Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer – A Comprehensive Review of Its Thrilling Gameplay

Fluid Omni-movement adds a thrilling element to Black Ops 6 multiplayer; however, its design, intended for close-quarters conflict, can sometimes feel restrictive.

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on October 29, 2024 at 1:33PM PDT

There’s a compelling case for speed being the essence of what makes Call of Duty multiplayer enjoyable. The franchise excels at getting players into action right away. Opponents drop swiftly under fire, and when you respawn, you jump back into the battle in a heartbeat. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Treyarch maximizes this speed through substantial changes to movement mechanics and map layouts that ensure you’re always amidst the chaos. While these fast-paced, intense clashes are entertaining, the design shifts also lead to a sense of limitation in the types of confrontations players will experience.

The standout feature of Black Ops 6 is the Omni-movement system, which enhances the gameplay experience significantly. This system eliminates the conventional restrictions of human mobility. You are free to run, sprint, slide, and dive in any direction, independent of your current facing or momentum. It’s reminiscent of the freedom a tank turret possesses, able to pivot to engage threats from any angle, but executed with a speed and flair that’s uniquely exhilarating.

Omni-movement introduces a remarkable level of fluidity to gameplay. The capacity to move swiftly in any direction at any moment facilitates quick navigation across maps and allows players to pivot seamlessly to counter threats. The game liberates you in terms of movement, and when combined with the rapid pace at which you can eliminate an enemy if you respond in time—or how quickly they can take you out—Omni-movement is a fantastic enhancement to your overall responsiveness. This game revolves around swift reactions and precise aim, and Omni-movement elevates that urgency by granting you greater freedom of movement in all scenarios.

However, it’s the sliding and diving that provide the most enjoyment. Sliding and diving in any direction not only crafts suspenseful, cinematic encounters where you can catch opponents off guard while rounding a corner or diving over a railing, but it also allows you the chance to lay on the ground and target threats from any angle, something not feasible before. Credit is due to Black Ops 6; while these maneuvers are thrilling whether you’re executing them or being targeted by them, they do not render you invincible or especially difficult to eliminate. The inventive movement becomes just another option in your arsenal, and you remain as vulnerable as ever—diving recklessly through a doorway will likely get you killed before you hit the ground, just as it would always have been. Omni-movement adds an unmistakably video-gamey layer to a first-person shooter, yet it undeniably complements the essence of Call of Duty gameplay and feels equally satisfying.

Nonetheless, there is a downside to Omni-movement; it can lead to an even more chaotic environment in Black Ops 6, turning it into a relentless game of hops and flops more so than before. There will be moments in a match filled with players darting around at breakneck speeds, leaping through windows and around corners to blast you with shotguns—and if you share my sentiments, you may find yourself longing for the bygone days of Call of Duty, when teamwork and strategy seemed at least as essential to a multiplayer clash as having the most reliable aim and the quickest reflexes.

Black Ops 6 also promotes numerous fast-paced, close-quarter confrontations through its map design. The maps are categorized into two types: 12 standard maps of varying sizes, featured in both Quickplay and Hardcore game modes, and four smaller Strike maps intended for chaotic 6-on-6 Face Off matches, or 2-on-2 formats like Gun Game. Among the 12 maps in the more common game modes, none are particularly expansive, ensuring you are never too far from an adversary. They are designed for quick traversal, allowing you to sprint for a flanking position or rush to support teammates in a firefight without delay. Each map offers a blend of indoor and outdoor settings, with a fair amount of verticality, and they all boast creative and unique designs, whether you’re navigating through a deserted factory or weaving in and out of hangars housing stealth bombers.

Check out our Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Campaign Review

The layouts in Black Ops 6 offer a vibrant environment for battles, presenting numerous ways for players to engage and navigate to eliminate opponents. Areas are rarely entirely exposed or uniformly flat; instead, they are dotted with debris or cargo stacks that provide opportunities for elevation or disrupt visibility, leading to tactical and captivating encounters. It is uncommon to find adequate sightlines ideal for long-range weapons like sniper rifles—more often, players are weaving through decaying train cars in Derelict or maneuvering in and out of strip mall buildings in Rewind.

This design encourages players to carefully consider opponent positions and movement patterns as well as their own. Expecting symmetry or straightforward shapes is futile; maps are filled with ample cover and flanking paths, leading to countless strategies for approaching firefights. This makes the maps in Black Ops 6 enjoyable and engaging, showcasing a multitude of options rather than just a few designated paths or focal points for combat.

However, a downside to the map designs in Black Ops 6 is the sense of confinement they often evoke. It’s a well-recognized fact that Call of Duty maps feature myriad pathways in any given vicinity, making it essential to anticipate an enemy possibly sneaking up on you as you defend a position or fire through a corridor. Yet, with players motivated to sprint across the map relentlessly, the multiplayer experience in Black Ops 6 can sometimes feel too claustrophobic.

This issue also arises with respawns; the limited space means that in certain maps, you’ll re-enter the battle almost exactly where you left it. I’ve experienced multiple encounters where I defeated an enemy, only for that same player to respawn right in front of me, staring directly at me, which caused me to miss out on a surprise rematch while I struggled to reload my weapon. Conversely, I’ve found myself respawning back in the same location, where the three or four adversaries who initially overwhelmed me were all too eager to take me down once more.

The confined spaces can restrict the variety of firearms that are practical to use in these scenarios. It’s okay to incorporate smaller maps as part of a multiplayer game, where close-combat weapons are more suitable—but with the swift diving and sliding movements enabled by Omni-movement and the various angles you need to consider while navigating, close-quarters combat frequently becomes the standard. Long-range firearms, such as marksman or sniper rifles, often seem quite ineffective on most Black Ops 6 maps; there aren’t many extended sightlines available, and it’s likely that you’ll get shot from an angle before you can even attempt to set up a shot.

Regardless, the pace of Black Ops 6—the rapid engagements, swift movement, and quick respawns—flows so smoothly that it’s challenging to find reasons to be frustrated. Coupled with the enjoyment of mobility provided by Omni-movement, the gunplay in Black Ops 6 meets the franchise’s exemplary standards. Each weapon feels formidable and impactful, ensuring proficiency while demanding players to adapt to subtle variations in firing rates and recoil characteristics. This aspect has long been a strength of the Call of Duty series, and Black Ops 6 continues to excel in its weaponry.

In addition to movement, Black Ops 6 implements a few significant adjustments to loadouts and progression, enhancing the overall experience of character customization in multiplayer modes. The emphasis on cross-progression across all gameplay modes ensures that you are consistently unlocking new content, providing a streamlined way to quickly accumulate a range of custom options for various playstyles in multiplayer. The game introduces some new Scorestreaks that deliver enjoyable reward choices, such as the guided Archangel missile that you can control to dive straight into enemy targets, and the Watchdog helicopter that marks enemies while also engaging them, functioning somewhat like a lethal UAV. The return of the Wildcard system from previous Black Ops titles also allows you to incorporate specific gameplay modifications into your loadout—like additional tactical gear such as flashbangs, or the option to equip two primary weapons simultaneously.

Perks in the game are categorized into three distinct groups: Enforcer, Strategist, and Recon. Equipping three perks from the same category grants a bonus perk that complements the others. For instance, Enforcer perks provide benefits such as quicker health regeneration and enhanced movement speed for a brief period after secure kills. Strategists gain advantages towards their Scorestreaks by taking out enemy equipment or completing objectives, while also being able to detect enemy deployables through walls. On the other hand, Recon allows players to temporarily see enemies through walls upon spawning and eliminates the death skull markers from the minimap for killed opponents. This system promotes diverse strategic thinking when selecting perks for matches, enabling players to specialize in their gameplay style. Playing with friends becomes more engaging as these specializations create a sense of fulfilling a particular role within the team, enhancing the overall experience.

In terms of gameplay dynamics, Black Ops 6 features a variety of subtle enhancements, including Omni-movement, thoughtful map design, and new loadout options, all of which align seamlessly with the established Call of Duty framework without making drastic changes. Although these modifications may sometimes favor an aggressive style of play, like bunny hopping and dolphin diving, this isn’t necessarily detrimental. Engaging with the new movement mechanics in Black Ops 6 leads to exhilarating gameplay moments and enjoyable gunfights. While the effects of Omni-movement and smaller maps can occasionally restrict gameplay options in the multiplayer environment, the well-designed maps, swift movement, powerful weaponry, and intriguing loadout selections contribute to an enjoyable and thrilling experience overall.

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