Some series depend on you having actually played all their previous installments before the next installments make proper sense.  This can pertain to developing skills, understanding storyline, or both.  Call of Duty really isn’t that type of series though.  While Black Ops 2 will have strong plot threads connecting it to the first Black Ops, the game will still tell a complete story of its own.  Many of the games in the Call of Duty series aren’t directly related to each other in terms of story, and the skills of FPS combat can be picked up pretty easily no matter where you step into the series.

Treyarch has also taken some extra steps to try and make Black Ops 2 accessible to newbies, especially newbies who are intimidated by online multiplayer gameplay.  The first step is the inclusion of a “Bootcamp” mode which allows new players to go up against bots and new players in a newbie-friendly environment.  This tutorial method will help players to learn the ropes and also to level up to level 10.  Then you play the “Objective” mode which is also part of the bootcamp, and this helps you to learn how to play all the objective type modes.  “Bot Stomp” allows you to play with a human team against AI players.  You can continue playing these modes past level 10, but you’ll earn less experience than you would in the normal multiplayer mode.

The other thing which makes Black Ops 2 newbie friendly is the league system with matchmaking.  This ensures that if you’re a new player with a relatively low skill level, you’ll be playing with and against other players who are comparably skilled, and not against vastly superior players.  Then as you improve against people who give you a reasonable amount of competition, you will climb up in the rankings and face off against more challenging opponents, who like yourself have attained a higher skill level.  This ensures that you’ll build confidence and enjoy yourself, rather than get discouraged because you’re in the wrong place.

So if you’re interested in Black Ops 2 but you’re new to the series, or even new to first person shooter games altogether, this is a great game to start out playing.  Not many other FPS developers have put so much work into making newbies feel comfortable.  You can pre-order the game now to ensure you receive your copy on November 13th.