Treyarch is once again at the helm, delivering Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, marking a swift succession in the Black Ops series. This new title transports players to a futuristic multiplayer landscape, introduces the most expansive round-based Zombies map ever, and adds a new Resurgence map for Warzone called Haven`s Hollow. After getting hands-on with Black Ops 7 during Call of Duty: Next, it`s evident that the futuristic setting successfully revitalizes both the multiplayer and Zombies experiences. However, the anticipated Warzone integration with Black Ops 7 currently falls short of expectations.
Enhanced Futuristic Multiplayer
The author has long held the belief that Call of Duty thrived most with a rotating developer schedule. This system, which allowed for alternating releases between distinct series like Modern Warfare and Black Ops, brought a refreshing diversity. Each development team contributed unique styles, modes, and features, effectively staving off the yearly “CoD fatigue.”
Given the rapid release of another Black Ops title, the main concern was whether Treyarch could imbue Black Ops 7 with sufficient novelty. The aim was to avoid a repeat of the monotonous feeling that arose from consecutive Modern Warfare releases. Fortunately, Black Ops 7`s multiplayer confidently delivers an exhilarating experience that feels fresh and distinct.
Shifting the Black Ops narrative from the 1990s of its predecessor to the year 2035 profoundly alters the multiplayer experience. Treyarch fully embraces this future-tech ethos, introducing intriguing scorestreaks such as the D.A.W.G., a robotic dog companion, and the Rhino, a mechanical adaptation of Call of Duty’s iconic juggernaut enemy.
Loadouts in Black Ops 7 are further distinguished by an array of futuristic gadgets and technology. Field upgrades include deployable drones, temporary cloaking devices, and holographic decoys designed to trick opponents. While these aren`t entirely groundbreaking mechanics within the Call of Duty universe, the inclusion of such advanced equipment, reminiscent of older jetpack-era titles, significantly deepens the immersion in Black Ops 7’s futuristic warfare.
Treyarch has also refined the omnimovement system, initially introduced in Black Ops 6, making player movement swifter, more fluid, and often more spectacular. The tactical sprint feature has been removed, now requiring a specific perk, while base movement speed has been boosted, and a new wall jump mechanic implemented. Though these omnimovement enhancements might appear subtle on paper, their gameplay impact is substantial. Wall jumps can be linked together, enabling players to reach elevated positions like windows and other previously inaccessible areas in traditional `boots-on-the-ground` Call of Duty games.
During a hands-on session, the author successfully executed several impressive wall jumps, tapping off walls for extra height before spinning to catch an enemy off guard. Another strategic play involved tossing a stun grenade into a window to disorient a sniper, then performing a wall jump high enough to eliminate them—a tactic not possible with the movement systems of previous titles. Even for those not highly skilled in advanced movement, these additions open up significant new tactical avenues for traversing maps and engaging in firefights. This fundamental shift in moment-to-moment gameplay genuinely invigorates Black Ops 7.
Crucially, the maps experienced were spacious enough to facilitate these dynamic, over-the-top maneuvers. This addresses a common complaint from Black Ops 6, where many maps felt constrained, often leading to chaotic and unavoidable close-quarters combat. The Black Ops 7 maps, while not gargantuan, are consistently medium-sized, providing ample strategic space.
Multiplayer Map Previews
In an interview, Treyarch`s Associate Design Director Matt Scronce and Senior Director of Production Yale Miller revealed that this year’s maps are specifically crafted to evoke the classic atmosphere of Black Ops 2.
Miller emphasized their core map design philosophy: “fairness and fun.” He explained that, as a spiritual successor to Black Ops 2, the game adopts its principles for three-lane maps, ensuring each lane has a clear purpose and that power positions are symmetrically balanced across the map.
Forge quickly became the author’s preferred multiplayer map. During a Domination match, its setting within a Guild research and development center proved engaging. The facility boasts two expansive indoor wings for intense close-quarters combat, while the B flag for Domination is situated outdoors in a central hub. Uniquely, this B flag is encircled by continuously rotating cover sections, creating unpredictable opportunities during the fight for control. The exterior building walls, which curve around this central hub, also provide ample scope for flashy wall-jump maneuvers.
The developers further disclosed that Forge proved to be the most demanding map to develop.
Miller clarified that the complexity wasn`t solely design-related but encompassed all aspects of its creation, particularly the intricate mechanics of elements like rotating cover. He also highlighted the map`s significant technical challenges. Miller specifically mentioned the extensive use of glass canopies and other translucent materials, explaining that achieving realistic lighting required precise reflection and refraction effects to accurately cast shadows.
Scronce and Miller confirmed that Black Ops 7 would bring back dedicated training grounds, utilizing the Forge map. This area serves as a safe space to practice the game’s updated omnimovement, including wall jumps, benefiting from Forge’s ample space. Black Ops 7 also incorporates an “intelligent movement” setting to assist with wall jumps. Scronce detailed this “wall jump assist” feature, explaining that players can simply jump toward a wall, and the game will automatically execute the wall jump. These combined features, along with the practice map, are expected to significantly help players in enhancing their movement skills.
While Black Ops 7 retains most of the familiar Call of Duty weapons, perks, and attachments, it’s the innovative map design, refined movement mechanics, and futuristic technology that truly distinguish the multiplayer experience. The author particularly enjoyed the dynamic wall-jumping and drone deployment, eagerly anticipating the full range of maps available at launch.
Zombies Mode Transformed by Unique Wonder Vehicle
Black Ops 7’s Zombies mode introduces “Ashes of the Damned,” the largest round-based map to date. Its design departs from traditional layouts, adopting a road-like structure reminiscent of Black Ops 2`s Tranzit. Featuring a figure-eight configuration, distinct map segments are interconnected by perilous stretches of road. However, unlike Tranzit’s continuous bus route, “Ashes of the Damned” puts players in command of “Ol` Tessie,” an upgradable, dilapidated truck that serves as the map’s new Wonder Vehicle, accessible from the outset of the match.
Design Director Kevin Drew and Lead Game Designer Steve Bianchi confirmed that the “Ashes of the Damned” map was meticulously crafted with Tessie, the Wonder Vehicle, at its core. Bianchi elaborated, “We created it around the vehicle,” emphasizing that the map`s scale and design are perfectly synchronized with Tessie, which effectively functions as “the fifth member of your squad.” He added that the dangerous, fog-shrouded roads linking various locations were designed to be both streamlined for navigation and visually compelling for vehicle travel.
Warzone Integration: A Step Back
Regrettably, Black Ops 7`s new Warzone content does not mark a step forward for the franchise. Last year’s Urzikstan was generally well-received, praised for its excellent blend of classic Call of Duty maps with new points of interest, a diverse array of vehicles, and a significantly refined feel compared to previous large-scale battle royale offerings. In stark contrast, Haven’s Hollow, Black Ops 7’s new Resurgence map, fails to generate the same level of excitement. In the author`s limited experience, the map felt cramped for its player count and noticeably lacked the distinct environmental variety that characterized Urzikstan’s points of interest.
While extended playtime might eventually alter the author`s perception of Haven`s Hollow, initial impressions suggest that Warzone, as integrated into Black Ops 7, has unfortunately regressed.