Players returning to the recently released PlayStation ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are voicing their weariness with a persistent issue in the series: the repeated selection of a small handful of maps. The ports, which have seen considerable popularity, have also brought renewed attention to the tendency for lobbies to exclusively vote for Nuketown, Hijacked, and Raid.
A prominent post on the Call of Duty subreddit highlights this frustration, with users reporting that if the map vote does not present one of these three popular choices, players often default to voting for 'Random.' This can lead to further dissatisfaction, as a significant portion of the lobby may back out if a less frequently chosen map is selected.
This phenomenon is not new to the Call of Duty franchise, having been a recurring aspect since the introduction of map voting. Some players note that newer titles have attempted to mitigate this by refreshing the available map pool more frequently between rounds, aiming to encourage variety. However, in Black Ops 2, maps like Takeoff and Uplink are frequently skipped, according to some players.
Nuketown, in particular, remains a highly divisive map. While many players express a strong dislike for its constant presence, its enduring popularity is undeniable. The map has been a staple since its debut in the original Black Ops and has appeared in various forms across subsequent titles. Its small size is credited with ensuring a consistent pace of action, and unlike other similarly sized maps such as Shipment from the Modern Warfare series, Nuketown still accommodates playstyles that favor sniper rifles.
For those seeking an alternative to the Nuketown-centric experience, a dedicated Nukejacked playlist exists, rotating between Nuketown and Hijacked. However, this playlist reportedly suffers from a mix of popular and less popular game modes, which can also lead to player attrition when undesirable modes are presented.
Beyond the map voting issue, the recent PlayStation ports of Black Ops 1 and 2 have also faced criticism for offering minimal graphical or technical upgrades over their original PlayStation 3 versions, despite their premium pricing. Furthermore, the ports have brought back issues such as rampant hacking and exploiting that were present in the original releases. While Activision has reportedly taken steps to address some of these exploits, the experience for many players is reminiscent of the original games' challenges.