Summary
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Bizarrely, the maligned Black Ops: Declassified PS Vita exclusive still has an active multiplayer scene.
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Twitter user @realradec reports that they can find matches “instantly”, despite it being over a decade old and often considered the worst entry in the series.
Before the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck and their many, many competitors, we had much less powerful handheld consoles like the DS, Game Boy and, of course, the PS Vita.
Since they couldn't run the same games as home consoles, they often got unique new versions. Max Payne launched on the GBA as a pixelated, isometric shooter; Persona 3 had its iconic “Portable” version for the PSP, which even introduced a female protagonist; and Call of Duty got in on the fun with some interesting handheld variants of their own.
Modern Warfare: Mobilized was an impressive feat of engineering that brought one of the most iconic Call of Duty games to the DS, and Black Ops' own adaptation for the dual-screen handheld was a surprisingly good spin on the burgeoning series with a more condensed version of it famous Zombies mode. Black Ops: Declassified… well, that's a bit of a different story.
This PS Vita exclusive launched to a terrible score of 33 on Metacritic, criticized by reviewers for being an “unfinished” and “passionless” cash grab. Several outlets went so far as to label it the worst entry in the series. Yet over a decade later, it still has an active enough player base that Twitter user @realradec was able to find matches “instantly”.
Cult Classic, or is the Vita just that powerful?
Looking at the game's recent reviews on Metacritic, there is a lot of praise for its multiplayer. The big problem seems to be more with its brutally difficult and rushed campaign, rather than the online scene. Even negative reviews, like 7oriiol's 5/10, say it's a “MUST HAVE WHITE GAME” for its multiplayer.
This is a sentiment that @realradec also shares,”[not gonna lie] multiplayer is fun for what it is”. The fact that the servers are still up, and they can still find games, is proof of that. But at this point, you'll only be matching with die-hard fans who stick around to a hated game. Odds are you'll be crushed.
Black Ops: Declassified still having a surprisingly active multiplayer scene has stirred up a lot of emotion in the comments, with many recalling the PS Vita. Some have been inspired to rummage around for their old charger, while others even want to buy one outright. Do it. Give into the inner Vita demon.
As @royal_bobby24 commented, “no one gives Vita the respect it deserves”. And what better way to show that respect than to play a match or two of Black Ops: Declassified? Well, there's the Uncharted game, Persona 4 Golden, Steins;Gate, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, God of War, Metal Gear Solid… Okay, there are a lot of better games you could be playing.
