While I’m certain there are people out there who still live and breathe the thing, it seems, to me at least, that this incarnation of Call Of Duty hasn’t really captured the imagination of everyone’s favorite pop culture barometer, collectively known as the Interwebz.
This time last year, you couldn’t pop open a forum page without getting an eyeful of Ghost masks and Soap mohawks. Maybe it’s the blandness of the protagonist or the overused Vietnam imagery, but while it’s still selling, nobody’s still talking about it.
Regardless, Activision are dutifully putting forward a new map pack and they’re making good on the timed Xbox exclusive promise as well, making this rather a poor time to be a PS3 gamer all around. First Strike will be bringing you five new maps, namely Kowloon, Discovery, Berlin Wall, and Stadium, all of them offering “more verticality” and “more sniper opportunities”, but only Kowloon offering ziplines to make travel faster and more bullet-riddled. Well, Discovery has a collapsible bridge to compensate, so there’s that. All of this for just $15 and coming in two weeks.
New Map Pack Details
The new map pack, First Strike, is designed to inject fresh excitement into the game. Each map has its unique features and challenges. Kowloon, inspired by the dense urban environment of Kowloon City, offers ziplines that allow players to traverse the map quickly, albeit at the risk of becoming easy targets. Discovery, set in an abandoned Antarctic German research station, features a collapsible bridge that can be destroyed to hinder enemy movement. Berlin Wall, as the name suggests, is set around the iconic Berlin Wall and includes automated turrets that add an extra layer of strategy. Stadium is set in a sports complex, providing a mix of open spaces and tight corners, ideal for close-quarters combat.
Community Reception and Future Prospects
The community’s reception to these new maps will be crucial for the game’s longevity. While the initial buzz around Call of Duty: Black Ops has waned, the introduction of new content could reignite interest. However, it’s worth noting that the gaming landscape has become increasingly competitive, with numerous titles vying for players’ attention. Games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have set new standards for player engagement with their frequent updates and dynamic gameplay.
Moreover, the timed exclusivity for Xbox players has left PS3 gamers feeling sidelined. This strategy, while beneficial for Xbox sales, has sparked debates about the fairness of such practices. In an era where cross-platform play is becoming more common, timed exclusives can feel like a step backward.
Via Joystiq
In conclusion, while Call of Duty: Black Ops may not be the cultural phenomenon it once was, Activision’s efforts to keep the game fresh with new content like the First Strike map pack are commendable. Whether this will be enough to recapture the community’s imagination remains to be seen. The gaming world is ever-evolving, and only time will tell if Call of Duty can maintain its relevance in an increasingly crowded market.
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