Call of Duty: Black Ops II review/Best Deal Games

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Xbox 360 Review

On November 13, 2012, Black Ops II, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2010  Black Ops, was released for  Xbox 360. Black Ops II is the 9th video game in the Call of Duty franchise, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision.

Black Ops II Reception

So far the critic and gamer reviews have been mixed. Gaming experts criticize the game's implausible story line, but compliment its excellent acting and voice overs. Gamers love the ability to choose their own destiny via the strike force missions, but feel like the campaigns are much shorter than its predecessor.

The only way to gain your own opinion about the game is to give it a try. The Xbox 360 has awesome graphics that make the game entertaining to play whether you like the plot or not. Here's what you can expect when you sit down to play Black Ops II for the first time.

The Plot

In this sequel, there are two main plots. The first plot is set in the 1970s and 1980s. Then the plot jumps to 2025. In the future plot, there is a Cold War occurring between China and the U.S.

The Characters

Alex Mason

Fans of Alex Mason will be glad to see their hero return for the sequel. However, his presence is short lived. As the story line jumps from the 1980s to 2025, Alex Mason is replaced by his son, David Mason.

David Mason

The younger Mason is a Special Forces Unit Leader who is destined to protect people, just like his dad.

Raul Menendez

Every violent video game needs an insane evil genius to play the bad game. In this game, that character is fulfilled by Raul Menendez, a narco-terrorist who is being targeted by the CIA. Menendez is planning to use the U.S. Military to satisfy his own evil agenda.

Strike Force Missions

Strike Force Missions are back in this sequel, and these special missions give gamers the opportunity to choose their own destiny. While this sounds like a lot of fun, it depends what you are expecting. The available choices are slim, and you can't go back and change your mind. Since you can't change your mindlater during a play, the different mission choices do give you plenty of chances to replay the game with a different outcome. Whether the Strike Force Missions impress you this time really depends on what you want out of the game.

Zombies

All the best video games seem to feature zombies today, and Black Ops II does not disappoint fans with their zombie missions.

Black Ops II Pros and Cons

As a whole, this first person shooter sequel for Xbox 360 is a hit. Pros for the game include the ability to have an 8-player co-op instead of just 4 like the prior version. Cons for the game include short campaigns and a plot that is difficult to follow at times.

If you are a fan of the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops II does not disappoint. Like its predecessor, Black Ops II delivers intensity and violence that gamers have grown to love and expect from the franchise.

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Top 10 Xbox 360 games right now

The XBox 360 console has virtually dominated the video gaming market, continuing a steady stream of coveted franchises and titles that keep gamers happy. The 10 games listed below make up the top XBox 360 games to hit the market in late 2012 and early 2013, covering a wide range of gameplay options and genres.

1.) XCOM: Enemy Unknown

In this hot real-time strategy title, you play as the leader of XCOM, a secret paramilitary organization tasked with repelling an alien invasion. As leader, it is your job to create a functional base, get recon on alien tech and guide combat missions and soldiers on the field to save civilization as we know it.

2.) Dishonored

Part dystopian future, part first-person shooter,Dishonored combines two of the gaming world's favorite elements into one of the year's blockbuster hits. You play as Corvo, a unique assassin with magic, stealth and good old-fashioned weapons at his disposal for dispatching his enemies, one by one. Your in-game choices influence outcomes, making this game thrilling and immersive.

3.) NBA 2k13

 


Building on a solid fanbase that snapped up over 5 million copies last year, NBA 2k13 brings the latest NBA players, amazingly smooth gameplay and an enhanced My Player mode to the XBox 360. The previous year's game was awarded 25 awards for "Best Sports Game of the Year," leaving little doubt that 2k13 will continue to dominate the sports game scene.

4.) Madden 13

The gridiron has never looked so good! Madden 13 gives football game lovers visuals with unprecedented realism. A new physics engine and special momentum transfer programming ensure that every snap and tackle is just like the real deal. With Kinect integration available, players can even call out plays with their voice.

5.) Assassin's Creed 3

In the latest installment of the wildly popular Assassin's Creed franchise, players are cast in the role of a Native American assassin. Set in the time of the American Revolutionary War, available weapons include tomahawks, bow and arrows, guns and even secret blades. The Ubisoft-AnvilNext engine is built into the game for sensational physics movement.

6.) Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

In the hotly anticipated second installment of CoD, players face off against Raul Menendez, seemingly the people's champion but in reality a madman bent on making the world his own. With a story crafted in part by a "Dark Knight Rises" writer, players are in for one hell of a show with this famous first-person 
shooter.

7.) Borderlands 2

More looting and shooting mayhem awaits players in part 2 of the Borderlands series. With split screen or cooperative play for up to four players as well as a single-play mode, there's plenty to keep a gun-happy fan busy. Take up arms against Handsome Jack and the Hyperion Corporation as you fight for supremacy in this role-playing shoot-'em-up.

8.) Darksiders 2

Death returns in this action-adventure game, slaughtering his enemies to clear the name of his brother and fellow horseman, War. The dark open-world game play offers plenty to explore, immersing the player in the role of the reaper as he fights to bring humanity back from the brink of the apocalypse.

9.) Fifa 13

2013's FIFA franchise is even better than before, complete with 500 licensed clubs and a staggering 15,000 players packed into this hot soccer franchise. With new innovative touches like attacking intelligence, players will feel like they're out on the field, facing down the big names with every game.

10.) Dance Central 3

Putting the Kinect to great use, Dance Central 3 allows players to get into the music with real choreography and over 40 new tracks to groove to. Those with two left feet are sure to love the available beginner mode, and the party mode gets any group moving with room for up to eight players at once.


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Top 10 Best Selling Xbox 360 Games of All Time!

Top 10 Best Selling Xbox 360 Games of All Time!

10. Fable II - 3.5 Million Copies Sold

Fable II is the second of Lionhead Studios' open-world action roleplay videogames. Published by Microsoft, Fable II was originally an Xbox 360 game which was later rolled out across other platforms. The protagonist, Sparrow, can be played as either a male or female character; the game also has a moral dimension, with good and evil actions changing the responses the player encounters, as well as affecting the character's appearance. The character's pet, a dog, takes on different characteristics depending on whether its master is evil or good. Fable II is also notable for allowing the player to develop in-game relationships, including marrying and setting up home with a non-player character.

9. Halo: Reach - 3.7 Million Copies Sold

While taking place before the original trilogy in the storyline, Halo: Reach is the latest and greatest game in the franchise. Some amazing innovations for the series are present in the game. You can play as a Spartan or an Elite in multiplayer, and the number of special skills and their uses cannot be expressed succinctly. The Forge creation from Halo 3 is still here and expanded even further. There are even additional game modes available through multiplayer, such as Firefights and competitive campaign games. With Halo 4 on the horizon the multiplayer may soon be vacated, but the great story, amazing gameplay, and overall package make it a great game to pick up.

8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 4.2 Million Copies Sold
Call of Duty 4 could be described as the game that brought recognizable settings back into the forefront of gaming. The game launched the CoD franchise to the top of the realistic FPS charts. You will notice the lack of some modes you would expect, such as Zombies. The game is a bit older, so you might miss a few advanced features here and there, but overall the campaign is highly enjoyable and the multiplayer is solid enough to be great fun at a party. Do not buy the game with the expectation of having a highly active online community, as most have moved on to newer games.

7. Grand Theft Auto IV - 4.36 Million Copies Sold

While closer to actually being "GTA VI," GTA IV is a gritty look at what life might be like when coming into the country as a foreigner with no real skills. You will soon find yourself driving illicit packages, gunning down rivals, stealing from banks, and wooing the local girls. The joy in any GTA game is that ultimately you can do as you please. If you want the pure joy of running through a realistic city, barging through traffic, shooting off guns at will, and causing general mayhem and panic, then consider picking up a copy of this game.

6. Gears of War - 5 Million Copies Sold

Take the fight to the Locusts in the first installation of the Gears of War series. As with any older game, you can expect to find a slightly less refined version of later sequels. If you have jumped ahead, then try to come back to this game with the mindset of enjoying the storyline from the beginning. You can play through the campaign with a friend, or hop into multiplayer for some mayhem and destruction. Either way, if you intend to play the other games in the franchise, then you should take the time to experience the beginning of the adventure.

5. Gears of War 2 - 5.1 Million Copies Sold
The one major addition in Gears of War 2 over its predecessor is the cooperative Horde mode. This pits up to four players against increasingly deadly wave of the locust swarm. Everything from the original has been blown over the top: the campaign is longer and has a much more epic feel, the multiplayer is better fleshed out, and the horde mode will provide hours of fun. With Gears of War 3 already being out, you might be tempted to overlook this title, but it is still a solid and fun game. Definitely pick up the game if you are following the storyline through to its finish.

4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - 7.56 Million Copies Sold

This 2009 FPS has a pretty great storyline, if it is a bit short. The game also has one of the most controversial missions in recent gaming history, though it is still done tastefully and is essential to the plot of the game. If you want a realistic shooter set in a modern timeframe, then Modern Warfare 2 is a great option. Due to its 2009 release date, it may soon suffer the fate of low multiplayer population, but that does not change the quality or enjoyment you can get out of the game.

3. Halo 3 - 8.1 Million Copies Sold

Halo 3 is the final chapter in the trilogy that catalogs Spartan-117's perils. The storyline comes together nicely when you play through the campaign. Several great additions to the Halo franchise were made in this game, including equipment, tweaks to dual wielding, and the impressive Forge. Through the Forge, players can create completely new maps to play on for their own enjoyment, effectively making the game have unending options for where to frag your friends. The game may be a bit dated by now, but it is still a solid shooter with a great storyline that you can pick up for a LAN party.

2. Kinect Adventures - 10 Million Copies Sold

Released in 2010 as a pack-in game for the Xbox 360's Kinect, Kinect Adventures is a compilation of games that are optimized for use with the device's motion sensing capabilities. It allows players to personally experience the Kinect's potential as they jump, stretch, duck, sidestep and kick their way through the various minigames that are included in the package. People can play cooperatively in River Rush, Space Pop, Rally Ball and 20,000 Leaks, while the track and field inspired Reflex Ridge offers players the chance to play competitively against each other. Kinect Adventures also support a multiplayer option through Xbox Live, Microsoft's own online gaming portal.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops - 12 Million Copies Sold

Call of Duty: Black Ops takes a look at one of the lesser used war settings in American history. It also brings several of the Call of Duty franchises most popular features together in one package. The Zombie mode is overhauled from the World at War incarnation to an amazingly fun and time consuming game style. The campaign storyline is twisted and intense, and the multiplayer is as solid as any other Call of Duty title. A sequel to this impressive game is coming up soon, so a good look at the storyline would benefit anyone looking forward to it.

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