Are there hidden philosophical and cultural profundities in this excellent videogame? Would it stop you playing if there weren't...?

(N.B. contains a few mild spoilers)

1. It’s totally operating on two levels

The ‘It operates on two levels’ defence is a central arts graduate excuse for playing some of the more ridiculous video games and enjoying other over-the-top forms of entertainment. The core concept is that the entertainment in question is knowingly ridiculous and is actually doing something rather clever such as exploring our relationship with violence/sexuality/drugs; whilst at the same time allowing us to enjoy a good dose of gunplay/nudity/stoner-gags.

Examples include Shaun of The Dead’s approach to zombie narrative; Ricky Gervais's approach to slightly racist gags; and True Blood’s approach to... well, everything. Whether or not Black Ops merits placement in this category depends on how much you believe the game’s designers are serious in their treatment of this period of American History. Clearly, the plot is just too much fun to believe that tongues are anything other than solidly lodged in cheeks throughout. When, about ten minutes into the game, you zip-wire into a Cuban Mansion and shoot Fidel Castro in the head, you realise that this is a knowingly ludicrous plot far removed from both history and the knowingly self-important drivel that comprised Modern Warfare 2’s excuse for a narrative. Instead, you can relax safe in the knowledge that the game isn’t insulting your intelligence but deliberately crafting a trashy Pulp Fiction-esque experience which you can stroke your chin to if you wish.

2. Zombie Mode

"Not since the final boss battle in the original Castle Wolfenstein or Bonus Players in NBA Jam have political leaders and video games collided so satisfactorily."

The ultimate example of the previous point; Black Ops’ Zombie Mode allows a pertinent examination of the relationship between politicians and the public in the modern media age whilst also allowing you to pilot JFK around the pentagon as you mow down brain-hungry zombies. Given that it was the charismatic, media-friendly Kennedy who can largely be credited with reinventing the politician as a commodity to be consumed by the public, it is not ridiculous to see this game mode as a valid entry in the zombie/modern consumer parallel which runs through all the best examples of the genre. This concept is enforced by the Nixon avatar regularly lamenting the fact that each brain-dead zombie he caps is a potential vote lost - sorry Republicans, but that was Treyarch’s comparison not mine. The depth and (speaking as a non-American) obscurity of the many numerous political references scattered throughout should mean that even American History Scholars can relax and enjoy the ride.

Not since the final boss battle in the original Castle Wolfenstein or Bonus Players in NBA Jam have political leaders and video games collided so satisfactorily. Enjoy the sheer ridiculousness of the experience whilst reminding yourself that you can at any time start a conversation about the political and philosophical importance of the whole endeavour... though maybe grab a few more headshots first.

3. Soundtrack

Overall you’re looking at a standard CoD musical score; endless climactic strings with the odd dash of heavy guitar. But on a few occasions the player is treated to great contemporary songs, most notably in the section where, when mounting up on a gun boat for a trip down a Vietnam river, Frank ‘not quite as good as Captain Price’ Woods cranks up the gunboat’s improbable stereo and shouts “let’s see what they make of this” as Sympathy for the Devil fills the jungle air. What’s this I hear you cry? An exploration of the concept of Satan through transcendental musical monologue? Left trigger for guns and right trigger for rockets? A song inspired by Mick Jagger’s reading of Baudelaire’s symbolist writings and the plays of Mikhail Bulgakov? Three miles of river featuring hundreds of inadequately armed Viet Cong and their highly combustible reed huts? At worst, a lateral tribute to Larry Fishburne's Satisfaction groove in Apocalypse Now? Go on then.

An iconic and intelligent song for one of CoD’s most knuckleheaded set pieces may seem like something of a travesty but it’s hard to deny that it adds a palatable twist to what is essentially genocide. Take your mind off the unnecessary havoc you’re causing and meditate on the immutable evil of man and represented through the symbolic shadow which the story of Beelzebub casts over all our earthly endeavours.

4. Multiplayer

The vast choice of weaponry available in CoD’s legendary multiplayer means that more dignified players can choose a more dignified load-out; and the gentleman duellist’s revolver and old world crossbows (albeit with exploding bolts) are two good choices for the more refined player of the game. You could also go for the throwing tomahawk. This weapon is an embodiment of a native culture destroyed by modern America and thusly becomes a powerful symbol of rebellion and non-conformity to mainstream cultural norms. Unfortunately it’s also a real bitch to actually hit anyone with.

My favourite approach is to add a silencer to the pump action shotgun and pretend that I’m the unfathomable assassin from No Country for Old Men going about my business as Bergmanesque symbol of death, metaphor for the collapse of the American Dream and general gun-toting badass. Donning the embarrassing Xbox Live headset and huskily muttering “Call it... Friend-o” in a sinister Spanish whisper is an optional extra which I would recommend trying at least once.

5. Admit it, entering the world of work isn’t so great

With some estimates suggesting around seventy applicants for every graduate job, there’s never been a more desperate need to fill your hours with some quality sofa time. Levelling up on Black Ops' multiplayer can provide that much needed feeling of achievement until you eventually stumble into the world of employment. Even those of us lucky enough to have found that elusive graduate position are likely to find the workplace of the 21st century to be slightly more demanding than the average eight or nine hours the average arts student spends in lectures and seminars each week whilst at university. In times of recession, rocketing student debt and shaky job prospects, both students and recent graduates deserve some fun, and Black Ops provides this in spades.

The fear of many an arts graduate is allowing the intellectual streak they spent years cultivating to grow rusty through disuse, but that shouldn’t be a concern with this game. Whilst playing Call of Duty might not compete with cracking out Tolstoy of an evening, it’s not as dumb as it looks, and can be enjoyed without endangering those brain cells you spent so much time and money developing. Enjoy.

See also:

Top 10 Most Pretentiously-Titled Videogames

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 review

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