DISCLAIMER: A review copy was provided by the publisher.
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4 (reviewed), PC
Developers: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
MSRP: $59.99 (Standard), $99.99 (Digital Deluxe Edition), $129.99 (Digital Deluxe Enhanced Edition)
NOTE: Given the expansive nature of Black Ops 4, we’re going to be splitting this up into three pages. First page, an intro and review of multiplayer. Second page, a review of Blackout. The third and final page, a review of Zombies and overall verdict of the game. Each page has the final score of the game which is a reflection of the entire game and not one independent mode.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is one of the boldest games in the franchise since the move to the future setting about four years ago. In a series that is often criticized for being too similar year over year, Black Ops 4 seeks to change that mindset in a massive way by removing the campaign, adding battle royale, doubling down on zombies, and fundamentally changing multiplayer.
Treyarch bet big on this game but did it pay off? The removal of the traditional big-budget star-studded Michael Bay-esque single-player campaign (holy hyphens) made many fear that was an early sign that Black Ops 4 was in trouble but truthfully, I don’t know if they could’ve fit a campaign in this package.
As a major fan of the campaigns, it does make me a bit sad that it’s missing this year but Treyarch has gone above and beyond with delivering a bang for your buck. An expansive battle royale mode, four zombies maps available at launch (3 available to all players), and a layered multiplayer mode act as three hinges on a sturdy door, there’s just no room four a fourth mode.
Zombies fills a hole in that narrative experience with its mind-boggling easter eggs as usual but should you still yearn for some story, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has something tucked away for you. Yes, there is a story mode in Black Ops 4 it’s just not what you’d usually expect but there’s definitely an effort made.
In Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, there’s a Specialists training mode where you can do some tutorial missions with each of the multiplayer characters. These tutorials are sandwiched with story-heavy cutscenes about the small mercenary group being formed with these characters and there are even some connections to other games in the series. Sgt. Woods returns in his full glory as a computer program in his prime, he shows you the ropes and throws an insane amount of one-liners that land more often than not.
The Mason family lineage continues as you learn about Alex Mason’s granddaughter and there are other pieces of intel to gather that talk about characters like Black Ops 2 antagonist Raul Menendez. For a game that is adamant about not featuring a single-player campaign, Treyarch made sure that there was something that still ensured those fans weren’t totally forgotten.
To be clear, this is NOT a mode that is worth buying the game for. These are simulated multiplayer matches with bots that have really well-made cutscenes in between, think of it as an appetizer to a full-course meal.
One of the main entrées of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is, of course, the multiplayer. We’re not just back to basics this year with boots on the ground combat, we’re reinventing the Call of Duty wheel with more tactical team-based gameplay. Automatic health regen is gone, Specialists have more tools at their disposal, and it ultimately feels a bit more hardcore.
Despite this, Black Ops 4 doesn’t lose its identity. It still feels fast, fluid, and most importantly, fun. When I played the beta back in August, I had some very strong feelings towards the game and felt that there wouldn’t be enough time to make changes to really make Black Ops 4’s multiplayer feel worthwhile. It was too unforgiving, it felt like it lacked focus, but here in the final game, it feels fully realized.
Gunplay is smooth and refined, still giving off that adrenaline-filled vibe that one comes to Call of Duty for. The moment to moment action isn’t slowed down, it’s simply more thoughtful. Awareness is keen to succeed in Black Ops 4, whether that’s knowing your general surroundings or being more methodical about the classes you create and what you’re equipped with on the battlefield.
The Pick 10 create-a-class system is more important than ever given the fact the ability to heal yourself takes a slot as well as armor. It’s a lot more than just “Ah crap, I can’t have this extra grip or perk.” It’s a whole new approach to preparing yourself for battle by not just making yourself as strong as possible, but by determining if you want to be a consistent martyr for your team by sacrificing healing for more team-focused gear or if you want to try and extend your lifespan with key perks and equipment.
There’s still an emphasis on teamplay in Black Ops 4 following the beta but not so strong that it doesn’t feel like Call of Duty anymore, you can still survive as a lone wolf but matches play out better with unity rather than sporadic separation from other players.
Rushing an objective as Ajax, a specialist equipped with a weaponized ballistic shield, to soak up bullets as your team falls in behind you is a lot smarter than just trying to get a triple kill with your SMG. That’s a strategy that you’ll quickly realize isn’t going to consistently work.
In contrast to the beta, gun battles with multiple oppressors do feel more balanced. I found myself being able to take on teams of 2 or 3 more often than I was in the beta. It’s not to the point where you’ll be a one-man army – nor should you be given the kind of game Black Ops 4 sets out to be – but you don’t feel overwhelmingly helpless.
One grievance to be found with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s MP is the maps. There are 10 brand new maps to the series with four Black Ops classics (Jungle, Summit, Slums, and Firing Range) mixed in. These old-school Black Ops maps haven’t had any adjustments made outside of the updated graphics and that feels like it’s cheating a bit.
No area extensions, no dynamic elements, no differences in times of day, nothing. They’re all exactly as you know them, some people may like that but it feels like in a game that really leaned into focusing the multiplayer that the maps took a backseat.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s original map selection is a bit of a mixed bag. Treyarch does efficiently utilize the trademarked three-lane system in this entry unlike some of the other Call of Duty developers who fumble in that department. Some devs seem to look at that term very literally, three paths that lead straight through the map. That’s pretty terrible map design.
Treyarch is smarter by using those three lanes and having smaller routes weaved in with chokepoints, buildings to move through and use as vantage points and more. That’s smart map design, having layers to your map rather than the very basic three branching paths. There are some maps where that thought process feels forgotten such as Icebreaker, a map set in the Arctic where a submarine has become stuck in the center.
You can move through two pretty open paths on the left and right of the submarine or move straight through it. There’s also a small patch of icy water to swim through under the submarine but if you stay in it too long, your screen begins to freeze over and gets harder to see. It’s one of the weakest maps in the game due to it feeling like a layman’s understanding of the three-lane structure.
There are some other maps that feel more carefully designed but still have questionable logic. As noted in our beta preview, the Gridlock map has some walls for a courtyard that can be seen from the main street. If you’re looking to get out of a tight situation or gain a jump on someone in the courtyard by using Ruin’s grappling ability, forget about it. Your grapple can attach on to things to get over the wall but you end up hitting and bouncing off an invisible wall to prevent you from getting into that courtyard.
Are these little things annoying and frustrating? Yes. Are they a deal breaker? Absolutely not. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s multiplayer is one of the best in the series due to the fact it takes so many steps back that this new FPS begins to feel innovative for the series.
Next Page: Blackout
