There are two ways to look at Apocalypse — the fourth and final DLC collection for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. You might see it as the end of new multiplayer maps after a long, fruitful year of content. Or, you might choose to see it as the beginning of the Zombies storyline. Either way, you’re right.
Let’s start with Origins, the Zombies adventure that answers one of the biggest questions in Call of Duty history: how did all this undead chaos really begin? The answer lies in World War I, and the original heroes of the Zombies saga — Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen — will be the ones who uncover that answer. With plenty of hidden surprises, a new song from Avenged Sevenfold, and giant robots that stomp across the battlefield, Origins is as satisfying as it is cryptic.
On the multiplayer front, Apocalypse delivers four maps worthy of the skill you’ve honed for months. Takeoff — a fresh take on the Black Ops fan-favorite Stadium — takes place on a remote launch platform in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with statues and corridors that make you earn every sight line.
Pod takes place among the modern ruins of a 1970’s utopian village, its flying-saucer-like living quarters dilapidated and decayed as nature slowly reclaims its seaside locale. Dig, on the other hand, features nowhere to run and everywhere to hide – a maze of small walls around an archaeological site in Afghanistan, and a loving update to the classic World at War map, Courtyard.
And finally, Frost brings the snowy streets of Amsterdam to life, complete with majestic stone lion statues, a frozen river beneath a contested bridge and… a cheese shop? Why not? (Keep an eye out for the washer and dryer on this level, too.) Now that you have your weapons and loadouts dialed in, all four levels should provide ample challenge. This is your ultimate test.
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Apocalypse is available today for $14.99 on PlayStation Store, but if you have a Black Ops II Season Pass, you’ve already secured your copy — just download from the in-game Store menu. See you online!
This DLC is the ideal final chapter in the zombie saga and fitting conclusion to my Call of Duty career. After this I’m afraid I’ll be “moving on.”
This is not a remonstrative expostulation but an encomiastic valediction to a game that grew to become a huge part of my life. As an unabashed CoD player, I loved the series beyond the game itself. It gave me some of the best gaming years and through it I met some amazing people from around the world, many of whom grew to become some of my closest friends on PSN. I’ve had tons of fun while gaming via voice chat, too, from puerile trashtalk to friendly banter to profound and ruminative intellectual debates over assorted topics, from politics to religion.
Since MW2, every Call of Duty announced always made me excited and I’d always say I’d buy it as soon as it would come out. And like clockwork, I did. November became my favourite month. So I’m sad to break this routine.
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The reason behind my decision has nothing to do with the series itself. The real reason is something I’ve brought up so often that I’m sick of hearing myself say it. However, I will say this: as an ardent supporter of free market, I understand certain marketing decision, even if I disagree with them. But I also know that as a consumer I’m also part of this ecosystem. A corporation has every right to sell and make profit as it sees fit, but as a consumer, if I disagree with a company’s policy, I have every right not to spend money on their products. I know that one person won’t make a dent (which is okay as it’s not my intention at all). I just figured instead of incessantly complaining, I can just avoid the issue altogether.
The developers, however, worked really hard on their games. To those I owe my gratitude.
And thank you, Dan, for communicating with PS3 gamers and suffering through endless whining and rude comments (which are different from legitimate concerns). I know we’ve had our differences, but I want to say thanks for the hard work and your continued dedication. In fact, it’s this kind of direct communication that made my bond with CoD more personal.
I’m glad to hear that, and thanks for saying it. I know people get upset, but I also really believe they get upset because they care. If this stuff didn’t matter to them — it if wasn’t a big part of their life or the way they choose to spend (if not invest!) their free time, they would not be so intense about it. I see it as a good thing, in that way; it’s just all in how it gets expressed. :)