Spooks, I did it again.
The headline addition this year is what the developers at Treyarch and co-developer Raven Software have called Omnimovement.
I’m a big fan of this.
The gameplay impact is, as mentioned, ultimately quite low-key, but also undoubtedly positive.
That frenetic speed is enhanced - and exacerbated - by Black Ops 6’s maps.
Again, this is something that works wonderfully in isolation: map design in multiplayer is generally excellent.
It’s one of the smallest CoD maps I’ve ever played.
More balanced, and two personal favourites of mine, are Skyline and Lowtown.
Skyline is the regular vote-winner in pre-match lobby choices and understandably so.
But there is a catch: these maps really are small, right across the board.
Even just hopping in and out of the odd vehicle helps break things up.
In sticking to these small-sided rounds, a huge amount is lost.
But with Black Ops 6, it feels particularly egregious.
Everyone’s kill/death ratio seems to hover between 0.9 and 1.1.
It’s a crying shame, because again that moment-to-moment is so inherently fun.
Away from, or perhaps adjacent to, multiplayer is Black Ops' Zombies effort.
Where Zombies begins to lose me, though, is its new meta-progression system.
That’s not even the half of it, either.
On and on it goes.
But goodness me does it feel unnecessary.
It’s hard to complaintoomuch.
I only wish it focused on that core bit of brilliance a little more directly.
Last and the opposite of least is Black Ops 6’s campaign.
At the same time, it’s arguably one of the best Call of Duty campaigns in years.
Even within missions, that variety is present.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 accessibility options
Very wide range of options.
Audio sliders, asymmetrical hearing compensation, individual frequency configuration, tinnitus sound reduction.
Tips, tutorials, and menu prompt options.
Heavily customisable HUD including presets and individual toggles.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Much of this is understandable.
That’s probably just what Activision and Microsoft need.
But it’s not exactly what the industry needs.
A copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was provided for review by Activision.