The Call of Duty series has become a video game industry super power. The franchise has been awarded a copious number of awards; it has exceeded world records that reach beyond the realm of video games, and it has broken sales records for the past four consecutive years. Despite such success, many gamers have had enough with the recycled mechanics, game after game. What once was a radical innovation that broadened the possibilities of the genre, is now a yearly iteration of the same experience.

This year’s installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is seeking to break the mold that has been fortified by the tried and not-so-true formula with the help of a newly imagined, futuristic vision. For anyone who has witnessed the announcement trailer, yes horses and robots will coexist on the battlefield in the year 2025. All joking aside, Treyarch is taking a serious departure from previous titles but will this reemergence appeal to the average Call of Duty enthusiast or alienate its already dejected fan base?

With a story set in the near future, and a plotline revolving around a very plausible scenario, Black Ops 2 is aiming to employ a unique combination of realism and imagination. Written by David Goyer, the writer behind The Dark Knight, the latest Call of Duty title certainly shows great promise in the narrative department. Personally, I don’t care too much about the campaign. Sure 8 hours of story is fun, but the essence of replayability resides in the multiplayer and zombies game modes.

Treyarch and Activision face a unique challenge. How can they create a multiplayer experience that possesses the same addictive, satisfying qualities that have made the Call of Duty franchise a household name while still being able to incorporate a vastly new vision? This vital question will undoubtedly resonate within curious gamers until Black Ops 2’s release date on November 13, 2012.

What are your feelings towards Black Ops 2? Will it be able to free the series from a path of predictability or will the attempt at uniqueness be its downfall? Share your opinions in the comments below.

            

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