Call of Duty is back and better than ever.
Black Ops 6 is the biggest game of the year, and it plays the part. Call of Duty is back and better than ever, with polish in every mode. Campaign, multiplayer and Zombies are each fully fleshed out, and any of them could stand alone as best in class. It also landed day one on Game Pass, so there’s no upfront purchase standing between you and the action.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review: Call of Duty Is Back and Better Than EverWant to play it? Check the price on Amazon (also on PS5) or see every option in Where to buy.
Story
We’ll keep this spoiler-free, because there are major beats in Black Ops 6 that have to be experienced firsthand. It kicks off with a gripping start and draws you into a complex, creative narrative that explores anger, resentment and vengeance. It looks like it’s going to be just another military tale, but it isn’t. There are twists you won’t see coming, and they’re so well done. Buckle up.
The missions are dynamic and varied, the game is great at building suspense, and each mission feeds a cohesive story. The pacing is perfect, with well-timed breathers in a dense story, and it never feels like it’s dragging. It’s like a greatest-hits collection of story missions, and the final mission is a standout that blends stunning visuals with powerful storytelling. It isn’t a short campaign, either, especially if you take on every side mission. It’s the most entertaining and gripping Call of Duty campaign since the original Modern Warfare.
Between missions, the safe house brings in unexpected RPG elements. Money you find on missions feeds safe house and character upgrades, and it’s one of the most interesting safe houses in gaming. It’s packed with extra story beats and background details you’ll miss if you don’t explore, but it’s completely optional. Dive in as much as you want, or skip straight to the next mission. It’s a genius approach that works for multiplayer-first players and story fans alike.
Gameplay
The headline feature was Omnimovement, and it has exceeded all expectations. You get unprecedented mobility while keeping complete control. Diving and sliding around corners feels fluid and precise, never chaotic, like starring in a playable action scene, a bit like Max Payne, without the action ever slowing down. The controls are finely tuned, aiming is intuitive, and pulling the trigger is more satisfying than ever.
In multiplayer, time to kill is perfected, so you’re never unloading excessive bullets into opponents. The modes are familiar and fun, the maps each offer something unique, and the classic Nuketown came back just a week after launch, as exciting as ever. Round-based Zombies returns too, nostalgic yet refreshing and as fun as it’s ever been, especially with friends or family. The gameplay is the best it’s ever been, and it’s hard to imagine another Call of Duty without Omnimovement. It’s a game-changer every first-person shooter should adopt.
Visuals
The visuals are stunning, from cinematics and animation to intricately detailed environments, dynamic lighting and atmospheric smoke, dust and fog. Helicopter rotors kick dust off the ground, wood splinters when you shoot through walls, and toxic gas disorients you convincingly. Each chapter has its own visual identity, from the wide-open deserts of Iraq to a lavish casino interior. Explosions are so intense you can almost feel them, and cutscenes look super realistic without falling into the uncanny valley. There are a few rough spots: character mannerisms in cutscenes sometimes lack fluidity, the area outside the safe house feels static, and small polish issues show, like a character stirring stew with no liquid on the spoon. Still, Black Ops 6 sets a new visual bar for the series.
Sound
The sound design is nothing short of phenomenal. The voice acting is exceptional, the music amps up the intense boss battles, and everything from rustling leaves to thunderous explosions is meticulously crafted. Directional audio is the highlight, letting you pinpoint footsteps and gunshots with crazy accuracy. You could practically navigate with your eyes closed and still find an enemy. The sound team deserves immense praise.
Verdict
Black Ops 6 seamlessly blends a gripping story, stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. Activision and Treyarch have earned the hype, and it delivers something special for longtime fans and newcomers alike. It’s an unforgettable entry and an incredible debut for Call of Duty as a flagship Xbox IP.
Image: Treyarch / Raven Software / Activision
More on OnPoint: Modern Warfare 4 Week One: Activision Says Cheating Reports Are Down From Last Year’s Launch and Halo and Gears Still Rule Xbox: What MW4’s Launch Numbers Really Say.
The verdict: Amazing
Call of Duty is back and better than ever.
Pros
- Omnimovement is a game-changer
- Gripping, twist-filled campaign with perfect pacing
- An optional safe house packed with RPG elements and story
- Perfected time to kill and great maps, plus round-based Zombies
- Phenomenal, pinpoint-accurate audio
Cons
- Stiff character mannerisms in some cutscenes
- The world outside the safe house feels static
- Minor polish issues
Platform played: Xbox
Where to buy
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