Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified is set to hit the PlayStation Vita sometime this fall, but that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy some new details about Nihilistic's portable FPS right this very second.
Sony Social Media Manager Sid Shuman recently had some words with Nihilistic's Studio Head, Robert Huebner, the results of which have been posted in a Q&A on the PlayStation Blog. Huebner shares some new info about the single player campaign but, more importantly to the vast majority of long-time Call of Duty vets, the multiplayer.
First is the general look of the game. Huebner said Nihilistic has given the game a “significant visual upgrade” since it was last seen at Gamescom, including a richer color palette, better lighting models, and loads more character animations.
Second, the combat. Black Ops Declassified will feature 12 perks for players to choose from, including fan favorites like Hardline and Sleight of Hand, as well as some new goodies like Hardwired, which makes you immune to Spy Plane nonsense, and Surplus, which starts you out with extra ammo and grenades. The multiplayer portion also offers a wide range of weapons to pick from with all primary firearms boasting two attachment slots for stuff like optics and extended mags, and all secondary guns having a spot for a single attachment.
Online, the game offers 4-on-4 matches spread across six initial maps and a variety of CoD modes. Not the biggest experience, but we're also talking about a portable game here, so try to keep things in perspective.
Unlike other CoD games, the single player will be presented in bite-sized chunks.
“The single player campaign consists of intense replayable objective-based missions that allow you to get better and better over time to improve your performance,” Huebner said. “The goal is to give the player the experience of striving for the 'perfect run' through each mission.”
Huebner saved information about survival missions for last, referring to them by their new name, “Hostiles missions.” The mode offers a new take on the infinite waves of enemies schtick, though Huebner wold say little more than that. Will said “hostiles” be zombies? Will the mode be co-op? No word yet.
It certainly sounds like Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified is coming along nicely. Now if only we could get a handle on that elusive release date. Set for the “fall” and getting this late in the year, though, I'm not sure I'd put my money on seeing it before 2013. Then again, this is certainly the type of game you want on store shelves before Christmas rolls around, so maybe Nihilistic will surprise us.
