SmackOps

Call of Duty Black Ops Map Pack: Nuketown Review

2011-07-08T14:44:00.001-04:00

Nuketown is one of the most popular maps on the game, but oddly enough I usually despise it. If you are like me and can't stand how fast the game goes, and getting killed 5 times by grenades then I hope I can help you.

Like I said Nuketown is an extremely fast paced map. It's tempting to just try to run and gun through the map with an Uzi, Ak74u or even your favorite shotgun, but I've found when I do that I usually get 10+ deaths which is annoying. So if the fast paced nervous twitch style isn't for you then you are in good company here. My strategy for Nuketown is essentially to let them run into my bullets. The vast majority of players will be running around with lightweight + marathon and a sub-machine gun. (For info on the guns check my post about DenKirson's Gun Chart.) Ok so here is the map explained. I'll start with 4 good spots to get kills from.

The yellow circles on the left side of the map. (R4pid Gaming covers it perfectly) Here is a really good line of sight that most players don't know of or use. You can usually pick opponents off for 1-2 kills as they come out of their spawn. Simply fire from your spawn sides cirlce to the oppositie circle area. Key tip: make sure to hop on to the small shrub next to the fence to get a better view.
This is the double sided area in the middle of the map. This one is a lot riskier than the first approach but can yield considerably better results. Your first task is to avoid the shower of grenades. If you make it to the open truck on the other side of the bus (A) you want to patrol the truck. Peak out the left and right sides and also look through the opening. (Works best with teammates) You should be able to pick off a lot of opponents just running full steam into the open. The dotted lines are showing the three lanes that you want to cover. (Also don't peak out too far or they may pick you off from the 2nd story window)
The first two tips really only work well for the start of a match. During other times because of the spawn switching they may not be a great idea. For this spot, it really is a good spot if your team is just getting hammered. Slow down the pace of the game and take cover in the corner. You can easily look out toward the center of the map and check your back to see if they started to spawn behind you (which will happen).
People may hate you for this spot, but if the opponent is running wild than this spot can be awesome to get your killstreaks on. It's similar to the 3rd spot but the angles and lines of sight are much better. You can look out towards the left side of the middle of the map and pick off enemies as well as those coming around on the side with the Jeep (B). This is my favorite spot during a match on Nuketown, its a great way to counteract the runners.

There also are a few things you want to watch out for on this map. Noob-tubes not being the only thing.

This level is definately the level to use Sleight of hand (hopefully Pro) on. The faster aiming will be the difference maker in firefights and the faster reloading helps save precious time. Flak Jacket would be a good candidate for this level, unless the other team is reaping the kill streaks then you may want to swtich to Ghost.
Watch out for the area between the 2 yellow circles. This is the most open part of the map and going through this area will more than likely be the cause for multiple deaths. People also tend to camp over here.
The area over by the Jeep is much more confined than the open spot opposite of it. Behind the Jeep is very popular spot for campers (as long as the Jeep has already blown up). So when going through this area always make sure to look for someone peaking out from behind it.
The last thing I would warn about on this map, is the two second story windows (the green and red rectangles). Typically there will be someone trying to get a few easy kills from the windows. The annoying this is that it doesn't work very well if you try to do it yourself. You will either get killed from the opposite window, a grenade, or a knife in the back. I wouldn't recommend this position, but if you absolutely must don't stick halfway out the window giving anyone a chance to kill you. Stay 2-3 feet behind the window.

That's my take on Nuketown, leave on tips or comments and be sure to watch R4pid Gaming's video review.

Call of Duty Black Ops Map Pack: Array Review

2011-07-08T10:02:00.005-04:00

Array is one of the larger maps on the game. Depending on my teams spawn point I take one of two strategies. (I play almost all my matches on team deathmatch)

If my team starts on the 'top' (the red circle) of the map near the crane (A) in the open field, behind the giant satellite dish you can get on then I usually being the match by sniping. (The arrow coming from number one points to the spot I usually snipe from) Ill back up to the rock wall and remain in the shadows and look down on the right side past the Jeep and watch for opponents running up there.(#3, rectangular box) I do this because almost instantly there is a firefight on that right side of the
map. It usually is an easy way to get a few kills if you can snipe. If the activity keeps up I usually remain sniping, otherwise I'll switch to my Galil class. One thing you have to watch out for here is that there is a spawn point to the left (#5, circle) of you behind the building in construction (C). People tend to spawn/or sneak around from that side so be watching your left. (B) It's this area that is the choke point when they try to sneak around. A claymore or motion sensor around here is useful.
If my team starts in the other spawn, the 'bottom' (#2, green circle) of the map I pick a silenced weapon (Ak74u, Galil) and the best thing to do is have the class equipped with lightweight and marathon. As soon as the map starts switch to your backup pistol (you can seriously cover some ground this way) and head for the building in the center (dashed green line). When you enter there is a doorway on the right, take this, not the circular stairwell. Book it all the way till you get to the main floor and you can exit the building when up there. Usually there are at least 3 opponents setting up behind the Jeep trying to win the firefight on that busy side (Yellow explosion circle), and it is an easy way to ambush them.

Those two strategies usually get me off to great starts on Array. I mentioned the pistol running idea, I really don't understand why other people don't use that tip. Even if you don't have marathon and/or lightweight on switching to your pistol can help you seriously cover ground. This is best used at the start of a large map so that you can get positioning on or ambust the opponent. You have to be careful when using this technique though, that you don't overrun and meet the opponent head on with a pea-shooter vs. multiple Famas', Galil's, and Aug's.

As far as continuing the match, there are a few places that I like to avoid.

Running out in the open. We'll start simple here. Running out in the open on a large map is typically a bad idea and will be the cause of most of your deaths.
The right side of the map (the strip with the Jeep, #3). You are more than likely to get flashed, grenaded, noob tubed, here than any other part of the map. Which is very annoying. If you want to try to hang out on this busy side of the map you should definately use Tactical Mask.
In sight of the Sniper Tower (#4, Triangle). It faces down towards the 'bottom' spawn and also has a good view inside the center building. It has a view through one of the large window sections. The arrows coming off the triangle show the easy angles for the snipers and where you should be cautious. The no man's land off to the right of the triangle is particularly easy to get picked off by a sniper because of the lack of good cover.

Tips for success on this map

Patrol the center building. Try to move generally slow on this map and pick off the people running around like crazy. A good place to do this is in the center building. Use of a motion sensor near the circular stairway gives you a radar of almost the entire building. You can patrol from window to window and check the circular stairway and the opening to the outside by the Jeep. Its great for picking off people, particulary the first window section after coming up the circular stairs. You have to watch out for snipers while running through the building, as I mentioned before they have a good view of one of the window sections.
Snipe from a decent position. Sniping on this map can be successful. I have seen a lot of different sniping set-ups on this map. Some people always tend to snipe from the tower. I don't particulary like this spot because there is almost no cover for you and if they get in close your pretty much doomed. I like the spot far back behind the crane and satellite dish. Stay in the shadows and you will be ok. You could also snipe from inside the building, but more times than not you will be knifed or Ak74u'd. One of the better spots is actually up on the crane on the right side of the map (A). You have a good view of the spawn point (#5) and of the busy strip along the right side (#3). Lastly if your really up for it. You can try to go to the busy right side and snipe. If you can get set up you will have to be on your game and very fast to stay alive but it will give you some opportunites.

That's all I have for now. Later I will be adding some videos and ~~pictures~~ of the map. Leave any tips you have for Array.

New Call of Duty Black Ops 'Annihilation' Map Pack

2011-07-06T15:40:00.003-04:00

This post talks about the four new multiplayer maps from the Annihiliation Map Pack. Click below to read full article.

Presumably, the map pack will be coming out soon for PS3. As we PS3 users get to wait a little bit longer than PC and Xbox users for newly released map packs. The first question I have is if the map pack, regardless of how good it is, is worth another fifteen dollars. At this point I am already in 90 bucks, 60 for the game and 15 a peice for the first two map packs. You could also add in there the price of a new PS3 controller, due to the wear Call of Duty games put on them. (I'm actually considering switching to the Nyko Zero Controller for PS3, maybe it will hold up better). Anyway, back to my point, is it worth another fifteen bucks for the third map pack? Modern warfare 3 is coming out in a couple months anyway. And I was already debating trading in Black Ops since Gamestop is giving an extra store credit on used games right now. Anyway not to be completely sidetracked lets talk about the actual map pack.

The map pack comes with 4 new multiplayer maps and 1 zombies map. I could care less about zombies so I will focus on the multiplayer maps.
The 4 Maps are:
Silo, Hangar 18, Drive-In, and Hazard
Silo is a large outdoor map, but it isn't wide open and friendly for long range playing. Some think that this will be a good shotgun map, as it is set in a type of military complex with cramped spaces. If your of the run-n'-gun type this map suits you, just to be sure to learn the map as it is very dense with tons of pathways, tunnels, and rooms to run (or camp) in.
Hangar 18 on the other hand is a large outdoor map with wide open spaces which just entices snipers to set up camp. The center of the map is based on a rather open hangar with several entrances, and a Blackbird plane sticking out of one side of it.
Drive-In is clearly modeled to replicate Nuketown's success. It is a smaller map, and although larger than Nuketown it is even more confined and closed quarters than Nuketown. It also is different from nuketown in the aspect that is has more cover, i.e. more camping spots, than Nuketown. So when the majority of players will be running around with an Uzi or a SPAS 12 shotgun some players will camp and just mow down those players running wild. For me, it may be tempting to use a stealth class with a silenced Galil and move slowly so that I can pick off the run-n-gun style players.
Hazard - Is set in a golf course, and is obviously wide open. You won't have to worry about getting mad that someone killed you with an AK74u for the tenth time, while hip-firing! This map is much kinder to long range game play. Think scoped Assualt Rifles, Snipers, and Launchers. It seems like this map will play more like some of the larger Modern Warfare 2 Maps. I am looking for to sniping on this map, as there are not to many great sniping levels yet.

Well that is my long coverage of the up-coming map pack I will post again after they are released for PS3

The Specs on the Ak74u, Famas, Galil, Fal, and every other gun.

2011-01-02T00:53:00.002-05:00

This interactive chart will help you pick the right weapon for you. Anywhere from gun damage to range to RPM (rounds-per-minute). Click below to continue reading...

Well DenKirson, has done some brilliant work with his gun chart here.

DenKirson's Gun Chart

The chart is pretty fascinating, it shows the damage, fire rate, recoil, speed, and ammo of every single gun in the game. It even is interactive and allows you to put attachments on the gun and see what difference it makes. From looking at the chart I realize why I like the Famas so much. It has one of the better fire rates, it allows you run at 95% speed, it has an ADS time of .25 seconds and it even tells me that most of the time the recoils makes the gun move to the right and up a little bit.

I've recently started using the Fal and wanted to see if that was a fluke or if the gun really works for me. It has the same ADS and run speed as the Famas, but a higher damage yet lower RPM (rounds per minute). I guess the gun has worked for me because it gets me to focus in on my shots and not just spray bullets like I do with the Famas. The chart covers equipment, such as the Tomahawk, decoy, frag grenade, semtex, and all the rest, but it doesn't end there it also covers perks and killstreaks in detail. It shows the percentage for getting certain rewards from the care package, which makes me never want to use the care package because of the awful chances of getting anything remotely good. This chart is the best chart I have found for technical information on the game so enjoy!

>Picture taken from Google Images.

New Blog

2011-01-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

Hey gamers, I thought I would make a blog dedicated to the devoted COD players, and right now emphasizing on the latest release, Black Ops. I am going to be posting a wide variety of things on here, ranging from knifing tips to gun charts, reaction time, and other random topics. Comment and let me know what you would like to know about. Thanks for checking it out!