Raven’s Bold Challenge

Since Black Ops 2, the Call of Duty campaigns have lost significance, with stories growing shorter and less engaging. Titles like “Infinite Warfare” and ”Advanced Warfare” struggled to capture players’ attention. The situation worsened with the latest Modern Warfare entries, plagued by mandatory online connections, fragmented stories (especially in the third installment), and massive downloads exceeding 200 GB. In this challenging scenario, Raven Software delivers a remarkable narrative effort. While not without flaws, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 breathes new life into the series’ classic structure with refreshing surprises.

A Clever, Complex Spy Thriller

The Black Ops 6 campaign places players in the role of Case, a CIA agent under Marshall’s command. Case teams up with allies like Russell Adler, Frank Woods, and intriguing new characters to thwart a conspiracy far larger than it initially appears. The plot spans diverse, captivating locations, mixing intense action with gameplay variety.

One standout mission unfolds during the Desert Storm operation in Iraq. While the story flows smoothly overall, some unclear sections leave unresolved questions, likely to be addressed in future installments.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Black Ops 6 feels solid and polished. Shooting mechanics excel, with weapons offering distinct handling. Assault rifles differ noticeably, shotguns finally pack a punch, and light machine guns feel more practical.

Cover mechanics also improve; aiming near walls triggers automatic leaning, simplifying challenging encounters, particularly on higher difficulties. This feature, though subtle, significantly enhances gameplay.

The new Omnimovement system, hyped during its reveal, provides realistic and fluid character motion. Players can perform evasive moves, slide rapidly, and aim freely while prone. However, the inability to lean sideways limits stealth strategies in certain missions. This system, while helpful, meets but doesn’t exceed expectations for modern FPS standards.

Enemies wield advanced offensive and support tools, but players gain access to a robust arsenal early on. A tactical backpack allows quick selection of tools like RC explosives, flashbangs, fragmentation grenades, throwing knives, and C4, alongside support strikes like helicopter attacks. These tools prove invaluable and require precise, strategic use.

Some encounters feature durable enemies with health bars, introducing mini-boss challenges. These foes, armed with heavy weapons and traps, test players’ skills. For the first time in the series, puzzles appear, ranging from enjoyable tasks like lockpicking to frustrating challenges like fingerprint decoding and math puzzles in the final stages.

Desert Storm: A Campaign Highlight

About 40% into the campaign, players tackle one of the most engaging missions. Working with a SAS operative, the mission involves eliminating three targets within a complex housing the primary objective. A tactical map and a jeep allow free exploration of marked locations, revealing equipment and tools vital for progression. This mission avoids monotony and invites replayability due to its quality.

A Frustrating Setback

One of the campaign’s weakest moments occurs in the secret laboratory mission midway through. This section, inspired by the “Zombies” and “Control” modes, overwhelms players with unbalanced enemies. The objective involves exploring four wings to retrieve keys while battling exceptionally strong and fast bosses. This level’s difficulty frustrates, despite its impressive design and architecture, due to repetitive and exhausting gameplay.

Russell Adler Shines

Recent Call of Duty entries lacked memorable characters, aside from veterans like Captain Price and Ghost. Black Ops 6 introduces Russell Adler, an enigmatic agent with unconventional problem-solving methods. Adler’s commanding presence and sharp, ambiguous dialogue often overshadow the rest of the cast, elevating the narrative with his standout performance.

Conclusion

Black Ops 6 delivers on its promises with an engaging campaign and noteworthy innovations, though some missteps detract from the experience. While not the best entry in the series, it features a strong cast, excellent performances, and solid gameplay mechanics.

We played it on Xbox Series S

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Action

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 delivers a compelling spy thriller with polished gameplay, standout missions, and engaging characters like Russell Adler. While some frustrating moments and missed innovations hold it back, it successfully blends nostalgia and fresh ideas, making it a solid entry in the series.”

Activision October 25, 2024