Phoenix Down Under: CODBLOPS

Can't talk. Playing Black Ops.

Call of Duty: Black Ops' campaign follows the story of... well, black ops. You play as Alex Mason, a secret government agent, as you foil the Soviet Union's plans and do a lot of secret government stuff.

The framing device, which we won't talk too much about for fear of spoiling it for you, adds something new. You still play as two or three characters, but the interrogation in the creepy chamber pique one's interest from the get-go.

I've noticed a trend in military first-person shooters. Firstly, there are perhaps too many of them, and secondly, they stick to a very strict formula; popularity being the reason, I would assume. This formula involves a ridiculously short single player campaign, involving the player moving around in a squad while higher-ups bark orders at you and open all the doors for you as though you were a beautiful lady, and it relies heavily on scripted events - followed by an online multiplayer. Let's face it, most players jumped straight into that first.

I still enjoyed the Call of Duty: Black Ops' single player mode - it was interesting. Different. However, what struck me was that it wasn't based on history as much as I had anticipated. World at War, for example, revolved around the American campaign in the Pacific against Japan, and the Russian's attack on Germany. Black Ops, while taking place in Cuba, Vietnam, and Laos, is more fictitious and probably from someone at Treyarch having a thing for spy movies.

The scripted events are the most interesting and exciting in the history of military first-person shooters. The characters too, being more than simple grunts who yell orders at you and call the Vietcong Charlies. There are a number of game mechanics introduced to vary the gameplay - something that is most certainly a necessity in an FPS of this kind. The plot, as explained earlier, is unmatched in this genre - in fact, you should assure that you don't have it spoiled for you.

Zombie mode is back from World at War by popular demand. This time, you play as various U.S Presidents as you gun down crazed zombies. As in World at War, you can party up and play with friends, or do it solo.

The multiplayer feels like an improvement on all previous online modes to date; however, it's still in its early days yet - problems may still arise. At the same time, any complaints may be moot at the time of reading this. Killstreaks are now as they should be - a bonus instead of a core gameplay feature. Treyarch has also removed the necessary Stopping Power perk, as well as the much hated Commando. Quick-scoping is (in theory) no longer possible. Fun times can be had in the brand new wager matches, One in the Chamber being especially tense when you're high rolling with your credit points.

Black Ops is indeed a fantastic addition to the Call of Duty series, but one must wonder where to go from here. Methinks perhaps after this, the Call of Duty games will go the way of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk.

I'm off to first prestige.