Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer Everything you need to know about playing online

The classic weapons have futuristic modifications

With the futuristic setting comes a new spin on some of the weapon-types from previous games. Some weapons have gotten new features that make them more versatile on the battlefield. For instance, Black Ops 2s Assault Shield is a step up from the previous games riot shield, and has the ability to be planted on the ground and used as stationary cover. Theres a pistol that shoots shotgun shells, and AK-47-like AN-94 fires its first two shots at a higher rate during a full-auto burst--a feature that will likely be exploited by high tier players.

Attachments and perks discourage undesired play-styles

Much of Black Ops 2s balancing comes in the this-beats-that functions in the Perks and Attachments. Undesired strategies, like camping, are easily countered with the Millimeter Wave Scanner attachment, which detects stationary targets through walls. Even the Perks have been adjusted to discourage sitting still. The Ghost perk renders players invisible to the radar, only as long as the player is moving.

New, futuristic Score Streaks change the game

While some of the Score Streak bonuses play the same role as their counterparts in previous games, there are some game changers that may alter players strategies for certain game modes. The heat wave emitting Guardian turret is one of these. Its excellent for corralling enemies into a bottleneck of deadly fire, or for standing guard at a capture point. There are also a bunch of remote controlled and unmanned drones that let you take out opponents from new perspectives, like the flying dragonfire quadrotor drone and the ground based A.G.R. It will be interesting to see how the COD community will use these new items and equipment when the game launches.

Multi-team matches intensify the action

Black Ops 2 allows up to six smaller teams to compete against one another in the team deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint game-types. Rather than having a two-sided engagement (where the direction of enemy attacks is relatively predictable) there are multiple teams, which means enemies attack from every direction. Communication and teamwork becomes much more important than it already was in Blops.

The Wii Us GamePad allows for an extra screen in local play

Say goodbye to screen looking and crowded screen space when you want to get in a few games of couch co-op and local multiplayer. The Wii U version of Black Ops 2 will allow players to use the GamePad controller screen as an additional screen. So, one player can look at the TV, and the other can play off the GamePad. Pretty neat, right?

Zombies is returning in a full blown open-world co-op mode

Treyarch is adding more to the zombie blasting co-op mode with improvements including a new open world, a competitive humans-versus-humans mode, and the classic fan-favorite Survival mode. For more details on Zombies, check out Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies 6 reasons why it may be the best Zombies yet.

What do you think?

Thats everything you need to know about Call of Duty: Black Ops IIs multiplayer. What do you think of the multiplayer mode? Has Treyarch made any changes that piqued your interest? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.

Check out more information in our Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer info bomb article, and get the first details of the fan favorite co-op mode in our Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies 6 reasons why it may be the best Zombies mode yet.