Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified PS Vita

Released on 13/11/2012

• Call of Duty Black Ops has been Declassified

  Declassifying Call of Duty on PlayStation Vita

  Although nothing was shown for Call of Duty on PlayStation Vita a the Sony press conference, two things were made known. First the title, where as the console versions will be Black Ops 2, the Vita version will be named Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified.

  The second, Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified will feature full Multiplayer, this was just a passing comment by Jack Tretton, however at least we know that Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified will allow you to take the fight wherever you go!

  Published: 05/06/2012

• Gamescom: Sony unveils five amazing new games

  
  

  Sony wowed the crowds at E3 in Los Angeles earlier this year, basing its big press presentation around exciting original new titles like The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls. In a sea of sequels, the PlayStation was determined to be seen as the home of fresh ideas. That's a path that Sony continued down for its showcase at the German industry fair Gamescom, using its presentation to reveal another five fantastic looking games.

  Hardcore gamers will be thrilled to learn that Killzone will be coming to the PlayStation Vita in the shape of Killzone Mercenaries. It'll be a first-person shooter, developed on the same game engine as Killzone 3, and it'll have a Dirty Dozen feel, with Earth and Helghast soldiers working together on a series of ugly, tough missions.

  Media Molecule, creator of LittleBigPlanet, also had good news for PlayStation Vita owners. Its new game, Tearaway, is a typically charming effort set in a world made of paper. You'll be able to poke your fingers "into" the world using the Vita's front and rear touchscreens and rip stuff up.

  Sony Japan is also getting in on the action, showcasing two quirky new titles. Puppeteer tells the story of a boy who is turned into a puppet, has his head chopped off and must then retrieve his noggin. Rain, on the other hand, finds you controlling an invisible boy who can only be seen by the shapes he leaves in a world of perpetual downpour.

  PlayStation Move got some love as well, with horror game Until Dawn. Modelled on the classic slasher movies, you can control seven characters trying to last the night in a remote location as an unknown lunatic bumps you off, one at a time. You'll use the Move wand as a torch as you explore the gloomy, gory world.

  Rumours abound that new next generation consoles will be announced soon, but when you consider the already announced Vita exclusive Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, as well as guaranteed blockbusters The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls, and it looks like the current PlayStation platforms have got a long way to go before they run out of juice.
  

• Call Of Duty Black Ops Declassified - Preview

  
  

  

  Rocket in your pocket

  
  Developed by Nihilistic Software, the studio behind fellow Vita first person shooter Resistance: Burning Skies, Call Of Duty Black Ops Declassified authentically translates the established Call Of Duty gameplay millions know and love to Sony's portable system.

  In fact, it appears the developer's design brief was to change as little as possible about the core console experience, from the fast-paced, addictive running and gunning gameplay to series staples like Create-a-Class, Perks, Killstreaks and Prestige Levels.

  Where there is room for innovation is in the control scheme, which has been tailored to make the most of its host platform. Access to your knife, flashbangs, and frag grenades, are easily accessible on Vita's front touchscreen.

  Performing a melee attack is as easy as tapping the screen, while you simply drag the grenade icon to the area you want to hurl the explosive. You can hold it to cook the fuse before doing so and, for the first time in the series, you can throw grenades one way while facing the other, which should prove to be a handy tactical addition.

  

  Unlocked abilities like airstrikes and mortar attacks are directed by tapping on their respective icons to open up a tactical overlay before targets are pinpointed with another touch on the map. Sprinting is executed by pressing down on the directional pad, while the rear touchscreen is used to hold your breath while peering down a sniper rifle scope.

  It has yet to be shown off, but Black Ops Declassified's single player content will consist of short objective-based missions, plus survival and time trial ones, which are tailored for gaming on the go.

  Featuring the continued exploits of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops' protagonists, they'll be wrapped in an original story that bridges the gap between the first console game and this November's sequel, Call Of Duty Black Ops 2.

  Online warfare

  
  Of course, the Call of Duty multiplayer experience is what has propelled the series to the top of the first person shooter genre, and Black Ops Declassified's online component will be a major part of the package.

  It'll feature eight-player multiplayer matches via Wi-Fi in fan favourite game types like Free-For-All, Team Deathmatch and Kill Confirmed, with more "classic Call of Duty modes" promised.

  There'll be six maps at launch, including brand new ones custom built for the PlayStationVita, and others that appear to have been inspired by popular online battlefields like Black Ops' Nuketown.

  

  The first one to be revealed is Shattered. Set in a bombed-out South-East Asian city, it's a sharp-looking, dust-filled environment featuring a winding chain of tight back alley pathways through crumbled architecture.

  Trademark Call of Duty mechanics like class customisation and the ability to level up your character are all included, and players will be able to leverage Vita's geo-social "near" functionality to share character classes with friends via Wi-Fi, enabling access to load outs the recipient hasn't yet unlocked through regular progression.

  Vita has been designed to deliver full-fat console experiences on the go, and Black Ops Declassified will be the ultimate test of its ability to do so. The handheld game looks and moves like its Call of Duty counterparts on Xbox 360 and PS3, even if it's not quite as visually stunning on a smaller screen. It also boasts all of the features you'd expect, albeit with a few concessions, such as fewer online players and a smaller amount of maps.

  We're expecting great things from Black Ops Declassified, but we won't get a clearer idea of whether it's set to become the standard bearer for shooters on Vita until we get to see a bit more of it and actually go hands-on with the game in the coming months.
  

  Published: 07/09/2012

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