Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Critique

PUBG it started and Fortnite makes it suitable for mass production: the Battle Royale genre. Now jump with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 the most successful shooting franchise on the train. With the new Blackout game mode, the publisher Activision is trying to capture the ravages of time and cut a small piece of cake (or rather a big chunk). But the solo campaign had to believe it.

The rest of the game is not too short. Black Ops 4 is based on three pillars: the classic multiplayer mode, the new blackout and the popular zombie mode. Treyarch has therefore developed a complete package that will allow me to soften many evenings. Blackout celebrates the 15th anniversary of Call of Duty for a new momentum and so is clearly the most exciting aspect of the game.

Multiplayer: old, but golden

In classic multiplayer mode, the fourth part of the Black OpsDo not row a lot again, but score with evidence. the CoD– a typical "run-and-gun" game on relatively small card returns. For the first time, I have to heal myself after taking damage. This gives me the feeling of having more control and responsibility over my own gameplay.

The specialists are also back and each have a unique weapon and a special capacity in their luggage. This time, I can use both in combat at the same time. Although the special weapon is still there, let me Black Ops 4 in the class editor, instead of activating my equipment (like grenades), the specialist's ability to do it.

The efficiency of special equipment ranges from huge overcapacity to virtually useless, but it is mostly useful and balanced. While, for example, With Firebreaks The Flamethrower can eliminate a whole team in seconds, I think the hook climbing Ruins does not make sense. It would have been much better in a game with more verticality.

Zombies: new distribution, new luck

Treyarch is touted to publish this zombie mode in Black Ops 4 offers more content to launch than any other Call of Duty before. Two of four (three, for players Black Ops Pass does not have) the available cards are only remakes of old cards. This could be labeled as laziness, but just like a fan service, because the two old cards "Five" and Mob of the Dead are among the favorites of the community.

The two new scenarios introduce the plot "Chaos" – comprising a set of blank characters. It's a rather colorful group, but eventually lifeless covers, which lets out a cool saying from time to time. The maps themselves offer beautiful scenery with ancient Rome and Titanic. But just IX, who plays in a coliseum, is a unique labyrinth in which I have almost always gone astray. Many trails and branched stairs, which lead lower and higher, have made my orientation extremely difficult.

Blackout: some quirks, but a lot of potential

One thing in advance: Blackout works – and very well indeed. It's fun, it's demanding and it gives (especially towards the end) a pure thrill. As a newcomer to Battle Royale, I had some difficulties with the prestige project of the new project. Black OpsBut the more I play and the more the gameplay is slow and deliberate. Call of Duties Open Battle Royale mode, the most fun that he did.

The game mode does not come without corners and edges. And Treyarch has yet to tackle those of the next few weeks. For example, the failure seems a little incomplete or immature. Although there are about 30 characters you can unlock to play, but most of them are locked "until further notice". That Treyarch possibly provide this content at a later date as downloadable content would generally be acceptable. But showing them access to the players while denying them access is rather frustrating.

The progress system should also be revised in the near future as it can be very demotivating. The merit points needed to reach the required level so far are achieved only through wins, top positions (at least in the top 15) and challenges.

So, if I finish a lap without killing (because I play very carefully, for example) and die before I reach the top 15, I am completely white. If this happens for several consecutive rounds, I feel ridiculed by the recurring zero. If I had to be rewarded for pure survival at certain intervals, I would probably be much more motivated after each round to plunge right into the next blackout battle.