Review

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Over the past couple of years Treyarch crafted the definitive version of Call of Duty. And although Sledgehammer made a valiant first effort with Advanced Warfare, Treyarch made is abundantly clear that they aren’t about to give up the CoD crown…

Black Ops 3 starts off in the distant future of 2065, after the events of previous title. You and your partner Jacob Hendricks are on a mission in Ethiopia to save a VIP from a terrorist organization, the NRC. Things seem to be taking a turn for the worse until a team of cybernetically enhanced soldiers drop in to save the day. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get everyone out unscathed; you’re critically wounded by an enemy robot while trying to escape. Fast forward five years later, and you’re sporting the newest enhancements in a brought-back-to-life, Robocop sort of way. Jumping back into active duty, you and Hendricks are sent to investigate an ex CIA site that’s gone dark.  Here you stumble upon a grizzly sight – one that forces you to ask difficult questions about those who once fought beside you.

Black Ops 3’s campaign begins with that first, tragic mission before flowing into a set of tutorial missions. This is done rather than using the usual obstacle course we’ve come to expect in order to familiarize ourselves with our new enhancements. It’s the first many changes to the normal formula that feels fresh in comparison. The missions, for example, no longer follow a set path, going from load screen to mission and back again. Instead, you return to a safe house after each mission that’s fitted with weapon racks and computer terminals. Here you can customize your loadouts, change outfits, and upgrade abilities/unlock weapons using XP gained from completed levels. There’s even a section to place trophies collected out in the field.

Speaking of being in the field, the campaign was made for cooperative play. Levels take place in large open areas, offering slightly different paths to whatever the objective are at the time. Enemies can attack from almost everywhere and usually travel in large groups. It isn’t outright overwhelming to go at it solo, but getting flanked by the enemy is an ongoing occurrence. Special abilities obtained via your cybernetics lend a hand in more ways than one. By themselves, each of these elements doesn’t seem that great. However, when combined, they offer up a thrilling experience. The larger levels mean you aren’t stuck following your comrades through each environment. Depending on your loadout, you’ll be able to better strategize on the fly. Having the ability to wall run and double jump could pose useful if you spot an out of the way tower or window overlooking the battlefield. If you so happen to be carrying a sniper rifle, you’ll be all the better. Being able to stun, disable, or outright control enemies is a few button presses away; hacking a mech-like enemy and turning it on your foes is immensely satisfying. Doing all this with three friends is the definition of a good time!

One of the mainstays of the CoD series is the big set piece moments. Black Ops 3 doesn’t have too many of them as Treyarch seemed to be focused on the immediate action players experience while play. All and all though, the campaign is a fun romp – I epically liked the way the story went from normal to surreal as I got closer to the end. Interesting enough, things aren’t over once the credits roll. Completing the campaign will unlock a Nightmare campaign featuring an alternate plot and zombie mode inspired elements (weapon pickups, the presence of zombies, etc.). It offers a different kind of challenge, extending the time before players inevitability move to the completive multiplayer.

Once you do choose to hop into the competitive side of things, you’ll notice some changes here as well. First thing of note is the addition of specialists, a light take on classes. While things like weapon choices, movement speed, jump height and such are the same between all specialists, each one has two special abilities or weapons to choose from. The specialist abilities and weapons are earned like scorestreaks except that you’ll gain access to them no matter what; getting kills and completing objectives speeds up their availability. These extra skills range from movement altering enchantments and flamethrowers to virtual clones and explosive tipped arrows. Each of which provides a distinct advantage for brief portions of a match, making even the worse player feel powerful at times.

A current trend in Call of Duty titles is the developer’s push for more balanced weapons. Blops 3 is no exception. While there are obviously guns that tend to be stronger (looking at you M8A7 and VMP) most are still competitive and there isn’t a clear cut winner like before. Treyarch also did a great job of making a variety of large and small maps that aren’t too expansive or small…ok, so Nuke Town gets a pass. The map design shines more when we take into account the improved mobility. Double jumps and wall running feels natural here thanks to strategically places scenery. That said, it isn’t as “speedy” as in Advanced Warfare. The jumps are floatier and the wall running lasts longer, making key movements more deliberate. It feels less hectic is what I’m getting at.

Last but not least is the notorious Zombies mode. As fun as this mode is, the mysterious story has enough to keep me interested. Shadows of Evil (zombie’s mode) takes place in the fictional city of Morg in the early 1940s. It features four new characters, all of which have troubled pasts.  Jessica intended to become a star in motion pictures but was caught in an affair with a film producer. In order to keep the news from getting out she invites the photographer to her hotel to murder him. Vincent, a crooked cop who’s comes under fire by the mayor, has to resort to violence to keep people quite. Campbell, an out of practice boxer chooses to wear brass knuckles under his gloves to take out a rival. You can image how that plays out. And lastly a magician named Nero whose popularity is dwindling and debt is starting to pile up thanks to his wife. So he sets up an “accident” in order to collect his wife’s insurance money. All of them end up in the same burlesque club before being put to sleep. Afterwards they wake up in Morg city after it’s been overran by zombies. It’s like the film Saw but on another level.

Trying to figure out what’s going on amidst the zombie killing is quite fun. The normal elements – buying weapons, unlocking doors, surviving waves of enemies – are still intact. There are some differences though. While in zombies you have your standard power ups there are new perk options in the gumball machine. These power ups are chosen before a match just like you’d do a normal load out. That way, even though the gumballs are random, you’ll know what to expect. You can also choose what weapons will be on the walls during your matches. Continuous play will unlock more weapons and gumballs, further changing how one approaches the zombie horde. Then there is the ability to turn into a monster at alters scatter across the city. The purpose of becoming a monster seems to be to reach certain areas of the map using it’s tentacles like Spider-man. The monster’s ultimate use is part of the mystery.

Treyarch has proved once again that they are the kings of Call of Duty, holding this title ever since the Black Ops series of games started. Even before then, Treyarch always seem to create and mechanics that really stick with fans. We’ve seen this in Zombies way back in World at War and the pick 10 system in Black Ops 2. And now with Black Ops 3, we have even more to get excited about. I’m sure specialists are here to stay and the gameplay changes made to incorporate cybernetic abilities are soon to be staples. I can’t imagine going back to the older ways of play, at least not in the near future.