By Matthew Scott Hunter
‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ (M)
Tracing its roots
****1/2
Activision
Xbox 360
Putting modern warfare on hold, the “Call of Duty” series goes back to its historical roots — not to World War II, but to the more heated portions of the Cold War. The campaign story plays out like “Forrest Gump,” with ties to real world events and figures — except instead of a bus stop, this story is told from an interrogation room, where the hero is regularly given electric shocks by unseen captors. The flashbacks gradually coalesce into the deepest story the series has seen yet, providing ample excuses for explosive action and frantic running and gunning. The enemies aren’t the brightest, and some levels feel like simple shooting galleries, but this isn’t a cover shooter, and rapid kill streaks keep the pace feeling frenetic. Smarter foes can always be found in multiplayer.
Sure to be the biggest draw on Xbox Live, “Black Ops’” multiplayer is as good as ever. Upgrades are earned through a new points system, and those points can be gambled by taking on specific challenges. As if that weren’t enough, co-op play switches from the Red Menace to the Dead Menace with the return of Zombie Mode. With JFK, Nixon and Castro among the playable characters defending the Pentagon, this bonus game is more ridiculous (and hilarious) than ever.
‘Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit’ (E10+)
****1/2
Electronic Arts
Xbox 360
The only thing missing from the latest “Need for Speed” is the word ‘Burnout’ in the title. Like that other accident-prone racing series, “Hot Pursuit” thrives on destruction, taunting you with boost rewards for every risk you take and feeding you incentives to wreak havoc on other drivers. Whether you’re an illegal street racer, searching for hidden shortcuts, or an officer of the law, more interested in crashing these criminals than writing up moving violations, the sense of speed is fantastic, and the blurry world rushing by looks absolutely gorgeous.
‘Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1’ (T)
*1/2
Electronic Arts
Xbox 360
All the previous “Harry Potter” games have been about exploring Hogwarts, but school is finally out, and it’s time for Mr. Potter to apply his lessons in the real world. Unfortunately, his lessons were about solving puzzles and the real world is a third-person cover shooter. Flicking spells like bullets and tossing potions like grenades makes for an odd “Harry Potter” game and a laughable shooter. The poorly designed action briefly pauses for stealth, which you’d think would be easy, considering you have a cloak which renders you invisible, but you’d be wrong.
‘Sonic Colors’ (E)
***1/2
Sega
Wii
Perhaps taking a cue from “Super Mario Galaxy,” “Sonic Colors” takes the blue hedgehog to outer space and some of the prettiest backdrops seen on Wii. Sonic’s had an uneven track record — especially in 3D — but this high-speed platformer ranks among his best recent efforts. The rescued patrons of an interstellar amusement park grant the spiky-haired hero some unique power-ups, but overall, this is the same sprinting, jumping, gold ring-collecting action you’d expect if you’ve played any previous “Sonic” games. CV
