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0 It’s that time of year again when the latest Call of Duty game gets released. When all the gamers out there get overly excited and pick it up. This year falls on Treyarch, well actually Treyarch, Raven Software, Beenox, High Moon Studios, Activision Shanghai, Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, and Demonware. Bringing to life the latest in the Black Ops lineage, with Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty is a Spy Thriller?
With this, the first Call of Duty game being released on day one via Xbox Game Pass. Meaning there are potentially more eyes on the game than ever before. We need to find out whether this latest version of the world-famous franchise is up to scratch.
Gameplay
I won’t start this section and treat you like you know nothing about the game. Let’s face it, if you are unaware of Call of Duty, then where have you been living? This is back to Black Ops, back to the gritty 90’s themes, back to Woods. Albeit a little less able.
Black Ops 6 features the same trio of modes you expect from CoD. Campaign, Multiplayer, and a return to round-based Zombies! Let’s take a look at each one individually and see what we think.
Campaign
Set in the early 90’s, Black Ops 6 treats us to a storyline straight out of a spy thriller novel. The story sees us at the end of the Cold War and the start of the USA’s rise as a single superpower. You take control of Case, an operative with very little to say, but a lot to do. It includes the typical high octane levels, where you have to shoot your way out. Albeit there are a few sneaky moments, these will see you attend a gala posing as a journalist. Although it eventually does go to pot and you are left to shoot your way out. Well, you have to “The Great Escape” It!
At the end of each level, you head back to your safehouse. Where you can explore and upgrade the place, or even just find out more from each of the characters involved. I’m purposefully not mentioning any character names to now give any indication of the storyline. The story in Black Ops 6 will see you travel all over the globe, taking part in dynamic gameplay moments that are both exciting and leave you breathless.
Once you get to a certain point in the story, you are given a large open world-esque type level. This will see you planning large-scale attacks on missile launchers, these are both a lot of fun as well as frustrating. Driving around in the jeep, just make sure you grab an ammo refill before you head into any battle. Trust me!
Multiplayer
The bread and butter of Black Ops 6 is the multiplayer mode. Coming in with 16 brand new maps from day one. This includes 12 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps. Bringing a great variety of maps and modes. However, one glaring omission from the map list was anything on the big scale. With all maps being medium and below there isn’t really a lot for those gamers that like to snipe. Having spent a decent amount of time playing Call of Duty over the years, I was very interested in seeing how the new Omnimovement system worked. Intended to give you the most fluid movement of any Call of Duty game, Omnimovement allows you to chain combat manoeuvres wherever you want to move. Whether that’s hurdling through the windows, or mantling over a wall. Chain them together to be the best.
The game modes in multiplayer are always a talking point. Out are some popular choices, such as Cyber Attack, but in is something new; Kill Order. This is a brand new game mode in Black Ops 6. Encouraging team work, you are to eliminate the enemy High Value Target, all while trying to defend yours. It sees players work in tight-knit circles, as opposed to the hellish free-for-all that deathmatch often turns into.
With a great selection of weapons that you can choose from, you just need to find something that works for you. Then playing through you unlock modifications and attachments making your weapon a one-of-a-kind killing machine.
Zombies
Round-based zombies are back! HURRAAAHHH. Black Ops 6 has two brand new zombie maps, Terminus and Liberty Falls. One is set in a nice little town, and the other is on a horrific island where unspeakable things have happened. Whichever you choose, they feel like home. A great return to the zombies of old.
Scattered through the levels are weapons for you to buy, as well as Perk-A-Colas to find. Giving you abilities such as reloading faster, or even being able to withstand more attacks from zombies. Find them all if you are brave enough, or just pick a Gobblegum and get them the easy way. Introduced back in Black Ops 3, these little jaw-breakers each give unique effects to the players. From spawning one of each power up to making it so your next weapon out of the mystery box is pack-a-punched. They allow for some great laughs, aim to get the Gobblegum that caused the zombies to have wind. Yep, trumping zombies.
On top of the above, you are going to find ammo mods that you can attach to your guns. Giving you a percentage chance of dealing a special effect to a hit. Just use some of that salvage you’ve collected and buy buy buy.
In another first time for a Call of Duty game, you can now save your Solo match. As long as you are healthy and still breathing, you can hit save and carry on at a later date. Pretty neat huh!
Graphics & Audio
Visibly Black Ops 6 is stunning. Playing on PC with all the settings as high as possible was incredible. Even in the fast-paced environment of multiplayer. The environments and character models were exquisite. I am excited to see all the new skins that get released for the game throughout the next however many Battle Passes.
During the campaign you are giving so many epic “Michael Bay” moments that are stunning to watch, I mean look at the fire below. It’s awesome!
From an audio point of view, the voice acting is brilliant. The actors involved gave a great showing with the passion and enjoyment easy to believe. Gunshots are accurate and all the sound effects that you come to know and love from CoD games are all there. Believable, harrowing, visceral.
Longevity
With the Black Ops 6 campaign coming in at around 8 hours long. It isn’t the longest, with that being Black Ops 4, but what it does offer is great variety. That 8 hours is also assuming that you probably just rush through things, and hit none of the side quests. Especially in the open world levels, this can eat your time if you like to take things slowly. It does feel just about right for a story of this magnitude.
What Call of Duty does offer is endless fun when you look at the game as a whole. With Multiplayer giving a return to the classic prestige system, and zombies returning with rounds. I expect that you will clock up many many hours playing this game. Until the next one comes out that is.
Final Thoughts
So how do we summarise Black Ops 6? With a tense and exciting campaign, going alongside the always frantic multiplayer. With a sprinkle of zombies for good measure. All in all, it’s a great addition to the Call of Duty franchise. Giving fans of the series something new as well as newcomers being welcomed in with a comprehensive experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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