Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Review - Not Saved By The Bell

Developer Treyarch is back with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the latest entry in the Black Ops series; which is a personal favorite since the first Black Ops game debuted in 2010. I was excited to see all the elements that make a Black Ops game return but overall this entry falls short in surpassing its predecessor solely due to it’s multiplayer, which is a shame as this shooter comes out in the same window as the next generation of consoles from two major companies.

To be fair, it’s hard to top 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, as that entry expands the possibility of what Call of Duty is capable of in the future with maps hosting large-scale battles, display next-gen visuals, and improve the overall feel of the gunplay. In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the only thing that stood out was the campaign. Everything else felt as if Treyarch went for the safe approach.

In between missions, you can get more context about the characters in a safe house which serves as a hub.

Operatives, assemble

Set in the 1980s, the campaign’s story was your typical CIA operation that involves a manhunt for a guy named Perseus. Hiis capture requires a specialized team of individuals to execute operations under the radar. Enter familiar faces like Frank Woods, Alex Mason, Jason Hudson, a set of new characters and a new protagonist codenamed Bell, a custom agent that you play as during most of your time in the campaign..

On paper, the story is pretty standard stuff. But what makes it a fun 5-8 hour campaign was how certain segments were delivered. The segments that don’t involve action set pieces or gunfights are time spent talking to these cast of characters, look around your surroundings, and once the bullets stop flying - make hard decisions that could alter or change the outcome of the operation. These may look like basic features for other genres but seeing it on a shooter like Call of Duty added a lot more weight and some fun thinking instead of the numb feeling from previous Call of Duty campaigns that mostly involves you following the objective icon and shooting whatever moves. 

A couple of side missions that show so much potential for a more fleshed out campaign.

That’s why I like the Black Ops series, and Cold War reminded me as to why I prefer this series over others. It felt like the elements found in this campaign is proof that a lengthy single player Call of Duty experience is possible. I was told to look out for clues or other documents that would help decipher a computer decryption, or give accurate intel to improve a side mission’s success. Decide to either silence a target or bring him in for questioning. Poison my target or frame him before I'm exposed in a spy mission. All of this, wrapped in a crazy plot that only fits the Black Ops brand, makes it one of the better FPS campaigns found in a Call of Duty game. 

This is also where the visuals and audio really stood out as we have missions with stealth elements that make every bit of sound important, and visuals details and displayed perfectly for the player to have a clue as to where to go. Then, the unrealistic but entertaining action bits that make the game a treat for the eyes and ears, especially those that appreciate a good war movie, or a psychedelic trip with how they present and transition to each scene. 

Strike first. Strike fast. No mercy.

The usual run and gun

Outside the campaign, sadly, is your regular scheduled programming. Multiplayer has nothing unique and drastically different going for it. It works and it’s fun thanks to the quick gunplay Call of Duty is best known for but it’s a hard sell for those that are already coming on a high with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare from last year. Even if you played just the Black Ops titles, it feels like a step down since previous Black Ops games had interesting changes due to the futuristic setting. We do have a return to form here in terms of theme and style but there’s nothing standing out here that would justify jumping onto the next train, so to speak. 

At launch, the game released with 12 maps; two of which only features the new FireTeam game mode, with three maps having a larger variant to cater to the Combined Arms game mode that has a higher player count of 24. 

Speaking of FireTeam, it’s the latest game mode added in and is a 4-team focused game mode in a large scale map where you are tasked to do certain objectives. It’s an interesting addition that sadly doesn’t feel it won't have much lasting power, even though it’s structured to play similar to Call of Duty’s Warzone, the series’ take on the Battle Royale genre. 

The maps available this time around is a decent roster that can keep the standard 6v6 Call of Duty game modes healthy and not repetitive, as each one is set in different locales to make each area look distinct. Thanks to playing Call of Duty for years, I can see a similar formula being implemented in designing maps and it’s good to see them catering to all types of play styles while thinking about other game modes because Cold War has a lot of them. And since there’s a lot of passageways with quick player spawns that make 6v6 look like a warzone of 30, flanking is always a danger which fuels the fast-paced gameplay even more, making it feel like you are in full throttle the moment the match begins. 

Goodbye Pick 10 system as the loadout is now similar to previous games with a crazy twist thanks to Wildcards.

Scorestreaks replace killstreaks this time and the loadout system, the equipment and guns you can bring in a match, remains similar but with a slight change with the inclusion of Wildcards - a special customization that bends the rules in what’s possible with your loadout. With the right Wildcard equipped you can do stuff like add an additional perk in each perk slot or equip any type of weapon on your secondary slot, or add more attachments in your weapons to create a menacing primary gun. A great addition as it adds room for experimentation. 

But overall, what Multiplayer made me feel was how Call of Duty as a whole can find itself trapped in its own web of stagnation - nothing changing each year other than the theme. Modern Warfare was a step up and is a blueprint to the future, while Cold War is a repeat of the past.

Balancing issues currently plague Multiplayer as some weapons are too good than others, overshadowing the use of many to a point where you will see the usual gun being used by other players. Talking about you, MP5. 

But Treyarch is on the ball as there have been a series of balancing tweaks released since launch, but it currently feels like it’s going to take awhile for this multiplayer to hit it’s sweet spot, especially when they start adding new content. 

Of course, Zombies remains crazy and over the top.

Well-equipped for the undead

Then, last but not least, we got Zombies. The last major game mode that completes the Call of Duty Black Ops package. Sadly, it’s expected to have only one Zombies map available at launch but there’s good things happening in this version of the co-op survival game mode. 

In previous Zombies maps, it was first and foremost a survival mode; seeing how many waves your team can survive in a single match, but with secrets tucked away nicely in the map area that unlocks new areas, perks, and encounters if interacting with the right objects in a specific way. There’s even an overall story that attaches all Zombie maps together into a crazy supernatural tale which only avid Zombies players are familiar with. 

This time around, it’s more user friendly as the first map, called Die Maschine, sets up nicely to establish what's possible to survive this zombie invasion. How to turn the power on and have access to upgrades was usually a mystery in old Zombies maps, leaving a good majority of players not utilizing the many features that make these co-op games fun for the select few. 

Zombies is still best played with friends as one player will be the host of a Zombies match, which can sometimes present lag issues thanks to let’s say, a scenario where a player in the Philippines joins a game with a host based in the US. You can fend the undead solo if you wish, which can be fun and a good challenge for some. 

I had fun with Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, especially with the campaign. Zombies remain great and is now easier to swallow, but multiplayer - being the main selling point for a Call of Duty game - is the weakest link in the package. With a strong entry last year, and numerous online games now available that are viable alternatives, Treyarch’s approach in multiplayer this year didn’t sell a good enough case to invest more time on it in the coming months. Time will tell how the first season will go, but the initial burst of content out the gate could fall flat, making some look elsewhere to satisfy that FPS multiplayer itch.

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7/10

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Highlights

(+) Great campaign that reminds me as to why I love the Black Ops series

(+) Zombies remain fun and is easier for newcomers to get into the game mode and play with others 

(+) Gunplay remains fast-paced and addicting in multiplayer

(-) Balancing issues in multiplayer as well as lag issues due to player hosting in Zombies, can be a problem

(+/-) A multiplayer experience that didn’t change all too much if you compare previous entries in the franchise

What I’ve Played

• Reached rank 55 in multiplayer, resulting in more than 10 hours of playtime 

• Finished the campaign in Hardened difficulty

• Survived 30 rounds of Zombies alone, 15 with a group

• Tried Dead Ops Arcade a couple of times

[This review is based on a PC review code provided by Activision.]

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