Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extremely violent military shooter with profanity, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 91 parent reviews
Parents say that while the game has content that could be concerning such as violence, strong language, and drug references, features exist that allow for censorship of gore and swearing, making it more appropriate for younger players. Many reviews suggest it is fine for children aged 10 and up, particularly if parents adjust the settings to turn off inappropriate content, leading to a more family-friendly gameplay experience.
- content censorship
- appropriate for 10+
- strong language concerns
- features violent scenes
- educational elements
- family-friendly gameplay
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 319 kid reviews
What's It About?
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II jumps back and forth through time from the Cold War era to the near future. The story revolves around a Central American drug dealer who carries a grudge against a group of American soldiers for the death of his sister. As time goes on, his quest for vengeance grows, eventually transforming into an ideological war against the West. Players engage in standard first-person shooter mayhem throughout the campaign, occasionally taking the wheel of vehicles or manning emplaced turrets. They'll also get to play with some high-tech gear, including wing suits, robots, and quadricopters while carrying out missions set in the future.
Most players will spend more time online than in the story mode. They'll begin by training, then get sorted into league matches against players of similar skill where they'll begin the slow process of completing challenges and leveling up their character. A second, more fantastical multiplayer mode called Zombies has players working cooperatively as they go up against hordes of undead creatures.
Is It Any Good?
Call of Duty: Black Ops II's single-player story mode is a little disappointing. Some missions are surprisingly deficient in serious action (expect to do a lot of walking and talking). Others, like a level set in Afghanistan that has players riding around a small, semi-open desert shooting rockets while riding horses, are missing the series' trademark tight, linear, cinematic pacing. The third act is pure spectacle and packs a real wallop, but it takes a little too long to get there. Gamers who play only the single-player component of Call of Duty games may come away disappointed.
Multiplayer, on the other hand, is close to sublime. Online play is well balanced and extremely deep, delivering immediate frenetic action for veterans who want to jump headfirst into the fray while offering newbies the opportunity to slowly submerge themselves in the experience via a well-designed combat trainer. And Zombies is nearly a game unto itself, offering several modes for fans of cooperative play. Suffice to say most players will be kept busy for months.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in media. Where do you draw the line on violence for your teenage children? Do you think violent movies and games are equal, or do they affect younger audiences in different ways?
Families can also discuss online safety. Do you know what steps to take when approached by online bullies and predators? What should your first course of action be?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo Wii U , PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Social Studies : global awareness , historical figures
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , meeting challenges together , teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , logic , strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Activision
- Release date : November 13, 2012
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 7, 2022
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