Call of Duty, launched in 2003 by Infinity Ward, quickly became a dominant force in war-themed video games, outpacing competitors like Medal of Honor and Battlefield. With 21 main titles, the franchise has consistently delivered engaging campaigns and multiplayer experiences. However, the 2012 PS Vita title, Black Ops Declassified, faced severe criticism for its short campaign, poor level design, and technical issues, resulting in one of the lowest ratings in the series and contributing to the studio’s closure.
The Enduring Legacy of Call of Duty
There’s no need to revisit the past; it’s well known. Call of Duty first emerged in 2003 from the creative minds at Infinity Ward, a team comprised of veterans from the first-person shooter genre, notably those who worked on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. It didn’t take long for the franchise to stake its claim as the leader in war-themed video games, especially as Medal of Honor struggled to keep pace. While Call of Duty faced competition from Battlefield, it remained steadfast in its mission. Each new installment has generally been well-received, with rare exceptions that still offer solid gameplay. With its thrilling campaigns, iconic multiplayer features, and the introduction of battle royale modes, ‘COD’ continues to dominate the gaming landscape, consistently selling millions of copies with each release.
Importantly, Call of Duty now belongs to the Xbox ecosystem following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. This acquisition sparked considerable debate, with rivals expressing concerns about the potential for exclusivity. However, the brand has pledged to maintain accessibility, at least for the time being, as evidenced by the recent launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 across multiple platforms. The franchise boasts 21 main titles, alongside 7 mobile versions and 12 spin-off games. By examining these lesser-known titles, it’s clear that some failed to meet the high standards set by Call of Duty or Battlefield.
Check out Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on PS5 at Fnac
The Overlooked Call of Duty… and for Good Reasons
It may have slipped your mind, but in 2012, Call of Duty made its way to the PS Vita with an episode titled Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified. If this title doesn’t ring a bell, you’re not alone; upon its release, it faced harsh criticism from both players and reviewers. To this day, it maintains a Metascore of just 33 out of 100 and a disappointing 5/10 from users. In our review, Dinowan assigned it a dismal score of 3/20. The initial critiques focused on the single-player campaign, which can be completed in under an hour, with missions wrapping up in a mere 5 to 8 minutes.
The level design was cramped, lacking any engaging narrative to elevate the gameplay, and the artificial intelligence was far from impressive. While the multiplayer mode could have been a redeeming factor, players experienced a range of issues, including frequent disconnections, freezes, and crashes, making it nearly unplayable. Adding to the frustration was a clunky control scheme, resulting in one of the most poorly received entries in the Call of Duty franchise. It’s worth noting that Nihilistic Software, the studio behind the game, was given only a few months to bring this project to life, leading to a disastrous outcome that eventually contributed to the studio’s closure.