After a four-year wait, Treyarch has returned with the latest installment in the Call of Duty series: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This new title arrives amidst a spectrum of reactions. While the gameplay stands out as exceptional, the overall content and map design fall short of what could have been a stellar addition to the franchise.
It’s been a while since a Call of Duty game really astonished me; the last title to accomplish this was Call of Duty: Cold War. Before that, I had to overlook Black Ops 3 and Infinite Warfare, which I helped beta test, as well as Advanced Warfare. Black Ops 6 nearly captures the essence of what I cherish about the series after so many years. However, aside from the exhilarating gameplay and movement, it struggles with other components.
The feeling in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is spot on. Its Omnimovement system presents the most refined movement style found in a Call of Duty game since the jetpack days I miss dearly. It strikes an ideal balance between traditional boots-on-the-ground movement and old jetpack mechanics. Players can sprint and navigate in any direction without hindrance. If you wish to sprint sideways or retreat, you can effortlessly do so without any drawbacks.
Diving and sliding also offer 360-degree maneuverability, allowing you to fire your weapon seamlessly in any direction. This feature is incredibly user-friendly, despite a slight learning curve. Once you adapt, it’s challenging to revert to older game styles from titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard or MW3. The thrill of sliding around corners, dropping prone, and executing quick 180-degree turns to engage opponents is endlessly satisfying.
Moreover, the weapons in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are fantastic, a consistent strength of Treyarch. Whether you’re a fan of assault rifles or SMGs, you’ll find an arsenal that caters to your playstyle. While assault rifles currently dominate, primarily due to map design, I enjoyed weapons like the AMES AR and the swift AK-74u-like KSV SMG. When combined with the remarkable Omnimovement, this title delivers one of the best experiences in years.
However, the excellence in gameplay only magnifies the shortcomings found in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, notably concerning the maps. Unfortunately, the maps released with this game may rank among the least impressive ever. None of the multiplayer maps shine as particularly memorable. While some, such as Skyline, Vault, and Payback, offer decent designs, they ultimately fade into obscurity when compared to the iconic maps in the franchise, especially given their diminutive sizes.
Take, for example, the Skyline map, which boasts a visually stunning penthouse backdrop. Unfortunately, its layout lacks coherence, making it feel awkward and disorganized. This becomes particularly evident in game types like Search & Destroy, where bomb placements can feel poorly conceived. Such issues are unfortunately common, even in the best of the available maps.
In contrast to previous installments that introduced standout maps like Berlin, Bocage, Hotel, and Rio, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 falls short, lacking any map to rival these beloved designs. This deficiency also extends to other game modes, including Zombies. While it’s nice to see a return to classic Zombies gameplay, both Terminus and Liberty Falls feel a bit uninspired. They outperform the multiplayer maps but still face challenges, largely due to the unwanted integration of Warzone mechanics into the Zombies experience, which doesn’t fit well.
The single-player campaign in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 performs somewhat better than its multiplayer and Zombies counterparts. The narrative is one of the more engaging in recent years, featuring a variety of missions ranging from classic heists to action-packed wartime sequences. The graphics are impressive, and fan-favorite characters like Woods make a return. While the story may not break new ground, this campaign definitely feels more complete and engaging compared to the preceding titles.
Ultimately, it is this overarching lack of compelling content, paired with some disappointing additions, that significantly holds back Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. With a more expansive range of maps and content, this could have easily ranked as one of the top four games in the series. Nevertheless, the outstanding gameplay still offers enjoyment, making it worth recommending to others. The allure of the Omnimovement system is particularly enticing, and I hope it becomes a staple in all future titles that don’t feature jetpacks. The exhilarating experience of BO6 keeps me engaged, as I look forward to Treyarch introducing worthy content to enhance the game.
You can currently enjoy Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Images Credit: Siliconera.com
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