Call of Duty: Black Ops II

The riveting single player storyline features the wonderfully designed strategic Strike Force Missions; the online Multiplayer experience is much more robust than ever before and the Zombies mode has also received significant upgrades. It is quite amazing how the development team managed to fit this much content onto one disk. Needless to say, shooter fans can purchase Black Ops 2 with confidence.

It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and some of the multiplayer changes feel more like they're propping up an aging concept rather than truly moving it forward, even though it's still a good way to spend time with your online friends. For me, it's the notion that Call of Duty is showing some terrific signs of life on the campaign side that left me the most impressed. It's got its share of flaws, but overall Treyarch has assembled a great, fast, and fun first-person shooter that, even if you were thinking about finally skipping a year, is still worth your time.

Zombies mode also returns to add value, whether you get into the secret subplots, like screwing around cooperatively with friends, or will remain completely ignorant of the joys within (like me). It's comforting to know that the replay value of Call of Duty's teamwork mode is available to back up the $60 price tag. I say that because Black Ops II takes one step backward for every step forward. Embracing the same minute improvements the simulation sports genre has, Treyarch makes an argument for advancement in the series but doesn't seal the deal in execution.