Gamescom 2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Preview

Developer: Nihilistic Software / Publisher: Activision / Release Date : November 13, 2012 / Platforms: PlayStation Vita / ESRB: Mature

Ever since Sony showed the PlayStation Vita had two analog sticks, people have been clamoring for quality first person shooters they could take on the go. Last year at Gamescom it was Resistance: Burning Skies that showed just how possible it was to get console-like FPS gameplay on a handheld system. This year, Activision is taking the lid off Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified, also for the Vita.

Nihilistic Software has put together a package that looks to be solidly Call of Duty, with all the expected features and modes for a Call of Duty game included. This includes six maps, WiFi multiplayer for eight (4v4), Time Trial and Survival Mode missions, and a story that takes place between the events of Black Ops and the upcoming Black Ops 2. With so many CoD fans around the world with such a voracious hunger for more, giving the world at large a portable version of the best-selling game series of the last decade seems like it will be very successful (as well as profitable) for Activision.

Everything in the package is par for the course: killstreaks, custom classes, prestiging, and a plethora of guns. With the Vita, there are a couple of new possibilities as well: you’ll be able to throw and place grenades using the touch pad, which looks like it could be pretty accurate as long as it’s intuitive. You’ll also be able to share your created classes to others via Near mode.

The game launches in November, and my only question after seeing the it in action is whether or not the CoD audience will adopt the game as a serious , competitive entry into the franchise, or more of an arena to simply practice in while they’re on the bus or otherwise away from home.