draws of the Call of Duty series is the butter smooth gameplay, which includes the tight controls, mechanics, as well as the framerate. The framerate is a huge part of that, and the framerate on Wii U regularly sits at around 20, sometimes climbing up to 30. That negatively impacts the feel of the game, which is supposed to run at a smooth and consistent 60fps.

The Wii U version is still fun to play though, and as long as people enjoy the game then it's ok. But don't call it the best console version when it isn't.

[theEx1Le]

20fps? what hole did you pull that from?

[MultiConsoleGamer]

The online community is over 60,00 now, so it's growing fast.

This is definitely the most fun version, and that's all that matters to me.

[KontryBoy706]

I'm just glad these articles are getting better written. Best "console" version not best version. Best version goes to PC.

[ISNeko]

Wii U version for sure. The dual screen online, full map display, multiple controller options, and mature online community made this the definitive version for me. Its refreshing not seeing so many dicks and swastikas online.

[Excited2play]

Wow I'm actually quite surprised by this. I too was under the impression that the Wii U version was inferior to the others in terms of performance and fun.

If the Wii U was able to provide a fun online experience and has good looking graphics, and it's only the U's first COD entry..I'd say it's only gonna get better in the next few years if gamers continue to support it.

[lfclee]

I always play the cod series but this year I just finished the s.p and that was it I hated the multiplayer!

[Triggytrolls]

It's the same as the 360 version, the only difference is that only 2400 people are playing on the Wii U version.

[vickers500]

Reading all these comments has helped me make my decision on which version of BO2 to buy. I had no idea about the lag compensation issues on the 360 version, and the ps3 versions of cod always run like crap, but it seems the Wii U forcing wifi-only use on you may actually be a good thing when it comes to CoD.

Plus, there are some cheap, 40 dollar copies of the Wii U version on Ebay, probably the only franchise I'd ever want to buy used.

[TristanV1]

What's a WiiU?

[arbitor365]

yeah, its the best version

if you want a version with virtually no community, worse graphics, and an inferior controller for shooters.

[arbitor365]

im just laughing at all the nintendo fanboys in this comment section trying to convince themselves that this is a good port. buyers remorse at its best

[MegaLagann]

So apparently people aren't allowed to like a game on the Wii U without it being buyers remorse. OPINIONS WHAT ARE THEY!??!1