This year, as punctual as a Swiss watch, we’re preparing to dive into a new chapter of Call of Duty! Yet, in 2024, a lot has changed for Treyarch and Activision. I’m referring to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, an event that sparked numerous discussions, especially from Sony, which expressed concerns about this move from the Redmond giant. Jim Ryan, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, previously claimed that this acquisition posed a threat to the entire gaming industry and gamers alike. However, Microsoft achieved its goal: the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard was completed despite the challenges, and Phil Spencer, head of Xbox’s gaming division, announced that Call of Duty will also be available on PlayStation platforms. The only exclusivity for Microsoft is tied to the Xbox Game Pass, which will allow players to download future instalments of the franchise through a subscription model. With that in mind, this year, the development helm has primarily shifted to Treyarch, a well-known name in the industry, which previously developed Call of Duty Cold War. This year, however, the company has decided to embark on a new direction with Call of Duty Black Ops 6, released on October 25, 2024, for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. With a lot of promises and a Beta that surely attracted players, did they manage to deliver a chapter that meets expectations? We’re here to tell you all about it in this review, where we’ll analyse every aspect, particularly the campaign, the zombie mode, and multiplayer. Enjoy your reading!
Call of Duty Black Ops 6: an amazing campaign!
We know that the campaign of Modern Warfare 3 didn’t rank among the best in the series; on the contrary, it has a shorter duration compared to other instalments and presents rather mundane situations, with a conclusion that stands out for its poor quality. However, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 comes with one of the most captivating campaigns ever, and I’m here to explain why. The game is set two years after the events in Panama, with Raul Menendez as the main antagonist. This iteration is connected to Call of Duty Black Ops 2, where some aspects are clarified. Although the Cold War has ended, global threats remain. After being sidelined, Woods, Adler, and the new protagonists, including Troy Marshall, Jane Harrow, and Case (the character we’ll be playing), must operate independently outside the CIA to face an imminent threat: the Pantheon unit, an international paramilitary terrorist organization that was once a top-secret division of the CIA, disbanded due to its biological weapons program. The objective of this organization is clear: to develop a biological weapon that could establish the United States of America as the dominant world power. In summary, these are the foundations of the plot, which appear intriguing.
After completing the first mission, we find ourselves at our operational base, suggested by Adler, who was initially in CIA custody and identified as a traitor, only to later reveal himself as our ally. At this operational base, we will have the chance to create 3 squads, useful for developing our character’s abilities. The skills in question are similar to the perks found in the game’s multiplayer mode, but they differ in the effects they provide. For example, one perk allows us to carry three armoured plates instead of just one. There are many options available, including the ability to purchase weapon skins, suggesting that the development team aimed to provide content for those who focus solely on multiplayer or the zombie mode, neglecting the campaign. Additionally, at the operational base, we’ll find various puzzles to solve, an unexpected element I never imagined encountering in a shooter like Call of Duty. Lastly, we will also have several dialogue options that will help us better understand some aspects of the plot.
When discussing the missions, it’s important to highlight that each one has its own unique identity. For instance, in one mission, we need to destroy missiles; here, we’ll not only have access to an extensive arsenal, but also a map that brings the gameplay closer to the sandbox genre, offering various paths to take and points of interest to explore. At the end of this mission, I was particularly impressed because in the next one, we received additional support from a stealth bomber and a helicopter, allowing us to eliminate enemies with a fixed machine gun, accompanied by a metal soundtrack. This is just one example; I could mention others, but one mission in particular left me with a mix of admiration and concern. In this latter mission, we need to adopt a more stealthy approach, gathering information and acting based on our moral choices, as the decisions we make hold crucial importance. Although the stealth mission is well-executed, I would have preferred the option to open fire freely, as players accustomed to various Call of Duty titles might not appreciate this innovation, finding it forced, even though the overall experience remains very enjoyable. Therefore, I can affirm with certainty that the campaign of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is one of the best ever. Additionally, character development remains top-notch, thanks to an Italian dubbing that lives up to expectations and doesn’t pale in comparison to the original from Treyarch’s production.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6: a convincing multiplayer
After discussing how the campaign works, it’s time to examine the multiplayer aspect of the game developed by Treyarch. Having already had the chance to try the Beta at its release, I can confidently say I have a good understanding of the game; however, there have been significant changes compared to the final version. Firstly, the first thing you notice is the customization menu for our gear, known as the Gunsmith. Here, we will have the option to create up to 10 classes, based on individual player preferences. Black Ops 6 offers a wide range of gear, starting from weapons, which include assault rifles, pistols, launchers, submachine guns, snipers, and more. Additionally, we will have our tactical and lethal gear, allowing us to choose from grenades, semtex, flashbangs, and similar items. It’s worth noting that Black Ops 6 brings back the Wildcards, though under a new name, which will provide players with significant advantages during matches, such as the ability to carry more grenades or having a primary weapon in the secondary slot. Moreover, there will also be Specialties, categorized into three groups, distinguishable by colour. Thus, it seems all of the strengths of the Black Ops series are present, along with some new features. Specifically, concerning the aforementioned specialities, there have been substantial changes: they will no longer be divided by numbers 1, 2, and 3, but will be organized into the three available slots. By merging all three specialities into one category, players can benefit from unique perks, representing one of the most interesting innovations in the series. Also, in Call of Duty Black Ops 6, weapons can be modified, but this time, unlike in previous instalments, this option has been greatly simplified, especially for those less familiar with the production, allowing them to build their own setups without too much trouble.
Regarding the multiplayer game design, there are some interesting new features to consider. First of all, it’s important to highlight the introduction of Omnimovement in Treyarch’s production, an element we’ve already discussed in previous articles about the Open Beta of the first-person shooter. However, there have been some significant updates. This new mechanic allows players to move quickly left, right, backwards, and forward, providing more comprehensive control of the battlefield in all directions. It’s not just about sprinting, but also about sliding and ground movement, the latter option proving particularly useful for gameplay. In summary, Omnimovement proves effective and, for those using a gamepad, there won’t be too much disparity compared to PC, thanks to the balance achieved by the development team regarding aim assist, a topic that has inspired debates, but in Black Ops 6 seems to be leaning towards resolution. Regarding gunplay, I was impressed by the pleasantness of the game, attributed to the arcade touch of the title. Handling a rifle and shooting feels extremely rewarding and immersive. Each kill is felt tangibly, contributing to a general satisfaction, even in terms of balance, as almost all weapons seem equivalently matched.
Although the multiplayer component of the title has some negative aspects, it’s important to analyse them in detail. Firstly, I harshly criticize the introduction regarding footstep sounds. It references a spatial audio technology called Embody, allowing players to perceive enemy footsteps more clearly. So far, nothing strange, except for the fact that this feature will only be accessible for a fee, costing 19.99 euros. This decision by Treyarch and Activision could have been avoided, as despite the sound design being excellently executed by the development team, one wonders why users should incur additional expenses beyond the full purchase of the game? This choice, as implied by my words, has been very unappreciated and could have easily been avoided. Another ongoing issue concerns a bug that prevents the swapping of certain attachments, despite indicating that some cannot be used in that mode; unfortunately, it wasn’t clear which attachments were excluded, and it would have been preferable to have an icon clearly indicating the inability to equip certain attachments on that weapon. Regarding the level design of the multiplayer maps, I liked them, even if they don’t deviate much from previous instalments of the franchise, still offering interesting solutions for players. The game modes are similar, with a few new additions, but nothing particularly memorable; I fear we’ll have to wait several months before seeing significant new features, but who knows. That said, the multiplayer, despite the above-mentioned issues, is satisfying and convincing. Now let’s discuss one of the modes most appreciated by veterans of the Black Ops brand, namely Zombie.
Finally, the Zombie mode we wanted
Since its release, Call of Duty Cold War introduced the Zombie mode, which, although it had some interesting premises, failed to replicate the mechanics from previous instalments of the series. With the arrival of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, a completely revamped version was presented, set in the Warzone map. However, although the mode was fun, after a few hours of gameplay it became overly repetitive and clearly resembled a knock off of DMZ, the extraction mode of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, designed to compete with titles like Escape From Tarkov. With Black Ops 6, however, we see a true return to the roots. Regarding content, the Zombie mode offers two maps: Liberty Falls, larger, and Terminus, more compact, both with their own identity, a positive aspect of the mode. Additionally, distinctive elements like Gobblegums return, providing perks to enhance player abilities. There will also be mechanics beloved by fans, including the ability to activate the famous Easter eggs.
Additionally, it is possible to activate various traps located on the map, allowing players to use them against the undead. Certain requirements will be in place to perform certain actions, but we won’t spoil anything to keep the surprise. As expected, random weapons will also be available this time; alongside the already known ones, the classic Ray-gun, known in Italian as the pistola a raggi, will definitely be recognized and sought after by the most passionate fans of the franchise, thanks to its destructive power. In summary, we can say that the Zombie mode seems to have received the most attention, as it serves as a love letter to nostalgic players, while keeping an eye on the present, which is undoubtedly great news for fans!
Before I conclude and deliver the final verdict, I want to discuss the game’s graphical performance . The PC setup we used has an RTX 4070 and an i5-13600K. Naturally, being an NVIDIA graphics card, we immediately activated Frame Generation, available exclusively for owners of 4000 series GPUs, along with DLSS and other upscalers. Regarding AMD FSR 3, this proved quite effective, offering a very stable and high frame rate. However, it should be noted that the game does not reach the performance of DLSS, which, with an optimized performance preset, delivers outstanding visual quality, with frame rates exceeding 200 fps at 2K resolution. In Full HD, using this option, it’s even possible to approach 300 fps, guaranteeing a truly exceptional visual experience. In recent days, many users have reported input lag when activating the aforementioned upscalers; however, in my experience, I encountered no such issues. In short, on PC, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is a pleasure to play, and with such a setup, you won’t have problems running it, but even older builds shouldn’t face issues. As for the engine, it’s the same one used in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, but it still looks very impressive in 2024, presenting itself beautifully without many issues.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 stands out as one of the most remarkable instalments released in recent years. Treyarch has done an extraordinary job on Call of Duty Black Ops 6, delivering a campaign that, although not without flaws, exceeds the average duration of previous episodes, particularly that of Modern Warfare 3, which was rather forgettable. The multiplayer, the true highlight of the production, proves engaging and offers numerous customization options, complemented by captivating gameplay, thanks to the introduction of Omnimovement. The game design integrates perfectly with the level design of the various maps included in the title. Furthermore, the Zombie mode serves as a tribute to long-time fans of the series, providing two maps and nearly limitless longevity, with the welcome return of Gobblegums and other items. Honestly, this year, Call of Duty has achieved great success, not just because of the aforementioned qualities but also because the new chapter has been launched on Xbox Game Pass, providing a great opportunity for those wishing to dive into the game by investing only the cost of the subscription to Microsoft’s service. In conclusion, with immense satisfaction, I can say that we are witnessing one of the best chapters in the series in recent years, hoping that from now on Activision and its development teams continue along this path.