Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 PlayStation 5 Review

A nostalgic feeling is what many players look for in games that can help them feel a little bit of what games used to be. Although a lot of giant franchises still stand strong today, their latest titles do not have the same impact or nostalgic feeling compared to the older titles. When it comes to discussing older games where most players enjoyed their time, the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2 always come up in the conversation. These two titles hold special places in COD veterans’ hearts. For the rebirth of these titles, Iron Galaxy ported them to newer consoles, exclusive to PlayStation, including PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. However, these ports are not something that most of the fans were expecting. This is our review of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 on PlayStation 5 and explains whether they are worth it.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 Ports to PlayStation 5

When the leaks about the release of Black Ops 1 and 2 coming to PlayStation 5 came out, a lot of fans and players were expecting a remaster. More like a reimagining of Black Ops 1 and 2 with better graphics and support while keeping the charm. However, that is not the case with the release of these titles. Iron Galaxy ported Black Ops 1 and 2 as they were to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, only taking out some of the features from the original games.

Before I start naming what features are missing from these new ports, it is important to mention the cost of these ports. Both Black Ops 1 and 2 cost $40 each, without the DLC. If you are someone who wants to get the full experience, you have to purchase them separately for each of them. Alternatively, if you have a PS Plus subscription, then you can save some money on the whole package, which seems to be a smart choice if you are getting both of these titles.

Black Ops 1 and 2 are the exact same games from 15 and 13 years ago on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. In terms of providing a nostalgic feeling, they are a 10. However, for an over-a-decade-old game and just a port, these titles can be upsetting to repurchase on the current console.

A Nostalgic Feeling

Despite Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 feeling short, they provide a strong nostalgic feeling. Both of these titles come with a full package of campaign, multiplayer, and zombies. For someone who is craving to play all of the story and zombies again, they do fulfill that need. Moreover, if you are someone who did not get the chance to experience the greatness before, the campaign and zombies are worth it.

However, apart from the base content, the original Black Ops games also include various features that impacted the social aspect. Unfortunately, such features are not in the ports.  The Wager Matches, Theater Mode, League Play, Player Counting, and Cross-Play are some of the biggest features missing from these titles. Although Theater Mode was one of the reasons that players have to deal with a sheer number of hackers, it was a big opportunity for content creators. The Wager Matches made a crucial impact on the social aspect, allowing players to be more competitive. With the new port, there is no active player counter in Black Ops 2, like there was in the original.

In addition to such missing features, there should have been League Play or Cross-Play options. Moreover, the fact that there is no FOV in these new ports is also a bit disappointing. From a modern-day gaming perspective, especially in COD, FOV and support for 120 FPS should have been included in these ports.

Performance

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 run smoothly on PlayStation 5, better than the backward compatibility on Xbox Series X. However, with the release on the current-gen consoles, there should have been some modern technical upgrades. The games are locked to 1080p 60 FPS, which is a bummer. If you play it on a 4K screen, it looks bad. Enjoying these titles with a crisp look makes 1080p a necessity. Moreover, there is no 120 FPS support despite being running on the current-gen console. 

Verdict – Score 6/10

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 will always remain the fan-favorite series titles. Although the new ports of these titles to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 should have been great, they feel stripped down. There are no technical advancements for these titles or the FOV option. Crucial features like Wager Matches, League Play, and Cross-Play are absent. Apart from missing features and no technical advancements, Black Ops 1 & 2 on PlayStation 5 provide the same nostalgic feeling. Both the campaigns and zombies are solid (the best ones).

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 are now available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.