While it's more of what you'd expect from COD, it's more of the great things, tweaked to make you take a second look
That being said, don't think for a second that I don't respect and love the Modern Warfare games. I've played them both extensively and I dig them.
On that note, I'd like to say this about Black Ops. It kicks ass. I'm not really a COD fanboy, and FPS games aren't really my favorites, but this game grabs you like the child of a drunk Texas housewife, and shakes you until you wind up in child protective services. It's absolutely batsh*t insane.
The single player is great. Like most other COD single player campaigns, you may wonder what exactly you're doing at some points, but the cutscenes are really just a backdrop for the action. Since I've been drinking on release night, by about mission 5 I started wondering what tied the missions together. Most of that is probably the booze, though :P
The gameplay is phenomenal. You thought MW2 was good... This game takes the whole COD gameplay paradigm and speeds it up and makes it rock. You've got to keep moving, shooting, throwing grenades, and figuring out your next move. I've died numerous times while considering my next move. That being said, there are some moments in the campaign where you will be totally baffled as to your next task, and you WILL have to instigate a frustrating trial and error sequence. One particular mission where you are fighting Viet Kong in a trench comes to mind. I had to try the mission over a dozen times to figure out what I was actually supposed to do.
The audio and voice acting kick ass! Everything is as it should sound. The weapons all have a distinct report, and the guy they got to play JFK is spot on in such a way I was convinced they got the real deal in the studio.
The graphics are amazing. I know, whenever a new game comes out, someone who's under the age of 20 has to complain about how the graphics always suck and they could have done so much better, but this game has truly amazing graphics. The visual presentation is absurd. Seriously, if you have a problem with the graphics, you have to stop playing games, because you're never going to be satisfied, and you'll just go insane and kill yourself anyway. Trust me, this game kicks ass.
The online multiplayer is what most people are buying the game for, and I know I don't need to go into great detail, but everything you heard about the online experience is true, and the wager matches are by far the most fun. Hitting a guy with a tomahawk throw and instantly bankrupting him is one of the most satisfying moments in gaming history. If you hate the multiplayer in this game, I'm afraid you lack a pulse. You may want to get that looked at.
All in all.... Buy this game. Don't kid yourself. If you're knocking this game, grow up, because you're 13. This game rocks, the weapons are unbelievable, the campaign is the best in FPS history, the multiplayer is deep and exciting, and if you don't like this game, take a bath with your toaster.