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Although “Call of Duty” seems like a monolithic franchise, it actually contains different eras and subseries. The first games focused on World War II, where the series was established. He became a gaming phenomenon when he moved to “Modern Warfare” and starred in characters like Captain John Price and Soap MacTavish.
“Call of Duty” has other iterations in between, but possibly the most beloved line is “Black Ops.” It’s the subseries, in which Treyarch established itself as the lead developer for a franchise that Infinity Ward started. It also set the standard for the robust multiplayer experience fans have come to expect.
With “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War”, Treyarch and Raven Software return to the world of espionage. Set in the 1980s, it follows a new character named Bell, who is part of a special unit that hunts down an infamous Russian spy named Perseus. The operation has been responsible for major incidents in the Cold War and its resurgence alarms the intelligence community.
Over 17 chapters containing 12 playable missions, players embark on a global campaign to stop Perseus’ plans to obtain a nuclear weapon. Though Bell is the star, “Black Ops Cold War” shifts perspectives to fan-favorite characters like Alex Mason and newer cast members like Russian double agent Dimitri Belikov.
The change gives players a mix of familiar racing and gun missions, while also introducing a more stealth-oriented gameplay filled with swashbuckling tactics. These chapters not only provide a necessary change of pace from shootings and explosions, but also broaden the diversity of experiences.
“Black Ops Cold War” has a surprising amount of puzzle and exploration elements involved as Bell and the team led by Russ Adler infiltrate Berlin and Moscow in search of clues about Perseus. The stealth component allows them to explore a detailed world that contains amusements such as playable arcade machines and secret collectibles called “evidence”, which are used for both side missions.
These pieces of information deepen the story for careful explorers and also get the player involved in the campaign. Linking evidence to side quests and valuable content is a much better way to scatter collectibles in the game. It feels more organic and rewarding as the developers weave the subseries trademark puzzles into the core area.
“Black Ops Cold War” borrows much of the paranoia and misdirection from the original and tries to incorporate it into the new entry. This obvious intention makes the plot more predictable. It’s like knowing the story of a M. Night Shyamalan movie because you’ve seen his other movies. Players can see the big reveals from a mile away.
In the campaign, some options are important, and how players react will have implications for the ending they get. While the stealthiest moments, puzzles, and major action pieces are to be appreciated, the single-player mode is held back by a plot that feels like a remake of past games.
On the multiplayer side, “Black Ops Cold War” is more successful. It’s packed with many modes and formats that will suit a wide range of tastes. If players want to stick with what is familiar, they can start a playlist with eight sets of competitive rules. They’ll compete on everything from the trusty Team Deathmatch to the familiar Kill Confirmed.
One of the biggest updates to competitive multiplayer is the change to scoring streaks. Now, if the players die, they keep the prize points. This opens up the game for players who may not be as skilled or die often. It allows them to draw on tidal turning power-ups for their team and feel like they’re contributing to a victory. It’s a great move that opens up this part of the game to more people. It also adds an interesting strategic element as players can save the rewards for crucial moments in a match or they can use it almost as a comeback mechanic when paired with other teammates.
If the competitive scene isn’t your thing, “Blacks Ops Cold War” has a Zombie mode. In the normal offering, a squad of four tries to hold out as long as possible against a relentless horde of the undead. Teamwork is essential as the squad ventures across the map and uncovers the secrets behind the cracks these monsters generate. It’s a fun experience as long as you have reliable teammates.
“Black Ops Cold War” also offers a smaller Zombie mode called Onslaught. This is where a team of two battle the undead across a map and follow an orb that grants a safe zone amid the necrotic miasma.
At the opposite extreme, Fireteam is a new mode for the multiplayer roster. It’s a great experience for 40 players pitting 10 teams of four against each other. It has the open world feel of a battle royale game, but with objective-based missions. With vehicles at hand and a huge area to explore, Fireteam has the feel of a “battlefield” game, but the experience is too chaotic and the developers don’t teach players much about the feature.
The last mode is Warzone, but it will be released later. The popular Battle Royale mode will undoubtedly be the biggest draw in the ever-changing realm of multiplayer. At this point, the multiplayer mode prevails. However, with so many game options, players will find something to suit them, although developers will need to add more maps and content to prevent this part of the game from becoming obsolete.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Three stars
Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, PC
Rating: Mature
