Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Since Call of Duty has become a yearly franchise like FIFA, expecting something drastically new in this year’s iteration is kind of foolish. It follows the commandments laid down by its predecessors to the tee, so you know exactly what you’re getting into even before you boot the game up.

Platforms: Xbox 360 (₹ 3,899), PS3 (₹ 3,899), PC (₹ 3,299)
Rating: 3.5/5
Similar games: Battlefield 3

Since Call of Duty has become a yearly franchise like FIFA, expecting something drastically new in this year's iteration is kind of foolish. It follows the commandments laid down by its predecessors to the tee, so you know exactly what you're getting into even before you boot the game up. That being said, the campaign is solid entertainment and it even introduces a few new game-play mechanics that are a welcome addition to this series.

Unlike its predecessor, Black Ops II's multiplayer is all about close quarter, turbo-charged skirmishes where your average life span probably won't exceed five seconds. Things take a nose dive when you notice the game's poor matchmaking system and the tremendous amount of lag plaguing servers. The campaign turns out to be the most appealing aspect of Black Ops II. The game does manage to capture our attention but the insane amount of connection issues are bound to get you frustrated, especially after spending such a hefty sum on one game.

Verdict: While it does take a few levels to really get going, you can't stop till you finish. Can't say the same about the multiplayer which is a poor rehash of old COD games.

— Abhisheik Dahiya and Avinash Bali

(The writers are editors at IndianVideoGamer.com)