Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Xbox 360 Disc Only (CP)

With the explosive success of Call of Duty spin-off Black Ops, Treyarch has undoubtedly made its own mark on the franchise. Now all eyes are on them to deliver again with Black Ops II which, curiously enough, takes things into the not-too-distant future.

A neo-Cold War erupts in the year 2025, when the US’ increased dependance on computer infrastructure is turned against it. It asks the question, ‘how crippled could a country become if its military and security hinged on a systems network?’.

You assume the role of a top-tier soldier in the middle of this global conflict. Along with the fast-paced action that you’re used to from past titles in the Call of Duty series, Black Ops II spices up the proceedings somewhat with an enticing array of futuristic arsenal – rifles that can shoot through walls, flying drones that can cover corners, walking mechs… the works.

As well as improvements to multiplayer and Zombies mode, there’s a new feature called Strike Force. These special stages occur throughout the course of the campaign, and are single-player sandbox objectives set in various countries around the world.

The idea is that the missions you play in Strike Force mode are occurring at the same time as the lead character’s plight in the US. Take a harbour in Singapore as an example – your task is to ensure you sink a powerful enemy battleship. You’re given a number of units to control, which you can slip in and out of to briefly steer them.

As well as taking you to the future of warfare, Black Ops 2 looks set to show you the future of Call of Duty.