by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
At this point, reviewing the latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise is a tad daunting. Getting a good grasp for the multiplayer alone takes quite a few hours. The campaign, while sporting the array new and improved mechanics, deserves its own spotlight because it has a completely different tone, pace, and objective. And zombies, forgive the pun, is a whole beast of its own. Then you must consider, what exactly are the parameters that the game should be measured on? Do you compare it to its predecessors or its contemporaries? What is more valuable, innovation or consistency? And, perhaps most importantly, is even the best Call of Duty worth the staggering $70 that modern AAA titles go for in 2024? Well, I have given the game plenty of hours and even more thought, so I finally feel comfortable wading into this debate.
Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 brings the shooter back to the early ‘90s. The single player sees the return of a handful of fan favorite characters as they wade through dangerous waters rife with espionage, betrayal, and bombastic battles. Admittedly, the campaign often feels like an afterthought in this franchise. This makes sense, given that the studio can’t endlessly monetize the campaign with weapon skins and trinkets. An unfortunate truth that perfectly sums up many issues plaguing the modern gaming landscape. Despite that fact, this game’s addition to the single player saga manages to shine. The plotting is fast-paced and offers a fair number of unexpected twists, the set pieces are momentous and innovative, and the introduction of more flexibility to the missions is a step in the right direction for the franchise. The new perspective isn’t “open world” by any means, but it does allow the player to have far more agency when solving problems. This isn’t the first time the player has had the option to choose between a stealth op and a shootout, but this is by far the most fleshed out the mechanic has been yet. If you have enjoyed a Call of Duty campaign, or any movie by Michael Bay, in the past, this will certainly evoke some nostalgic emotions.
The meat of the franchise tends to be found in the multiplayer. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, my emotions are quite complicated. Is this the best Call of Duty in the past decade? I wouldn’t go that far, but it certainly cracks the top four or five. The main wrinkle added to this game is the “omni-movement” system, which allows players to slide, dive, and dodge to their heart’s desire. This, coupled with the abnormally close-quarters map pool, blends to make some of the highest paced gameplay to date. This is one of those things that you are either going to love or hate. Some people prefer their shooters to be more grounded and tactical, creating a more authentic simulation of war, and others need this nonstop action to get their heart racing and mind battling to outthink their opponent with split-second decision making. Black Ops 6 falls far more in the direction of the latter.
The main issue here, though, is the lack of innovation. The new movement is cool, but certainly not the most radical change the franchise has seen. And the fact that the developers are forced to allow their game to meld with the visual style and gameplay of Warzone is clearly stifling creativity. This is by far the most unique release from the franchise in recent memory, but it still would look nearly identical to the uninformed observer. Sure, the game manages to take the best parts of previous iterations and add a slight flair to entice the audience, but the creative limitations imposed by the Call of Duty title continue to impose barriers and limitations.
This sentiment maps perfectly onto my thoughts for zombies. Is it a slight return to form? Undeniably. The franchise has returned to the traditional round-based approach, leaving many fans confused as to why they made the change to begin with. It’s hard to deny that the venture was a failure. However, at least they tried something new and challenged the formula. The fact that the two new zombies maps would fit perfectly into Black Ops 2, a game released over 12 years ago, is great for nostalgia, but debilitatingly bleak for the pursuit of originality. It is very likely that this title will succeed due to that fact. Black Ops 6 feels like the game you played 12 years ago during your formative years with the friends you thought you would have forever. But it’s also the kind of nostalgia that makes you realize that people grow up for a reason. The tooth-rotting sugar that motivated you through middle school is not what you need to get you through your day as an adult. A modern audience deserves something fresh and passionate, not a cold and calculated formula built in a lab with the sole intention of fabricating nostalgia.
Or at least, that is what the rational side of my brain screams every I boot the game up. The side of me that is just trying to spend an hour shooting a fake gun while I listen to an audiobook is far more appreciative of Treyarch’s work. The term is a bit of a cliché at this point, but it is undeniably mindless fun.
Now, I am by no means saying that this is worth $70 unless you eat, sleep, and breathe this series. I think there are far better games out at the moment that can scratch that itch. The best selling point for this game is that it is pretty good and free on Xbox Game Pass. If you like this genre and happen to have Microsoft’s subscription service, it is certainly worth a download. My advice for the average gamer is to pick up the new Call of Duty every three to five years. That way, the games actually feel a bit different, and you aren’t completely burnt out. I hope that one day they manage to break this predictable cycle, but I am cynical given that their current model is a hugely dependable money-printer.
Rating: Liked It
You can read more from Jack Grimme, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd