Ben-DutkaThe PlayStation Vita can use all the big names it can obtain, and there’s no bigger game in video games today than Call of Duty . Developer Nihilistic has teamed up with mega-publisher Activision to bring handheld gamers Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified , which, given the Vita’s fantastic capability, should provide fans with that familiar, always popular CoD experience consumers have come to crave. No scaling back or fiddling with a winning formula here!
As the name implies, this portable iteration is tied into the Black Ops plot, as we will follow Mason, Woods and Hudson on a unique adventure. The single-player campaign will focus on what I’d call “express entertainment,” in that progress will be quick thanks to rapid-fire missions. We’ll tackle various objectives in each mission so the action should remain fresh and intense throughout. The only question is what sort of modes and game types we’ll find in this campaign; survival-style missions are a given, but what else might we find?
Obviously, the core of the game will revolve around multiplayer. CoD veterans will recognize the available modes, which include the traditional deathmatch and team deathmatch along with popular franchise modes like Kill Confirmed and Free-For-All. The developers have also taken strides to include the requisite depth, so we’ll see that Create-a-Class system as well as other mainstays like perks, killstreaks, experience, prestige levels, etc. The Vita will support up to 8 competitive players via Wi-Fi, which may not sound like much, but with all the necessary components, we should still receive the quintessential FPS experience.
As for available maps, there will be six to start although more may arrive via downloadable content. The Vita’s dual analog sticks will be key to solidifying the first-person shooter feel, which we first enjoyed with relish when playing through Nihilistic’s Reistance: Burning Skies . Although the game fell short of expectations, it absolutely proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that FPSs could indeed work – and work exceedingly well – on Sony’s new portable. Hence, the control in Declassified should feel tight, fluid, and above all else, natural.
Vita-specific features are coming as well; you’ll touch the front screen to execute a melee attack at close range, the back touchscreen can be used for sniping, and you’ll even enjoy your Killstreak bonuses by pressing an on-screen button. Lastly, Nihilistic will implement Near functionality, which will let you share your customized classes with interested friends. All in all, for CoD fanatics, it really seems like Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified could be a premier shooter title, one we almost never expected to see in the handheld realm. …that being said, I still think Killzone: Mercenary will push the Vita to greater heights. 😉
I was really looking forward to this but after seeing the trailer a few days ago. Well just ask someone else 🙁
Ya I was pretty excited for this when it was announced but after seeing the trailer and hearing some of the MP features I'm pretty let down. 4v4 is weak and could get boring after a while. The graphics also look poor for a Vita game.
I just read a small interview with Activision producer Neven Dravinski in the newest OPM. He said "Our approach has been two fold: 1)Create a single-player experience with a series of short but intense objective and survival based missions."
Now to me that sounds like it will be more like Unit 13 based missions which is ok but not what I was looking for in a COD game on my Vita.
I'm hoping it turns out better than it looked in the trailer cause that could be an old build but who knows. It still seems like nobody wants to answer anything yet on the game. It bothers me because the game supposedly releases in about 3 months.
If it turns out to be crap at least we'll still have KZ to look forward to for shooters.
Is it the best idea to make a portable iteration multiplayer-centric? I guess people do have their 3G and stuff but I dunno. Is portable online that popular?
I'm guessing that even with the 3G they are going to make you be on Wi-Fi to even play MP. Couldn't play online with 3G when it came to Marvel vs. Capcom
A lot of vita games won't let you play over 3G. They assume we are all halfwits who don't know the difference between a wi-fi network and a 3g one.
IGN has a very interesting editorial regarding this game. There are some worrying facts surrounding this release. It seems not even the community manager at Activision know *nothing* about the game he's meant to promote.
Link: http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/17/vitas-call-of-duty-reasons-to-worry
I dont know if you ever played Fireteam Bravo but damm to this day I have to say it's one of the best online experiences on a portable game. I was hoping this COD was at least 6v6 and closer to black ops 2 in terms of streaks etc. Not only that but the graphics look pretty wack compared to most vita games. Even though COD is getting a little old I really was looking forward to this and now well idk. Hope it gets a little better and if not well there is always next year.
This was looking like another reason to pick up a Vita, but with GG making KZ:M it's now on the back burner. I'm wondering if I would want this over R:BS or not.
This is very disappointing. I am a CoD fan and probably will not touch this game even if it's in the bargain bin. Nhilistic is an average dev that was given to short a window to make this an average game. The graphics look horrible and the 4vs4 is embarrassing. With graphics like that you should be able to get 6vs6 at least especially on the small CoD maps.
Also, no word on Zombies which means it's not coming. They are trying hard to sell this mediocre looking game and if Zombies was a part of the package they would have brought that up right away. There is only 3 months to go so it would be difficult to add it now.
The short missions were ok for Unit 13 because it was a completely new game. That is not ok for CoD because all other iterations have had decent to above average campaigns. I wish they would stop the short missions as they make ZERO sense on the Vita with it's wonderful Always On technology! I haven't shut off my Vita in 3 months. Playing an RPG is a dream thanks to Always On. To bad Activision/Nhilistic don't understand this.
All the covert behind the scenes hiding from the fans is just wrong. Activision has become complacent with CoD on the Vita. They just feel the name will sell billions so they don't need to put any effort into the Vita version. Why BLOPS and not BLOPSII? Why not link them together somehow like ACIII and Liberation.
Sony needs to seriously consider delaying this game until June 2013 at least. If this CoD turns out as bad as it is looking this could be bad for the Vita's reputation. There is no bigger franchise and that's a lot of bad press!!!!
This smells like a massive turd to me. How sad.
I didnt hate resistance as much as I thought the only thing really wrong with it was its story and the gun sounds, but with call of duty I never care about the story and the gun sounds from the trailer are a lot better if not a bit echoey. The multiplayer in resistantce was as barebones as it can get. It was like 5 maps and 3 modes, hopefully they get some of the popular once in call of duty like domination.
The graphics do look really poor, I thought they were going for 60fps which in my mind would have made it alright but there not so I can only hope it looks better on the Vitas screen.
Domination could work with 2 hot spots but that's about it with 4vs4.
This looks crap. end of story.
The worst part is, the Vita is the one who will pay the price for this epic fail. Activision will blame the Vita's software/hardware and lack of consumer adoption.
I was really looking forward to having a game similar to MW3 in quality on a Vita, I have actually been waiting for this to come out to get a Vita, but now…I have to wait till something else good comes out.
Honestly, the graphics are horrible, even KZ:M graphics look VERY sub par. I have been utterly disappointed with the Vita in general so far.