REVIEW – The COD franchise is back, and Black Ops 6 lands as one of the boldest installments in recent years, with a massive launch for Game Pass players. While it doesn’t hit every mark, it manages to recapture the golden days of COD, standing strong as one of the most impressive entries the series has seen so far.

 

The holy grail of Activision’s franchise has finally arrived—a game that COD fans have eagerly awaited, one that could mend the disappointment left by the last Modern Warfare III. This isn’t just a casual nod to the roots of the series; it’s a mandate. With the merging of multiplayer, campaign, and zombies, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 aimed to become the biggest and most comprehensive entry in the franchise. Whether it achieved this or not is what we’re here to dissect.

It’s one of Microsoft’s most anticipated releases this year—positioned, alongside Indiana Jones, to be a driving force for Game Pass. Personally, I’d say it hit the target, as this game alone has kept me subscribing so I can jump back in every week for the kind of multiplayer experience that feels unparalleled at every level. It’s worth starting this review on that high note because, honestly, it’s the one area where the game truly brings back the original COD magic.

 

 

Cold War, Late ’80s, Bill Clinton, Dirty CIA Ops – The Story Hits the Mark Again

 

But let’s kick things off with what really got me into Call of Duty Black Ops 6: the campaign. Since Modern Warfare, campaigns have set the perfect tone for seeing how each new installment evolves before diving into everything else. After the nonsensical, jumpy plot of the last entry, COD fans hoped Black Ops 6 would offer a complete turnaround.

When it does, with a seamless blend of gunfire and jaw-dropping action sequences, the campaign takes us back a decade, screaming in our faces: “COD is back!” all while hard rock blares in the background. It’s another testament that, while this FPS style may be divisive, for those who love it—those of us who wait year after year for the next wild escapade—these firefights, explosions, and cinematic sequences are music to our ears.

The issue? Activision spent a little too much time listening to those who’ve never truly been COD fans. Social media is littered with complaints about the “same old game” every year, and despite COD’s unique standing in gaming—a true rara avis, built with relentless energy and passion—some corporate bigwig in a suit decided COD needed a broader appeal. The result? Sometimes the COD experience feels a bit diluted in this entry.

 

 

Zombies Mode Delivers, but It’s Less Inspired

 

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 brings its zombie mode with a Warzone-like twist that, while less intrusive, is still noticeable. With tighter maps, enjoyable Easter eggs leading to boss fights on both included maps, and the return of round-based play, it’s a nostalgic treat that still leaves a slightly bittersweet taste.

Meeting up with friends to push for high rounds while unraveling each map’s hidden mysteries remains an absolute blast. Surprisingly, the formula still works wonders, with a well-balanced difficulty curve that even makes solo play a tense experience. Zombies and supernatural creatures hemming you into corridors give a constant sense of dread—this mode’s perfection lies in its simplicity.

However, it’s hard not to notice that some ideas recycled from Warzone lack the same level of creativity we’re used to. The end result is a mix where the true essence of zombies—facing unpredictable, detail-rich maps—feels too diluted to inspire applause.

Take Liberty Falls, for instance—it’s miles from the originality and rebellious spirit we’ve seen in classics like Mob of the Dead, which whisked us to a secret-filled Alcatraz, or Shadows of Evil, where exploring a massive city even required a train. Or Buried, which took us back to a Wild West town hidden deep in a cave.

 

 

Size Doesn’t Matter, It’s All About Personality

 

In zombie modes, size has never been the focus. It’s about personality and that exhilarating feeling of stepping into a world that’s all about immersing you in something unique and transporting you somewhere unexpected. In this world, zombies are not only central characters—they’re catalysts for creating immersive atmospheres and unique stories.

To put it plainly, gameplay design here hits the usual quality mark, but the visual style and creativity pale in comparison to what Treyarch and Raven are capable of on their best days. Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and when it comes to multiplayer, I have to tip my hat to those who’ve spent the year pushing the game to its limits. Leveling from prestige to prestige, completing challenges, and unlocking every last Calling Card—it’s the closest the franchise has come to Black Ops 2 in the past decade.

The return to three-lane maps is a game-changer, setting traps that lead to epic battles, countering campers, and creating incredible combat situations. Bringing back concepts like bonus cards to further customize your class is pure joy. The challenge-driven setup that pushes you to unlock everything—be it calling cards or prestige—is all the incentive you need to keep playing for months.

 

 

A New Movement Technique: 360-Degree Mobility

 

It’s no secret that Black Ops 6 multiplayer is a centerpiece for many, and while it’s rated as positively as you’d expect for a franchise of this caliber, there are still some divisive features. First up: the new 360-degree movement system.

COD has long been torn between two camps: fans of the slower, semi-realistic pacing of the early games, and those who love complex, skill-enhancing movement techniques. On paper, the new movement sounds great—it’s less extreme than jetpacks or zero-gravity gameplay but adds enough depth to give pros more to work with. In a nutshell, you can now sprint, slide, and dive in any direction, full 360-degree freedom.

This system breaks down barriers, granting players full freedom to aim even while lying on the ground. It’s a compromise for both simple and advanced playstyles, but understandably, some players aren’t thrilled, as it means opponents can come at you unpredictably while sliding and shooting.

 

 

Too Fast-Paced? The Menus Can Tone It Down

 

In most cases, the pace is blazing fast. Black Ops 6 has several default settings that make the action intense right from the start. For instance, one setting allows the sprint momentum to carry over after certain moves, like sliding—which sometimes feels a bit artificial. Thankfully, you can turn these settings off in the menus in a few minutes, but it’s worth knowing they’re on by default.

The pace is also heightened by smaller starting maps—12 standard 6v6 maps and 4 assault maps that can also be played 2v2—which can feel cramped for today’s movement abilities. We’re curious to see how future expansions fit in (Nuketown is confirmed for November 1), but it’s not hard to find comments online from players who say these movement abilities need more space.

Beyond the action, Black Ops 6 introduces a few “small but mighty” features, like the debut of Hunt Order mode, where both teams have a VIP to simultaneously attack and defend. COD fans may not find this groundbreaking, but it’s a great addition to the playlist. A returning favorite also makes an appearance: the extreme version of prestige mode.

Now, you’ve got 1,000 prestige ranks to grind through, which will undoubtedly take hours, but the first ten reset almost everything except weapon levels, and you need tokens to keep one crucial unlock for the next round. The cosmetic rewards are top-notch: you get some flashy decor next to your name and even medals from past games in the series.

 

 

Launch Technical Hiccups, but Patches Are on the Way

 

For this review, we played the Xbox Series X version provided by Microsoft Hungary. Overall, we’re satisfied, as Activision has fine-tuned this engine, but there are a few areas that could use improvement. Some issues are standard fare for a big online launch, but a few performance-related problems stand out.

Early buyers of Black Ops 6 may have noticed frequent connectivity issues—annoying but expected for a new online game. It’s especially frustrating, though, when a connection issue boots you to the main menu in the middle of the campaign. Likewise, the Call of Duty app can be finicky, and there’s always that hope it doesn’t crash while selecting modes or joining matchmaking.

We hope early patches will address these, but it’s not the smoothest start for a triple-A title. Performance-wise, Black Ops 6 generally hits the mark (similar to previous entries), and 60+ FPS is achievable even on mid-range rigs. However, resolution scaling isn’t optimal right out of the box.

While features like DLSS, FSR 3, and XeSS would be great if they worked perfectly, they don’t; it’s often more efficient to run the game at native resolution for minimal gains. This is likely a bug that’ll be fixed, but keep it in mind, especially if you’re relying on these settings for stable frame rates.

 

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Shines When It Matters Most

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 doesn’t have the chilling disappointment of its predecessor, but it does leave a slightly bittersweet aftertaste. While it dominates in multiplayer with innovative, quality content that could be GOTY-worthy in its category, the loss of identity is noticeable. Thankfully, when it sets experimentation aside, its three highly enjoyable modes—especially the essential multiplayer—shine brightly.

The campaign brings great moments despite pacing issues, and zombies mode steps up with new Easter eggs and mysteries to uncover. Meanwhile, the redesigned movement in multiplayer, drawing on past successes, lays a solid foundation for getting lost in the world of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for the long haul. I know I’ll be diving back into zombies and multiplayer for a while yet.

 

 

The Best Multiplayer in Over a Decade

 

The return to COD’s roots in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 isn’t perfect, but where it succeeds, it’s a masterpiece you won’t want to put down. The campaign’s pacing stumbles at times, but it’s still a spectacle, and while zombies mode is fun, it’s less inspired than past installments. The real crown jewel here is multiplayer—not only flawless but taking us back to a time when Call of Duty was the undisputed king of the genre.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector-

---

---

 

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch
Style: FPS
Release: October 20, 2024.