Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review

Initial release date: October 25, 2024

Developers: Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Raven Software · See more

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows

License: proprietary license

Composer: Jack Wall

Genre: First-person shooter

Publishers: Activision, Activision Blizzard

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 exemplifies what Call of Duty should be, with a full multiplayer suite, a zombies mode that feels like it understands what makes that mode unique, and a campaign that combines Mission Impossible-style action set pieces with some of the more off-the-wall sci-fi elements that Black Ops games are known for. Each section feels like an advance over Black Ops Cold War, and each has more than enough depth to keep both novice and hardcore players satisfied.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 feels like the series’ first comprehensive bundle since the release of Modern Warfare in 2019. Not only does it have a fantastic story with more innovation than you may anticipate, but it also boasts an amazing multiplayer option and a return to form for Zombies. Each individual chunk feels excellent, and when combined, it creates one of the best Call of Duty releases on this generation of consoles.

Black Ops 6’s campaign begins shortly after the events of Black Ops Cold War, with the covert operations team being interrogated about a botched attempt to capture someone alive. It has plenty of story twists and discoveries, but what really stands out is the excellent blend of gameplay over the course of six hours. There are many typical run-and-gun missions, as well as several stealth missions. These missions are excellent since they provide various paths to your goal. The mission going place at the Senator’s rally is an excellent illustration. You need to photograph a senator’s eyes, and how you do it is up to you. You may approach the senator’s wife or a suspected mobster.

Another variation on an open-zone mission involves being dumped into a huge desert and entrusted with eliminating three objectives. Side missions can be found throughout the mission, unlocking weapons and equipment. I was able to secure an airstrike from one side activity, allowing me to eliminate my final target without ever approaching it, which was quite fulfilling. Black Ops 6 also includes some of the sci-fi, mind-bending missions from earlier games, resulting in a campaign that offers something fresh practically every mission.

The multiplayer mode feels like a refinement rather than a revolution, but it’s still a lot of fun. Some of the more sophisticated unlock systems seen in Modern Warfare II and III have been removed, resulting in a more typical leveling system. There are numerous weaponry at the start, with more to come in future updates, providing a wide range of gameplay options and a seemingly limitless supply of skins to grind for. The leveling process feels a little slow at first, both for your overall level and for each weapon’s particular level, making unlocking new weapons a touch tedious at times.

The omnimovement concept is the highlight of the game, allowing players to sprint and move in any direction. You can turn entirely prone and spin in the air while diving. It appears to be a crazy system at first, yet it feels natural while playing, more like an extension of standard Call of Duty than a novelty. It also contributes to the characteristic that distinguishes this series: speed. You are continuously in combat and can nearly instantaneously respawn in most game modes, removing as much downtime as possible from the experience, something few other shooters can match.

The map choices at launch is quite diverse, with an emphasis on creating even smaller maps than usual. Recently, there appears to be a concentration on larger maps, while Black Ops 6 opts for smaller arenas, increasing gameplay speed even further. The only true problem in the map selection right away is a lack of iconic spaces, since none of the maps have the distinct vibe that has made other maps, such as Nuketown, legendary. At launch, the spawns are also somewhat rough, with more than a few instances where I appear straight in front of an attacker and vice versa.

While there are numerous weapon camos to grind for, customisation feels a little sparse at launch, particularly for your operators. Each operator may only unlock one or two skins, and it appears that the same handful of characters roam each map. A large part of this is that microtransactions aren’t yet available, though it would have been wonderful to have more operators that can be unlocked through gameplay.

Zombies make a triumphant comeback in Black Ops 6, focusing solely on round-based gameplay. It plays similarly to Black Ops Cold War in many aspects, yet the tweaks throughout make it seem unique. It’s more difficult than Cold War right away, requiring a little more skill and elegance to advance to the next rounds. Instead of gaining simple upgrades to perks and skills, you can acquire a variety of augments, allowing you to equip two of each perk, ammo mod, and skill, providing some customisation. Melee weapons have also been moved to their own slot, allowing you to carry two guns and a melee weapon while still packing a punch and upgrading your melee.

The maps, Liberty Falls and Terminus, are the highlights of Zombies. Both levels are meticulously created for round-based zombies, with loads of traps, easter eggs, and detail that make them feel unique, similar to how zombie maps felt in previous Black Ops games. Liberty Falls is the smaller and easier of the two, set in a tiny American town. Terminus is set on a military station on a small island, with numerous levels and even smaller surrounding islands to discover. Both include entertaining easter eggs that strike a balance between being enjoyable puzzles and not necessitating the use of extensive spreadsheets.

Leveling weapons with the pack-a-punch and arsenal improvements is still enjoyable, with each enhancement feeling immediately powerful. There are also other subtle, pleasant touches. Gobble Gums have returned, providing tremendous short boosts, and you are frequently rewarded with them simply for playing zombies. If you prefer a more vintage feel, you can disable damage numbers and zombie health bars on the HUD. One area where Black Ops 6 feels like a step back in zombies is the addition of armor plates rather than just armor. The difference is minimal, with having to put new plates in on a regular basis rather than picking up fresh armor on occasion, but it feels considerably more tiresome without providing anything useful in return.

Black Ops 6 feels like one of the most polished Call of Duty packages released in recent years, with a roller coaster campaign that has far more variety than you’d expect, a good multiplayer experience that focuses on speed, and a zombies mode that feels like a well-balanced blend of what people enjoy about both old and new zombies modes. While it isn’t flawless, it’s fantastic and well worth investing some time if any of the three modes appeal to you.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 89%

Controls: 90%

Aesthetics: 88%

Content: 85%

Accessibility: 84%

Value: 86%

Overall: 87%

ACTION-PACKED!

Summary:

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” escalates the stakes with fast-paced action, better controls, and an engaging plot that keeps players on edge. The gameplay remains quick and exciting, with plenty of variety across modes and finely planned courses. The controls are responsive, keeping the series’ high quality, while the revamped graphics and strong sound design add to the dramatic experience. Though it does not reinvent the wheel, the content includes enough new levels, weapons, and multiplayer modes to keep things interesting and new. A must-play for both devoted fans and FPS enthusiasts!