divisionbyzorro
Member
Introduction
Treyarch Community Updates:
Keep these links bookmarked to stay up to date on changes that Treyarch will be pushing out:
PC Update Thread
PS3 Update Thread
XBox 360 Update Thread
Wii Update Thread
Spoilers:
The spoiler embargo has lifted! Talk away!
Errata:
I will make an effort to fix any factual errors as soon as possible; please PM me if you notice anything wrong as opposed to cluttering up the thread.
Helpful Hints:
Playing single-player? Stuck in the Vietnam level? Run up to the barrels and press X.
Multiplayer N00bs:
Are you a multiplayer noob? Try reading some helpful hints from CODGaf:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25130637&postcount=14205
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25131290&postcount=14210
Release Date - November 9, 2010
Platforms - XBox 360, PS3, PC, Wii
Skus - Click thumbnails for larger versions
Standard - $60 ($50 Wii)
- A regular-ass game-in-a-box.
Hardened - $80 (unavailable on Wii or PC)
- Limited edition Black Ops Collector's Medal with display case
- The four Nazi Zombie maps from Call of Duty: World at War (download)
- Exclusive Black Ops Xbox Live/PS Home Avatar outfit
- Special-edition SteelBook case
Prestige - $150 (unavailable on Wii or PC)
- The complete Hardened SKU content
- RC-XD surveillance vehicle with video camera
- RC-XD transmitter with 2" backlit 200x176 screen to receive video feed
Game Overview
Campaign
Set during the events of the Cold War, the Black Ops campaign will have you participate in a number of secretive covert operations in varying locations across the globe.
Multiplayer
The customizable multiplayer experience first pioneered in Call of Duty 4 returns, featuring a revamped Create-A-Class system, rebalanced weapons and perks, and all-new game modes.
Campaign Co-Op
As with Modern Warfare 2, the main campaign will not be playable cooperatively.
Zombies!!!
The red undead menace will be returning in Black Ops as the main cooperative mode. Those who purchase the Hardened/Prestige edition will also get access to the classic zombie gametypes from World at War.
PC Dedicated Servers
Unlike it's predecessor, Black Ops will support dedicated servers on PC through an exclusive relationship with GameServers.com
Split Screen Online Multiplayer
While the exact number of supported players is not yet known, Black Ops will allow multiple players on the same console to play online.
3D Support
Call of Duty: Black Ops will have 3D support on all of the HD SKUs.
Wii Version
The Wii version of Black Ops will ship day-and-date with the HD console versions. It will also feature Classic Controller Pro support, giving players the choice between traditional dual-analog controls or Wii pointer controls.
Map Pack Exclusivity
As with prior games in the Call of Duty series, all map packs will debut exclusively on XBox Live and will release one month later on all other platforms (except Wii).
Achievements and Trophies
The full list of achievements and trophies can be seen at this link (beware of possible spoilers).
Reviews: via Metacritic [XBox 360 - PS3 - PC - Wii]
As has become traditional for the Call of Duty series, Treyarch has been exceptionally cagey about the content of the single-player campaign. All we really know is that the events of the Cold War will form the backdrop for the events that occur during the campaign, although the story itself will not follow history as we know it. You will play a character named Mason, and will experience the 13 campaign missions in the form of flashbacks brought on by an interrogation sequence. And if the previous Call of Duty games are any indication, it's likely that one or more of your friends and/or playable characters will meet an untimely end.
Some previews from various outlets regarding the single-player campaign:
SourceStephen Totilo - Kotaku said:
SourceAndrew Yoon - Joystiq said:
It seems that we can expect the series to continue to mix up its single-player set pieces:
SourceAndrew Yoon - Joystiq said:
Multiplayer Overview
The fast-paced, customizable, class-based multiplayer combat that the series is known for returns again. This iteration aims to tone down the air support that overshadowed Modern Warfare 2 and restore emphasis to gunplay and situational combat; in many ways, it aims to be a successor to Call of Duty 4 and World at War as opposed to following in the footsteps of its much-maligned predecessor. This includes a number of fundamental changes to both the basic gameplay as well as the persistence system.
Some highlights:
Create-A-Class 2.0
The unlock system for Black Ops has been re-designed from it's predecessors. In addition to earning XP and ranking up from multiplayer matches, you also earn a currency called "COD Points," or CP. This currency is used to unlock everything from weapons and attachments to killstreak rewards and perks. As you rank up, you earn more CP per match and are given the right to purchase more items. In short, your level gives you access to new items, but you have to spend money to add items to your arsenal.
Wager Matches
Alongside CP comes a brand new playlist known as the Wager Match. These are specialized, 6-player free-for-all matches which require you to ante up some of your precious CP in order to participate. The top three players finish "in the money" and will earn back their ante, plus a hefty bonus. The bottom three will lose everything.
The four Wager Match modes are:
One In The Chamber
Each player spawns with a pistol and a single bullet. Every time you kill an enemy, you're given another bullet. Learn to trust your instincts, take a deep breath, and make every shot count.
Gun Game
Each player spawns with a pistol. Each time you earn a kill, you're given a new, slightly more powerful gun. You'll go through pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, submachine guns, light machines, and sniper rifles, before finishing with a crossbow and ballistic knife. The first player to get one kill with each of the 20 weapons in the rotation is the winner.
Sharpshooter
Each player spawns with the same, random gun, and every 45 seconds that gun is randomly changed. This will challenge players to be consistently competent with each gun in the game.
Sticks and Stones
Perhaps the most bizarre of the modes, each player is given a crossbow, ballistic knife, and a tomahawk. Kills with the crossbow and ballistic knife will add to your score, while killing someone with a tomahawk will drop their score to zero. The player with the most points at the end of the time limit is the winner.
Combat Training
This is really just a fancy term for "bots." You can now play through the entire multiplayer progression, either solo or with friends, against bots. Your progress in combat training does not carry into regular multiplayer, but you can consider this a good place to learn maps, practice with new weapons, or play with friends who are afraid of hopping online and getting their asses kicked.
Theater Mode
It's a feature that fans have been clamoring for, and Treyarch has delivered. You can now replay your recently played matches, build clips and gameplay videos, and upload them to a central file share for all of your friends to see. You can also access your gameplay videos online at http://www.callofduty.com/theater
Prestige
There will be 15 levels of prestige this time around. The first five will unlock extra class slots, and the remaining prestiges will continue to unlock special bonuses (for example, Gold camo becomes available for purchase at Prestige 14). To compensate for the extra prestiges, the max level has been dropped from 70 to 50; reaching 15 prestiges in Black Ops should take roughly the same amount of time as 10 prestiges in Modern Warfare 2.
Contracts and Challenges
Longtime Call of Duty players are familiar with the game's built-in challenge system, which rewards players with bonus XP for grinding out specific types of kills, or doing something particularly difficult and badass. Black Ops adds a new layer on top of this system with Contracts, which are a special set of tightly focused, time-limited challenges. Players can purchase any number of Contracts with their CP, and will be rewarded with bonus CP and/or XP if they complete the terms of the contract within the set amount of time. These contracts will rotate on a daily/weekly basis, ensuring that there is always something new for the hardcore player to chase.
Visual Customization
In addition to customizing your character from a tactical perspective, you are also given a wealth of new visual customization options to play around with. This includes a custom emblem editor, custom weapon sight reticules, gun camos, face camos, and more.
Interactive Maps
In another first for the series, certain multiplayer maps will feature interactive elements and environmental events. For example, one map has a bomb site placed beneath the engine of a rocket prepped for launch, forcing players to time plants and defuses so that they aren't burned alive when the rocket lifts off. Other maps might have doors which can be opened or closed by the defending team, allowing them to manipulate the flow of traffic through the map. Players will now have to not only learn the geography of each map, but the ways in which they can be manipulated as well.
Balance Tweaks
In addition to adding new features to the game, Treyarch has implemented a number of fundamental gameplay and balance tweaks designed to address a number of key complaints from the Call of Duty community.
No More Killstreak Stacking
In a first for the series, kills earned by using your killstreak rewards will no longer continue to build your killstreak.
No More Stopping Power/Juggernaut/Danger Close
Stopping Power, Juggernaut, and Danger Close (a.k.a. Sonic Boom) have been staple perks of the franchise ever since Call of Duty 4, but no longer. This opens up a wealth of new options for class customization, as you will no longer have to sacrifice increased health or damage for a more tactical perk.
Going Commando Is Out of Style
Yes, Commando is gone. In its place is the Ballistic Knife, a secondary melee weapon that fires blades in a straight line. You get one shot before reloading, and only two shots total. The days of teleporting super ninjas are over!
No More Noob Tube Rain
Modern Warfare 2 had its share of problems, but none was worse than the seemingly endless shower of explosive rounds (i.e., noob tubes). Not only has the One Man Army perk been completely removed, but the Scavenger perk will also no longer restore grenade launcher rounds. If you need the noob tube to get kills, you're only going to get two shots with it per life, and you can't use an explosive perk as a crutch to make it stronger.
Who Needs Deathstreaks?
Arguably the worst new idea in Modern Warfare 2, Deathstreaks will not make an appearance in Black Ops multiplayer.
Quickscoping Crutches Removed
In Modern Warfare 2, the Sleight of Hand Pro perk would radically increase the sight time of your weapon. This caused "quickscoping" (a technique where a sniper will quickly raise his sights and immediately fire) to be much more effective than it should have been. And even though the Sleight of Hand Pro perk returns, it has been confirmed that it will have no effect whatsoever on sniper rifles.
Grenades and Equipment are distinct again
Modern Warfare 2 lumped all grenades and deployable equipment into the same category, which was a departure from previous entries in the series. This time around, grenades and equipment are two separate categories, allowing you to have equip both a grenade and a claymore once again.
Shotguns Are Primary Weapons Again
This change is fairly self-explanatory; you can no longer equip a long-range assault weapon and a short-range shotgun in the same class.
Dive To Prone
Treyarch is introducing a brand-new multiplayer mechanic called "Dive To Prone." If you press and hold the crouch button while running, your character will execute a diving maneuver, quickly lowering their hitbox during their animation, but preventing them from firing until they have landed and recovered. This will prevent sprinting dropshots, although regular dropshotting is still possible.
Xbox Live Party Chat
XBox 360 gamers rejoice! Party Chat is now enabled in all playlists aside from Search and Destroy.
Maps
The full list of maps as shipped. Thanks to GAF member Sethos for the map walkthroughs.
Array | Large | Snow covered landscape. Good medium to long range fighting.
Cracked | Large | Street map. Well balanced for Search & Destroy.
Crisis | Medium | Cuban base. Epic indoor and outdoor battles.
Firing Range | Small | Military practice facility. Hectic Domination games.
Grid | Medium | Russian power grid. Plenty of tactical spots for fighting.
Hanoi | Medium | NVA prison camp. Excellent for Headquarters matches.
Havana | Medium | Cuban city. Filled with tactical street fights.
Jungle | Large | Jungle warfare. Great vertical gameplay.
Launch | Medium | Huge space launch facility. Perfect for any game mode.
Nuketown | Small | Nuclear testing grounds. Fast paced action on a small map.
Radiation | Medium | Fully operating plant. A well balanced map for any play style.
Summit | Medium | Research facility on a snowy mountain. Fight from all angles.
Villa | Medium | Cuban estate. Good corridoors for long range firefights.
WMD | Medium | Soviet base. Intense CTF matches.
Weapon Details
For detailed weapon information, such as damage, recoil, ammo count, etc, visit [url="http://denkirson.xanga.com/735016527/black-ops]DenKirson[/url].
Lethal Grenades
- Frag Grenade: Cookable explosive.
- Semtex Grenade: Throwable explosive that sticks to objects and players.
- Tomahawk: Throwable knife that can be retrieved.
Tactical Grenades
- Willy Pete: Smoke grenade; throw to block visibility.
- Nova Gas: Creates a field of gas that slowly damages the enemy.
- Flash Grenade: Temporarily blind and disorient the enemy.
- Concussion Grenade: Temporarily stun and slow the enemy.
- Decoy Grenade: Makes a gunfire noise and creates a dummy dot on the enemy radar.
Equipment
- Jammer: Deploy to jam enemy radar within a set radius.
- Claymore: Deploy an explosive that automatically detonates when the enemy approaches.
- C4: Two remotely detonated explosives.
- Motion Sensor: Detects nearby enemies and displays their position.
- Camera Spike: Deploy to replace minimap with the view of the camera.
