Previews

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.