On November 9th the latest addition to the Call of Duty franchise will hit the stores. This time, the series takes us back to the dark years of  the Cold War, following several covert operations groups, and exploring locations such as the Ural Mountains, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam.

Like all of the other Call of Duty games, this one is intense, epic and carefully choreographed to extreme detail. To enhance plot scenes, Treyarch are using full performance capture for the first time, simultaneously recording the movements, facial expressions and voices of actors to ensure more naturalistic, engaging performances.

Although the single player campaign mode will primarily be a first-person shooter, the player will also get to pilot a Hind Helicopter and guide friendly troops from an SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. In the single-player campaign mode there will be a set range of weapons, but you’ll be able to modify them – perhaps in a similar way to Modern Warfare, with its multiple options for scopes, ammo clips, etc. In multiplayer, weapons will be extensively customizable with clan tag writing, emblems, attachments and camouflage painting, and you can even have face paints!

Treyarch has suggested that some revolutionary new multiplayer features will be included, and they have confirmed co-op for up to four players (and split-screen two-player action), but you get the feeling this is the very least of what they’re about to offer. Combat mode can be played alone or with friends, and you can use it to practise maps, certain weapons or advanced tactics, and when you are ready you can enter a player match and test your skills against real opponents. It is basically a tutorial concept, a nice way to get to grips with new maps and unfamiliar weapons without being continually shot in the face by someone with a P90. Interestingly, it seems this mode will replace death streaks, the controversial aids awarded to struggling players in Modern Warfare 2, now removed from Black Ops. Players will be able to play alone or with friends against AI opponents in “Combat Training” with a separate progression system.

One new feature introduced in Black Ops is a currency system which allows players to buy weapons, accessories and clothes. Players can gamble with their “COD Points” in a free-for-all based playlist called “Wager Match”, which consists of four game modes. In ‘One in the Chamber’, each player has a pistol with one bullet; if you shoot at someone and miss, you’re down to melee combat. In ‘Sticks and Stones’, players get a crossbow and a tomahawk – if you manage to kill an enemy by shooting them in the back, you bankrupt them. Then there’s ‘Gun Game’ in which all the players start with pistols, but then progress to the next weapons level with each kill. There are 20 to work through, but if you get yourself killed you go back down a level. Finally, in ‘Sharp Shooter’, all the players start with the same randomly selected weapon, which they must use for a random amount of time, before they’re all switched to another model. This mode is particularly good if you cannot stand “noob tubers”!

There are new customizable kill streaks too, including RC explosive cars, guided missiles and controllable attack helicopters. For the first time in the series, clips from online gameplay can be recorded, which should make for some amazing youtube videos!  The game features several new weapons, including a super-silent, scoped crossbow. Like any weapon, hitting enemies in different places will cause a certain amount of damage, for instance if you shoot them in the leg, they are going to be injured and slowed down, but not killed. Another great new weapon is the ballistic knife, which fires knives at enemies from  close and long range. Other weapons which you can find in previous Call of Duty games are the Spas-12 and the AK-47, however this time the Spas-12 is equipped with Dragon’s Breath Shells, which send out deadly blasts of flames.

Another cool piece of equipment is the Camera Spike which can be used as a security camera, particularly useful if you are camping and need more than one view monitored. There is also a Motion Sensor, which is like your own personal UAV, as it detects when enemies pass by the sensor. As for kill streaks, Black Ops features Nepalm Strikes, Gunship Attacks and Exploding Remote-controlled Cars. You’ll also be able to call in mortar teams to provide devastating, longer range firepower, as well as place SAM turrets to bring down enemy aircraft. With perks, there are lots of extra options, including the ability to convert enemy weapons, gear and equipment and use them as your own, and to sabotage enemy care packages. Some familiar classics have gone, however, including Stopping Power and Juggernaut.

Nonetheless, the upcoming months to the game’s release will be a time of great excitement and convey high hopes to the gaming community.