Review: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

The first time I hopped into the Black Ops 6 beta, I was hooked. So much so that when it ended, Modern Warfare 3 just couldn’t cut it for me anymore.

So, now that Black Ops 6 is finally out in the world, I no longer have to look outside the window on a rainy day in the hopes of getting back that magnificent Omnimovement. Even though the bar was already set high, Black Ops 6 still exceeded my expectations, making me understand why I became a Call of Duty fan in the first place. It’s brought back the only thing I ever want in video games: fun. Just pure entertainment with a touch of ragequits here and there.

Image via Activision

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S [Reviewed], PC)

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software, Beenox, High Moon Studios, Activision Shanghai, Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, Demonware

Publisher: Activision

Released: October 25, 2024

MSRP: $69.99

Black Ops 6, like most Call of Duty entries, comes in three layers: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Although the campaigns don’t normally get the spotlight, I still immensely enjoyed this aspect. Transporting us to the hip ’90s, every step in this narrative is rich with history, featuring easily recognizable figures like Bill Clinton. I always appreciate when games incorporate a bit of history, providing a unique learning experience.

The timeline takes place after the events of Black Ops Cold War, bringing back key characters like Frank Woods and Russell Adler. You’ll primarily play as the new hotshot, Case, a man of few words. The team’s goal is to investigate the Pantheon, a paramilitary force with the power to instill fear with their governmental conspiracies. They’ll turn everyone against you and your team, and it’s up to you to get some justice. 

Image via Activision

You’ll switch back and forth between the safe house and the mission, setting up your strategies first and then carrying out the plan after. Most quests also have the choice to go guns blazing, like most CoD entries, or play it out without making a sound. I would say it’s a mixture of Grand Theft Auto 5’s team-based heists and Metal Gear Solid’s Tactical Espionage. It’s something different for the Call of Duty world for sure, and it adds more replayability with the many ways it can be played. 

The story itself isn’t the most monumental, especially in comparison to the original Black Ops’ thrilling narrative. Nevertheless, its cinematics and brutal takedowns will make you feel like you’re some action hero in a movie. The kitchen fight, especially, got my heart pumping, ending with an enemy’s head getting boiled up in a fryer. The character and environmental visuals make it even better in light of how realistic they truly are. Sometimes, I would forget it was a video game just because of how true to life the characters looked. 

CoD’s multiplayer has finally reached its peak

Considering that Black Ops 6’s Campaign only lasts for five to six hours, the real stars of the show are Multiplayer and Zombies. Since BO6’s release, I’ve spent hours on end in both modes, and I can’t get enough. Despite my initial hesitation about the ’90s-inspired weapons (I can’t help it. I like my modern stuff, okay?), I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the available weaponry. Wielding each gun feels much more smooth than my time in Modern Warfare 3. Combining it with Omnimovement furthers it’s easy to move mechanics, and it’s quite possibly become my favorite FPS gameplay because of it. 

Since it’s so smooth to play, I feel like everyone’s been on their A game, bringing out those “sweat lobbies” that almost every shooter player has experienced. The maps, in particular, add to the challenge, primarily the small-sized Face Off locations. Skyline, Derelict, and Warhead are my top picks, with their unique points of interest. There are so many hidden spots you can use on these maps, giving you more opportunities for those surprise enemy attacks. What’s more, Nuketown has rolled out for the game’s post-launch, which will likely be my next favorite on the list. It’s already brought a sense of nostalgia to see this beloved map return, stemming from the classic Call of Duty: Black Ops.

I would still like to see more maps in the future since there isn’t too much variety in BO6’s locations. Plus, there are some that I dread playing, like Vorkuta and Stakeout. They aren’t the most fun to play, given how easy it is for other players to target you (it could just be a skill issue on my end, though). The spawn traps have also become a problem; some have used this tactic to farm kills at an annoying rate.

In some cases, I’ve noticed that the TTK (Time to Kill) isn’t the greatest. On the one hand, I feel like the CoD goat with the many instant eliminations. Then, other times, I feel like I don’t deserve to be called an FPS player at all the longer it takes to bring the enemy down. However, as more updates roll out, it’s slowly getting more balanced with TTKs.  

Classic Zombies is back and better than ever

Now that we’ve dug into Multiplayer and the Campaign, it’s time to talk about my most treasured feature of Black Ops 6: Zombies mode. I’ve been an undead lover ever since I picked up the magical stuff in Origins, and I’m so happy that BO6 is bringing more content like this back. While I did like the open-world vibes of Modern Warfare 3: Zombies, playing Black Ops 6 made me realize how much I missed Treyarch’s take on it. 

The classic round-based levels return in BO6, raising the mode’s challenge the more you push through. Currently, only two maps are available: Liberty Falls and Terminus. I know there was some hesitation amongst the players with Liberty Falls, mainly due to its previous bright appearance and smaller size. Regardless of this, I found the map to be much more inviting than the massive Terminus. Sometimes, I don’t want to overstrain myself, primarily at the beginning of a game, so it was nice to get a feel for it initially. Furthermore, Treyarch darkened the look and feel of Liberty Falls to incorporate Zombies’ iconic doom and gloom feel. 

Terminus excels in this approach with all the darkness that shrouds this enormous map. Two storylines are also unfolding here, one with a zombie outbreak in Liberty Falls and the other involving a prison escape (zombies are still there, of course) in Terminus. Both maps connect together, centering around the rag-tag team Mackenzie “Mac” Carver, Maya Aguinaldo, Grigori Weaver, Oskar Strauss, Dr. Elizabeth Grey, and Stoney “Raptor One” Maddox. Carver has to be one of my favorite Operators due to his hilarious one-liners. I like anyone who references SpongeBob SquarePants, and that’s exactly what he does. 

Image via Activision

But what I truly love is the myriad of Easter eggs that can take you on some of the wildest adventures. Even though there are only two maps, there are so many opportunities for you to explore. The Main Quests are one of the most elaborate missions I’ve encountered. Similar to previous Black Ops’ Zombies modes, there are not really any instructions for them, letting the CoD community band together to solve them.

A lot of hard work goes into crafting Wonder Weapons, such as the Jet Gun and Beamsmasher, which are essential tools for the Main Quests. You’ll use them to defeat the most formidable creatures out there, and there’s nothing more satisfying than the rewards and triumphs you gain afterward. 

On top of the main storyline, you can have some fun with the Side Quests. I couldn’t believe how many Easter eggs Treyarch’s packed in, from zombie disco bowling to a treasure hunt riddled with cursed coins. Its brought out concepts I would’ve never imagined in an undead world, but I love being along for the ride. 

So, if you’ve been missing the classic Zombies, Black Ops 6 is where it’s at. You’ll get lost in all of its Easter Eggs, which will undoubtedly expand with more updates. Multiplayer will continue to grow, too, whether it be with new maps or quality-of-life improvements. 

Black Ops 6 proves that the Call of Duty series is here to stay, and hopefully, it’ll get even better from here on out. 

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