Best Call of Duty since COD4
Story 9/10
Black Ops takes place in the Vietnam Era and puts you in the shoes of Alex Mason. Mason is being interrogated for information that he is having trouble remembering. You play through his memories as he remembers them. The Call of Duty franchise is known for its action packed, guns blazing, movie-like single player experience and Black Ops is no different. From all the bullets flying, grenade chucking and huge explosions everywhere expect action around every corner in Black Ops story mode. Unfortunately there are minor slowdowns during the story mode when there is a lot of action going on but they are extremely rare. This plot is really deep and you will find yourself getting involved in the plot. The single player experience will last you around 4-6 hours unless of course you play on the notorious "Veteran Mode" which will definitely add a few more hours to the story.
Multi-player 10/10
Multi-player defines the Call of Duty series. Black Ops multiplayer is extremely fun and addictive. There are a few new game modes and also some old favorites. Like always there is the whole ranking system in which you play matches against others online and earn experience points so you can rank up and unlock more things. There are tons of different playlist to choose from. Killstreaks are back some of the old ones are here and also a few cool new killstreaks has been added. The perk system is also still here with some old and new perks added. Black Ops has implemented a point system now. With every level you gain you also earn points now which can be used to buy certain unlocks.But just simple playing matches is not the only way to earn money. Black Ops introduces a new "Wager Match" in which you play matches and bet some of the points you have earned that you will place in the top three, there is a "One in the Chamber Mode" in which you only have one bullet and after each kill you get a different gun. There is also a contract system in which you put points on the line on challenges for you to complete.These are all fun modes with some other twist to them, and it adds more variety the the multiplayer. Customization has also improved. For example you can now put your clan tag on your weapon, and customize your reticule. Split Screen is available to use during online play also. Treyarch had also now added a "Theater Mode" in which you save videos and show them off to your friends. This is a very cool addition and very useful in a game like this. The highly acclaimed Zombie mode had been brought back to the series. In Zombie mode you and up to three more friends are put in a building and basically fight for you survival as a zombie horde attacks the building trying to get in. There are pickups and different weapons to help you survive. Zombies is arguably one of the best modes on the game. These are only a few of the things that makes this a very good multiplayer game. Expect the mulitplayer to keep you coming back for countless hours.
Graphics/Sound 10/10
Black Ops is gorgeous. From character models to weapons. It is beautiful all the way around with very few graphical hiccups. The environments look nice. Explosion are very realistic looking. Every level is outstanding. The sounds in Black Ops are also top notch quality. When you fire a weapon it sound awesome and you easily tell the difference between different weapons when you fire them. Voice acting is flawless and just about everything from explosions, voices, gunfire sound simply amazing.
Final Verdict
Pros
-Amazing, action packed single player
-Addictive mulitplayer
-Beautiful Graphics
Cons
-Short Story
-Very few minor flaws
Call of Duty: Black Ops is definitely a contender for GOTY. From its amazing story mode to its addictive multiplayer and jaw-dropping visuals this is definitely one of the best games this holiday season, and expect to spend a lot of time on this game.