Fariha Bhatti 
Treyarch has delivered solid hits in the Call of Duty franchise, but nothing groundbreaking; that has changed with Black Ops 6 which may go down as a series-defining classic.
When a game spends four years in development, it’s bound to raise expectations for fans. As Treyarch’s most time-intensive project to date, fans wondered what the studio could possibly do differently with Black Ops 6 to justify such a lengthy development cycle. After all, almost all CoD titles share tons of similarities, to an extent where a non-fan may not even be able to tell the difference between Black Ops 1 and Modern Warfare 3.
In all honesty, it’s tricky to pinpoint a single reason why Black Ops 6 is so addicting. Perhaps it’s the new gunplay that packs a punch, the new movements style, or the new perk system that allows customizing an Operator into a specialized class. Either way, Treyarch has struck gold with the game.
The Good:
- Unrestricted mobility due to Omnimovement
- Fluid gunplay
The Bad:
- Most maps clash with modes
- Lack of new modes
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PC
- Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Official Release Date: October 25, 2024
Black Ops 6 multiplayer makes for a near-perfect CoD game, save for some maps
Black Ops 6 is the perfect shooter for fans of the Call of Duty formula. At times, the gameplay may feel too familiar for a seasoned CoD player, but that’s not necessarily a flaw since Black Ops 6 is the most unique entry among recent CoD releases.
Black Ops 6 boasts 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and four Strike maps for 2v2 or 6v6 play. It also adds 12 new weapons and customization options, like moving the mini-map or removing HUD elements. The global weapons system lets players save and import loadouts across all modes, while the progression system allows players to level up and reach Prestige over 10 times, offering rewards for a serious time commitment.
It’s safe to say Treyarch has put in plenty of time to make Black Ops 6 feel new, and it does, to a large extent.
That’s largely thanks to Omnimovement, which allows hardcore players to take their trick shots to a new level. With Omnimovement, you can dive and sprint in any direction without missing a beat or facing away. Surprisingly, bullet accuracy while Omnimoving is quite accurate, making it a great tactic when you’re low on health and need to escape quickly.
With the new Omnimovement, it’s easier than ever to chain kills together and be crowned the MVP on the map’s end screen, which is pretty cool.
Most weapons will be familiar to Modern Warfare 3 players, but they feel slightly better. With the right attachments, the default XM4 outperforms the AK47 on most maps. Each weapon packs a punch, offering a satisfying feel with every shot, and the customization options let players adjust them to their playstyle. On the surface, the gunplay might not seem much different, but after a few hours, players will start to notice the difference and feel just how fluid and responsive the mechanics are.
Besides Omnimovement, the new addition of specialty to the perk system is one of the game’s standout features. Those seasoned enough to know what they want from a game can now pick a class by sticking to the same colored perks. For example, Recon players can unlock a wallhack-like specialty that reveals enemy locations. This allows players to quickly get kitted out and hit the server.
How an operator converts strategy into kills and how the game itself supports achieving that is certainly one of the best parts about Black Ops 6, but cracks start to appear beyond the gunplay.
First and foremost, Black Ops 6 doesn’t have enough new game modes, leaving veteran players hurting for variety. The game has incredible playability, but since it’s so hard to put Black Ops 6 down, at one point, you begin to notice the repetition.
Kill Order is a new mode, and it feels incredibly refreshing when teaming up with randoms to protect an HTV, who often walks straight into enemy fire. In the HTV’s defense, with all the chaos, it’s easy to forget who the target is. It’s best played in a full lobby, which limits its enjoyability at a casual level, but the mode is fun and fast-paced. Unfortunately, it’s the only new mode in Black Ops 6.
In Kill Confirmed, players score by collecting dog tags from fallen enemies while preventing opponents from collecting teammates’ tags. However, on a map like Extraction, collecting tags can be a hassle, especially when enemies camp on the tower, forcing players to climb up to confirm each kill. Lowtown only feels good in Hardpoint as it’s too large for other game modes.
Ultimately, these are all just nitpicks for one facet of the game. Black Ops 6 has truly nailed the shooting mechanics, which is the heart of a shooter game.
The Bottom Line: Black Ops 6 is the perfect CoD game if players can look past some incongruity between content and game modes.
Score: 9/10
