Review Round-Up: Call of Duty: Black Ops
Posted by JMatula
One of the most successful games of all time, Call of Duty: Black Ops arrived on the Mac a few weeks ago and the reviews have started to pour in. When that happens, you know it’s time for another review round-up! Check out what various press and your fellow Mac gamers are saying about the game. To read the full review from each outlet, click the header for each review.
Current Ratings
As of 10/17/12
Inside Mac Games: 8.5 out of 10
One Click Mac: 4 out of 5
Inside Mac Games Review
By Jon Carr – September 27, 2012
Reviewer’s Rig:
27″ iMac, Core i5 Quad 2.8Ghz, 8GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD5750 1GB. Lion 10.7.3, Apple Wired Keyboard, Logitech Wireless Trackball M570
Pros:
- Intense and engaging campaign
- Exciting and varied multiplayer
- Zombies mode is silly fun
- Combat Training lets anyone practice
Cons:
- Short campaign
- Occasionally annoying “press-key-repeatedly” events in the campaign.
- Some multiplayer limitations
One Click Mac
Pros: Awesome multiplayer, Zombies(!), new perks, maps, killstreaks and challenges, free First Stroke DLC included, great campaign ending.
Cons: Some bugs, unpopulated multiplayer and Zombies modes, campaign is short and ridiculously action-packed.
Final Say: There is no doubt that Black Ops for Mac is just as good as it was on PC. It’s just the lack of players that limits some of its features. Multiplayer is still a blast, but if Hardcore Search and Destroy is your game then you may find it hard finding a populated server hosting it. Zombies is as terrifying as ever, but you’d be lucky to find someone online to play it with. And the Campaign pulls out all the stops to provide a rip-roaring time, even if it does hinder some of the character building and story development. Whilst each excellent feature of Black Ops needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, this shouldn’t put you off the game altogether. Multiplayer is still an absolute blast, and the more the merrier.
Mac Gamer HQ
The Good
- Addictive multiplayer.
- Finally a new COD game for Mac!
- Solid story, with the classic Hollywood style set pieces from COD games.
The Bad
- Can feel like too little, too late, as it comes 2 years after the original release. Why not release Modern Warfare 3 instead?
- The formula works but remains largely unchanged. If you don’t enjoy COD games, this will not change that.
- Graphics are starting to feel outdated, especially compared with the likes of Battlefield 3.
Final Word
This is a great package, with a solid single player story mode, an addictive multiplayer and even a bonus Zombie killing mode where you can have some co-op fun. If you enjoy the classic COD gameplay, with it’s trademark over the top style and cut scenes , you will enjoy this game very much. That is of course, unless you have a console or a PC gaming rig in which you might as well wait a few weeks for Black Ops 2 (to be released in November).
Mac App Store
And now some reviews from your peers!
Disclaimer: Only a few of the Mac App Stores were picked for their content and helpfulness to others.
Good Campaign and GLORIOUS ZOMBIE WARFARE! but multiplayer is meh
by FourSwordsGaming (4 out of 5 Stars)
The campaign of COD Black Ops was a adventure of fallen memories and illusions and may be one of the best COD campaigns. The zombies mode is WHAT MADE THIS GAME. Over hours and hours of addicting zombie waves, perks, power ups, Pack a punches, and teleporters. Call of Duty Black Ops zombies is a FPS legend worth remembering. The multiplayer is basically a downgraded version of it’s older brother WAW. It gets repetitive at some points and hasn’t changed at all from the other call of duties. It uses the same concept the same game modes and the same playstyle for all maps. The mode Combat training really sets the standard for the multiplayer. Imagine you and a friend are put up against 13 bots! That’s what made the multiplayer not bad but just meh.
Amazing experience!
by Nicholas Fisher (5 out 5 Stars)
I am playing this on my late 2011 MacBook Pro with unsupported Intel HD 3000 graphics and 8GB RAM (4 would be enough). Black Ops runs well for the most part with some acceptable frame rate drops. For playing on an unsupported graphics card I can’t complain at all.
I’m playing the campaign on max resolution on good graphics settings. No lag whatsoever. Multiplayer is choppy but I can tolerate it. Combat training is less choppy. I have tried zombies (even though I don’t care for it) and I swear it’s the smoothest part of the game. Worth the buy just for zombies if you’re into that.
This is an amazing game! Multiplayer and combat training are phenomenal and I finally got to play on the famed Nuketown map after being jealous of PC users for a year. :p
Fantastic! One major issue
by Fredrick Marling (4 out of 5 stars)
The game runs great on my 15″ MacBook Pro (Late 2011)
Just finished campaign. Figured I’d play through again (I own it on Xbox) to prep for Black Ops 2.
There are of course a few noticeable drops in frame rate during high intensity areas. I had one instance where the game froze my computer at the start of Rebirth Island after opening the door to leave the storage crate.
The only other major concern I have is it takes the game between 5-20 minutes to start after i choose whether to open it in full screen or windowed mode. I’m not sure if anyone else is having this issue or not?
I plan on jumping into multiplayer tomorrow and playing some Co-op zombies with my buddy tomorrow night!
Great Job Aspyr!
Great game BUT…READ IF YOU OWN 27IN IMAC
by ExclusiveGunnar (4 out of 5 Stars)
The game runs fairly quick I own a 27in iMac i5 yadda yadda yadda…First off the game only runs in high definition when it’s a window and when I go fullscreen only the middle of the screen is used and the game looks trashy even with maximum qualities on. I’m disappointed with the fact that theatre mode was not included in the game and that there is no friend system (i.e. inviting to private lobbies and zombie matches). My last complain would be that this game runs through game center…Yes game center. I had some small hope that we at least go tto sign in through steam but I was wrong…
OVERALL: Great game just needs some improvements at LEAST a 27in HD mode please!
Editor’s Note: There are a lot of reviews on the Mac App Store and around the net with concerns about compatibility with their system and various other technical issues. Take reviews (both good and bad) with a hefty grain of salt unless they specify their rig so you have a frame of reference for their gameplay experience. Please visit GameAgent and turn on Mac Match so you’ll know for certain if the game will run on your Mac before purchasing. App Store reviews and blog comments aren’t exactly the most efficient way to get help with your game problems. Of course we’ll do everything we can to help anyone who comments here, but remember: the quickest and best way to get help/resolution to any and all issues on Black Ops is to contact Aspyr Support directly.
Seen any other reviews worth sharing with your fellow Mac gamers? Now that you’ve had a few weeks to play, what are your thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops? Let us know in the comments!
