Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Review A Dumpster Fire or a Return to Glory
The latest installment in the juggernaut franchise is released, and to say the community is divided would be putting it mildly. Black Ops 7 has shaken things up and confused many, making a clear distinction between players. Is this what we defined as the classic experience we craved, or is it the worst Call of Duty game of all time. Let's dissect every mode to find out.
The Campaign A Critically Panned Piece of Failure
Putting it mildly again, the Black Ops 7 campaign is being called by many one of the worst, if not the worst, in the entire franchise's history. For a mode that apparently consumed lots of development time, the end product managed to become shockingly low-rent.
Clocking a pitiful 4 to 5 hours, the story is one muddy fiasco involving a super-billionaire group called "The Guild," fear toxins, and missions in which you team up with zombies. The story just does not meet the grittiness and engaging feel that Black Ops fans have come to expect.
I can confidently say that it is one of, if not the worst Call of Duty campaign I've ever played in my life. I give it a 3 out of 10.
Probably the most damning sin would be the sloppiness of level design. A lot of these campaign missions were set in maps for multiplayer and Warzone, such as Hijacked, and with little change, they are seemingly lifted. In comparison to the greats, wherein multiplayer maps were inspired by campaign levels, this feels like a vomit of content without even the faintest whiff of creativity. And then, on top of that, the co-op focus means this campaign requires an online connection at all times, and you can even be kicked from your single-player session when a server update occurs.
If you are the type of person that cares about campaigns, do not bother. Don't buy it if you're looking for a good story.
Multiplayer A Deeply Divided Experience
Multiplayer is what Call of Duty is all about, and probably Black Ops 7 is the most debated. It feels at times to be either a return to form or a lazy, unpolished downloadable content for Black Ops 6.
Good A Nod to the Golden Era
For many, more than just the core gameplay offers a breath of fresh air. Gunplay, movement, and general aiming all feel silky smooth and incredibly responsive. The series standard feel seems better than ever. Major changes contributing to that "classic" feel are:
- No Disbanding Lobbies: You could actually stay with the same group of players match after match, creating rivalries and a sense of community.
- Toned-Down Aim Assist: The nerfing of rotational aim assist puts more skill into the gunfights.
- Deep Customization: The game boasts an extensive list of camos including animated throwbacks from Black Ops 2 such as Bacon and Afterlife, all of which can be earned by grinding; the nostalgic long-term fans will take this to the bank.
- Better Maps: The level design is deemed better generally, in contrast to the last few games emphasizing the classic three-lane style.
The Bad Unpolished and Uninspired
Yet with what is good, the rush seems apparent. Many have described it as "Black Ops 6.5," which hasn't done it any favors in being considered a full-priced DLC instead of a whole new game. Technical problems abound from constant frame-rate stutters, bad sound design rendering weapons as sounding tiny and hollow, and accusations of lazy use of AI art for posters and in-game textures.
A widely criticized design choice was to include huge, floating health bars over the heads of enemies, which many felt broke immersion and screamed mobile game.
The Ugly The Controversy of Matchmaking
Matchmaking is probably one of the most dolorous controversies in this game. There are only two main playlists for the game: "Open", which we hear has almost zero skill-based matchmaking, and "Standard", which houses the aggressive SBMM found in recent years. The false advertising of these two playlists has been shunned by the community, arguing that "Standard" is nothing but a cleverly worded trap designed for the more casual players manipulated by the matchmaking system. Players are encouraged to abstain completely from the "Standard" playlist in order to convey a powerful message.
Zombies The All-Consuming Savior
There's one mode that nearly everyone can unanimously agree is Zombies. It is arguably the most fun, polished, and balanced component in the entire package. The return of the Classic Survival mode is immense, and the new wave-based map, "The Ashes of the Damned", is a blast to play.
The core loop of surviving rounds, earning money, and upgrading your gear feels as addictive as ever. The risk-versus-reward mechanic of exfiltrating after a certain number of waves adds a great layer of tension. For many, Zombies is the best it's been in years, but whether it's enough to justify a $70 price tag is a personal decision.
Pros
- Extremely smooth and responsive gunplay.
- Zombies mode is well-designed and a lot of fun.
- Non-disbanding lobbies are back.
- Massive selection of classic and new camos to grind for.
- Shared progression across all modes.
- An "Open" playlist with reduced SBMM.
Cons
- Campaign was incredibly short, poorly organized.
- It feels like a full-price, somewhat rushed DLC of the previous game.
- "Matchmaking" system are that mislead one.
- Heavy frame drops and poor sound design are also on the list of the technical problems.
- Campaign always needs a constant online connection.
- Freaking annoying UI stuff like floating health bars.
The Final Verdict
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is indeed an extreme game. The campaign is disastrous and multiplayer is just a flawed experience that might not even be appreciated or enjoyed to the fullest by the most dedicated fans wanting of that past era. But Zombies is a bona fide home run contender.
Who this is for: For you as a hardcore Zombies player or a multiplayer veteran with cravings for non-disbanding lobbies and the grind like that of Black Ops 2, this will be blissful enjoyment.
Who should skip it: Save the money if you're just a campaign player, bored with the core Call of Duty formula, or looking for a well-polished, innovative shooter.
PC version tested
