The biggest, baddest shoot-em-up is back, and this time we’re going dark in a series of Black Ops. This is the latest in the highly successful, incredibly popular COD series, and though designed by the less popular Treyarch design house (the Infinity Ward penned Modern Warfare versions are generally seen as slicker and more interesting), it definitely holds its own, and deserves its place in a very popular franchise.

You play as a mysterious soldier, held hostage by a group of unknown captors bent on interrogating you to find out your secrets. They take you back to your past, through a series of flashbacks, which sees you reliving a variety of missions that span cold war Russia through to the jungles of Vietnam. One minute you’re attacking a Russian nuclear base and shooting down a missile, the next you’re tunnelling through sweaty trenches, setting your sights on Charlie and taking part in Uncle Sam’s least favourite war.

The flashes through time that take you through different wars and war zones is a nifty idea, and certainly helps the game to crack along at a fair pace. Some of the intro scenes, though very attractive and well-voiced by the likes of Gary Oldman, Ed Harris and Ice Cube, are a little on the long side, and kind of leave you wishing you had a real gun to shoot your telly to bits. But once you get into the action, the levels are fast-paced and fun enough to keep you fully engrossed.

As usual there are a number of cool weapons to play with, and the different terrains keep things interesting throughout. And as well as the standard run and shoot format, you also get to go behind the wheel of various vehicles, from motorbikes to gun boats, and though the actual driving element is fairly unremarkable, it does add a certain extra element to the gameplay.

As with all recent COD games, the online play is also very good, meaning you can either follow the missions and save the world from nuclear Armageddon, or go online, hide in a bush and ruthlessly sniper unsuspecting friends and strangers, while giggling maniacally to yourself. Another great Call of Duty, well worth a look.
4.5 out of 5