The annual release of a new Call of Duty title remains a major gaming event, defying the trend towards live service "forever games". Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 arrives just one year after its predecessor, delivering another intense bombardment of military shooting action that will satisfy franchise enthusiasts.
A Dystopian Campaign Filled With Conspiracy
Set in a troubling 2035 where global arms manufacturer the Guild positions itself as the solution to an apocalyptic terrorist threat, Black Ops 7 continues the series' tradition of paranoid storytelling. As the conspiracy-obsessed cousin to Modern Warfare, this instalment draws inspiration from 70s thrillers while addressing contemporary concerns about psychopathic corporations and tech oligarchies.
The campaign mode represents approximately a quarter of this year's offering, taking players on a hallucinogenic romp through socio-political themes including hybrid warfare and robotics. The narrative follows four lead characters from a supercharged spec-ops outfit who become exposed to a psychotropic drug, forcing them to relive their worst nightmares while equipped with advanced weaponry and cool gadgets.
This setup enables a deafening onslaught of massive shootout set-pieces across exotic locations, creating a chaotic and relentless experience that proves stupidly pleasurable, particularly when played in co-operative mode with friends.
Innovative Endgame and Multiplayer Enhancements
In an interesting development, the campaign concludes with Endgame mode, a co-op PVE (player versus environment) experience inspired by MMO endgame content. Groups of players deploy in the fictional city of Avalon, undertaking missions like eliminating high-value targets or escorting military technology within a vast open environment.
Publisher Activision has confirmed that new missions and objectives will be added, potentially including public events where different teams combine forces against mega bosses. This represents a clever extension of the campaign that smoothly transitions players toward online multiplayer.
The heart of Black Ops 7 remains its traditional multiplayer component, which introduces fresh modes, weapons and gadgets to the established Call of Duty formula. The experience continues to feature 12 players battling in compact locations, with new maps including a Tokyo-inspired shopping district and a deep sea rig specifically designed to funnel players toward violent encounters.
New movement mechanics like wall jumping enhance vertical exploration, while maps such as the Alaska-based Imprint introduce dynamic elements that create chaotic objective-based gameplay. While unlikely to convert newcomers to the series' turbocharged twitchcore combat style, these enhancements provide substantial enjoyment for veteran players.
Zombie Mayhem and Bonus Content
The popular Zombies mode returns as another online co-operative offering, transporting players to a nightmarish hellzone of abandoned frontier towns and irradiated wastelands. This instalment marks a return to round-based structure from earlier entries, featuring new weapons and the ability to drive between areas while fending off monstrous attacks.
Additionally, Dead Ops Arcade 4 provides a self-contained top-down twin-stick shooter for up to four players. Originally hidden within the first Black Ops game, this bonus content now stands as an enjoyable experience in its own right, evoking classic multi-directional shooters while incorporating mini-games between stages.
With the usual refresh to battle royale mode Warzone, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 presents an exhaustive package that delivers exceptional value. Despite ongoing discussions about the series' role within the gaming industry and the communities it fosters, this instalment represents slick, thrilling entertainment that unapologetically celebrates the visceral pleasure of virtual combat.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available now for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox and PC, with pricing starting from £69.99.
