Only an idiot would play Call of Duty: Black Ops on Wii.
I’m one of them.
Why? Because I can. But more than that, because I wanted to see if it’s possible to fully enjoy a game, while knowing a better-looking version exists elsewhere. The answer? Undeniably yes.
Before I move on, some background. In 2007, I finished Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on Xbox 360. Great game. One of my favorites this generation. I also played a little on PC. I tested World at War on both PS3 and Wii. Neither version was as good as Modern Warfare, but the Nazi Zombie mode on HD consoles was really fun.
Modern Warfare 2? O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D. So much, in fact, I didn’t even have the desire to finish the single-player campaign. Admittedly, the multiplayer retained its spot as “The New Halo,” but everything else seemed forced and lacking freshness.
Black Ops, on the other hand, is a punch to the face of freshness. The story, the pacing, the level design, and first-person action variety all stick with you and evoke the feeling of “one more level.” From the moment the opening credits role on Wii, you’ll know you’re playing something special. It sort of even has a Half-Life feel to it. Sorta. But the overwhelming feeling of immersion, which I assume is on HD consoles as well, most definitely exists on Wii.
Online multiplayer, too, is choice on Wii. There are no friend codes. There is no lag. The Zombie mode is present. It’s like playing a lower-res version of Xbox Live, without high school freshmen working on their sailor mouth skills. Not only is Black Ops the best online shooter for Wii, it’s a great online shooter. Period. Regardless of platform.
As for the graphics, the Wii version has some nice graphical flares, even for this grizzled vet who’s been exposed to HD graphics since 2005. For the first time I can remember, smoke plumes actually look like smoke plumes on Wii, as opposed to airborne baby powder or fog stacks at ground level. Explosions and flames look uncharacteristically good as well. Like watching an HD console render an effect on a 480p TV set. The colors are a little washed out. The lighting is flat. But the feeling of immersion and scale remains. The blood red sky of the rocket level alone will stop you in your tracks. At least it did for me.
In other words, great art transcends pixel counts.
I’m not going to lie: Black Ops on HD consoles looks phenomenal. Most-impressive-looking and vibrant graphics I’ve ever seen. I know because I played a couple of isolated demos on Xbox 360. But that doesn’t keep the Wii version from being a great game in comparison. In fact, the motion-controlled version might have superior controls. Not as surgical as mouse and keyboard. But definitely faster than dual thumb sticks. (You can also play with the Classic Controller if you wish.)
So there you have it, Internet. Although I can’t speak for the DS version (haven’t played it), Call of Duty: Black Ops is a great game no matter the platform. If you like controlling shooters with motion controls, you’ll enjoy the Wii version as much as HD owners will likely enjoy their really good-looking version.
NOTE: In three hours of playing last night, I suffered a painful 15-20 seconds of slowdown on the first helicopter campaign level, seemingly in a place that didn’t have as many on screen items as latter levels, which ran fine. It didn’t cause me to die, but it was frustrating. Also, the game inexplicably froze the first time I selected Zombie mode from the menu. In no way a deal breaker. But I will update this story if problems persist.
If it was $10, I’d pick it up. It’s an FPS, no FPS should be $50 on any system. I paid $10 for TF2 and L4D, and when I see this for that much, I’ll be right there I guess.
Or Goldeneye, which might have a longer online backing since it isn’t a yearly installment.
@XCWarrior
TF2 and L4D were running off of an already-made system.
It’s cheap to make those. You simply take a previous system that one created for a previous game, add modules, add new character and level designs, do some balancing, do a lot of de-bugging, and polish it up to look like a new game. (let’s not forget that TF2 is multiplayer-only)
Not saying it makes those games any less fun or creative, but I am saying they’re cheaper to create.
Many FPS on consoles nowadays usually don’t just stick modules in a previous system. … they use a previous system, build it from the ground up, create new modules, have to deal with publishers, marketing, tech contracts, and dealing with first parties.
Valve doesn’t have to deal with those… they can get those kinds of things almost for free with their connections and lack of middle-man.
Other companies aren’t as lucky as Valve.
I loved World At War on the Wii. Played over 300 hours of that one, great fun online. I’m sure this game is of the same quality, might pick it up at some point.
I’m in the middle of Left 4 Dead and L4D 2 which I got for $7.50 each through Steam. Those games are good but at the end of the day they are disposable online co-op shoot-em ups, all be it great disposable online co-op shoot-em ups.
I’ll grab one of these new Wii fps games when I’m done with the L4D’s.
te question is can people who play the 360 and ps3 version be happy playing it, knowing there is a better gameplay option out there like the wiimote/chuck. in my opinion the best way to play shooters
Am I the only one who noticed that the guy in the video stated the Wii was an OLDER system than the PS3?
PS3′s launch date was 11-17-06.
Wii’s launch date was 11-19-06.
Honstely, anything he said after that had no meaning to me. Don’t care about the game anyway, I just wanted to see the side-by-side comparison.
I’d rather buy some Wii-exclusive shooters like Goldeneye or the Conduit series… Just to show those third-parties some love for giving us our own games…BTW, anyone know why Nintendo dropped the “only on the (console logo here)” tag that they used before? Would anyone like to see “Only On the Wii!” on their boxes?
I own a PS3 and a Wii but I’ll be buying the Wii version because for FPS the Wiimote is the way to go. Would have been nice to have some WM+ support as well.
Black Ops looks like the first CoD title I would consider picking up for Wii. It looks like a quality product.
However, Goldeneye came out and destroyed it as the better game, so….
Better luck next time?
And I still wanna get Conduit 2 as well….
Maybe if I give it another chance… But it seems an unfinished game, lots of bugs…
GoldenEye is far better!
I enjoy hearing all the nice feedback on Goldeneye, I agree with the fact it being hte exclusive might make it the game to go with.
Prefiero jugar la versión para PS3.
O Call of Duty Black Ops para a wii dá para jogar Split Ccreen
The Black Ops Call of Duty for the wii you can play Split Screen?
theres a fan above you?????