Black Ops 2 Ports Drop on PlayStation: Classic CoD Nostalgia and the Return of a Wild Emblem Editor

Amidst a week of unsettling news from Microsoft – think brutal layoffs and strategic studio shifts – a flicker of retro gaming joy, or perhaps chaotic nostalgia, emerged from the Call of Duty universe. Activision quietly dropped updated ports for two beloved classics: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012).

These aren’t exactly modern remakes, but they offer a crisp 1080p upscale of the original experience. Exclusively available for PlayStation, these ports are fetching a “Call of Duty tax” at a cool $40 each, leaving PC players who cherished the originals out in the cold.

Yet, the real headline isn’t just the return of these iconic shooters. Gaming fans were genuinely surprised, and perhaps a little terrified, to discover that Black Ops 2’s infamous emblem editor made the cut. This powerful, user-driven creative tool from Treyarch’s golden era is back, fully intact.

For those unfamiliar, the emblem editor offered a surprisingly robust suite of primitive shapes, symbols, and colors. Dedicated players could, with enough patience and skill, craft anything from a pixel-perfect Mona Lisa to their favorite cartoon characters. Or, as the Call of Duty gaming community is wont to do, something far more… questionable.

Predictably, the internet quickly exploded with screenshots showcasing the darker side of player creativity. Reports are already circulating of players proudly displaying swastikas, depictions of 9/11, assassinations, and even KKK imagery. It seems some aspects of the classic CoD community never truly change.

It’s a perplexing decision from Iron Galaxy, the developers behind these FPS game updates, to leave such a powerful, unmoderated tool open. While player moderation exists, it’s virtually impossible to police this level of freeform graphical expression. The lack of an option to simply turn off custom emblems, a request since 2010, feels like a missed opportunity for this retro gaming revival.

Beyond the emblem editor drama, these PlayStation gaming ports are largely barebones. They feature the 1080p upscale but omit some modes, like Wager Matches from Black Ops 1, suggesting some developer intervention. However, don’t expect modern conveniences like FOV sliders or high refresh rate options in these CoD ports.

Amplo Insights:

The return of Black Ops 2 and its notorious emblem editor is a potent reminder of both Call of Duty’s enduring legacy and the wild, unbridled nature of its community. While it’s great to see these classic FPS games get a new lease on life, the decision to preserve a tool known for generating offensive content without an opt-out feels, at best, naive. It’s a bittersweet dose of nostalgia, where the gameplay is classic, but some of the community behavior is just as dated and unsavory as ever. Perhaps next time, a little more thought into community management tools would be welcomed for CoD Gaming News.

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