Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Preview – E3 2012
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When a studio behind a franchise as huge as Call of Duty proclaims their goal is to create the most robust and innovative game in the series thus far, some will have doubts. But that’s exactly the goal that Treyarch has set for themselves with Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Debuting the first campaign demo at E3 2012, we got a chance to see more of the game and hear the developers talk about making the next entry in the blockbuster series.
The single-player campaign will feature two connected storylines, set through 1980s and the other in 2025. The protagonist of Black Ops, Alex Mason returns as the protagonist in the Cold War section while his son, David Mason, will be your trusted partner in the future. It’s an interesting scenario, and one that presents many storytelling opportunities. With Black Ops considered by many to have one of the better storylines in the whole series, hopes for the sequel are rightfully high. Also a first for the franchise, the campaign promises non-linear gameplay that takes into account player choice during certain scenarios.
We got to see a bit of everything with the single player demo that was presented at the Microsoft E3 press conference. What was shown behind closed doors was the same mission, however it was running live as our gameplay varied quite a bit from the one shown at the media briefing, and didn’t skip the middle section. Once again we observed a destroyed city of Los Angeles, overrun with aerial drones. Our convoy is attacked, and we must fight off incoming drones with a nearby turret. Shortly after fighting our way to a bridge, the first real choice was presented – cover your team with a sniper rifle, or rappel down to the ground with the rest of the team. We once again opted to snipe, utilizing a futuristic rifle that was able to see and fire at enemies behind walls and cover.
After giving sufficient cover fire and with the bridge collapsing behind us, we rappelled to join the rest of the squad. A set of trucks nearby served as a convenient transportation option, so we hopped on while fighting off waves of enemies. The ride doesn’t last long, as we crash following a huge highway collapse right beside us. As we arrive downtown, a walking attack drone enters the scene. Thanks to plentiful ammunition in the area, including a grenade launcher, it is quickly dealt with. Continuing through the city, we hear and see the results of the surrounding conflict – buildings crumble, a train lies in the street, an empty shell of its former self. Another drone appears, which is taken out more creatively by first shooting its feet and immobilizing it.
Now fighting inside a mall, our hero used his personal remote controlled drones to lay down some serious fire upon manually designated enemy locations. With a plane attempting to land in order to rescue the president, a skyscraper comes crashing down. Yes, that’s likely a Battlefield 3 referencing moment. After regaining our senses, a convenient ambulance appears to take the President to a safe location. To escort the convoy, we hop into that very same FA38 airplane that luckily remained intact and take off. Flying in hover mode, the enemies have no chance of escaping our fire as we make our way through tight downtown streets.
A group of aerial drones appears to cause some trouble, so we switch to jet engines and give chase. During what is likely an on-rails segment, we zip around the city and try to keep the drones in sight, taking them out one by one. Eventually though, our plane is shot so we eject, watching as the plane crashes below while we attempt to control the parachute and not crash into the skyscrapers. The demo ends on this high-adrenaline note.
Another offering is new mode called Strike Force. These special missions let the player complete a variety of objectives through small to medium maps. The catch is that at any time, you’re able to enter a commander’s view of sorts, giving aerial views of the battlefield. You can control your squad remotely, and as the mission progresses military drones, by giving them some basic orders and watch as the battle plays out. If that sounds boring, players can at any time take on the role of any of the friendly units in the battle, providing you with some hands-on, but still letting you issue basic squad commands such as to rally or attack. The system isn’t very complex, but it’s definitely something fresh to do in the tried and true Call of Duty experience.
It wouldn’t be a Treyarch title if Zombies were not part of the package. And though the developers didn’t disclose any details on the mode, it’s said to have its own campaign for the first time. It has also been confirmed that the Zombies mode will support 8 player co-op and utilize the game’s multiplayer engine. Speaking of multiplayer… not much was said. Activision usually keeps the online play details close to the chest until later in the summer, so there was nothing to report on arguably the biggest aspect of the game for fans.
With an interesting campaign premise and branching missions, you can’t argue that at least Treyarch is trying new things – which is not something that can be said about their colleagues at Infinity Ward. Strike Force further proves that while it won’t bring any overwhelming complexities to the series, the developers are trying to push the series forward. The ever-popular multiplayer and expansion of Zombie mod position Call of Duty: Black Ops II in line to be yet another blockbuster. Look for the shooter to ship this November on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.