Editor's Note: The following review is based off of the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops II. We still plan to review the PS3, PC and Wii U versions, but did not receive them prior to launch. After we test them to see how (or if) they differ we will update this review to reflect the other platforms.
What if Call of Duty was different?
This appears to be the defining question informing the direction of developer Treyarch’s latest, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. While large portions of the design conform to the tenants established by prior iterations of the franchise, the unparalleled wealth of gameplay options and brilliant twists on the formula have shaped Black Ops II into the most ambitious and exciting Call of Duty ever made. It occasionally feels like the team might have strayed into territory they’re not quite masters of, but significant tweaks to the multiplayer loadout system, as well as the realization of player agency in the campaign, make this far more than “just another Call of Duty.” This is an evolution.