Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Preview – What’s Up Reagan Administration

Every year we get a new Call of Duty experience and some might be hard-pressed to figure out the difference. There was a real low point in the series for me when they introduced futuristic abilities and over-the-top maneuverability, but even then, the series excelled. Now, are going back to a time of Black Ops, which began in 2010. As the fifth entry in the Black Ops series, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has a legacy on its soldiers. However, if you’re wondering how much could change in just two years since its last entry, well, from what I played in the early multiplayer beta, seamless action is what this game is all about.

Now, I’ve always approached the series from a casual viewpoint and I don’t intend to take as seriously as some. However, I do consider myself competitive and there seems to be no better game to express that side of myself then Call of Duty. Jumping into the multiplayer mode, I was able to get my hands on a few returning modes, Kill Confirmed and Domination. The only thing that sets these modes apart from the other series is the maps available.

Out of the handful of maps cycled through the weekend, I would say that Cartel is probably my favorite. The team got really creative with these fields placed in the middle of the map that acts as a sort of smock screen. There were plenty of close matches that took part here as we all scrambled to find our bearings. Additionally, I enjoyed the multiple chock points the level provided on various portions of the map. It shows just how awesome this team is at balancing these areas and I Cartel offers a little bit of everything. There was a lot of detail that went into these maps and it didn’t go unnoticed by me even if I was often running for my life.

I think my least favorite of the maps would be Satellite, only because it’s so similar to other maps that we’ve played before. A rocky desert with a plane crash in the middle. I don’t know, nothing about this level excited me, but it seemed to offer both snipers and close-ranged players something to enjoy. Levels like Armada, on the other hand, took a used concept such as a battleship and expanded on it greatly by allows players to access boats and different ships creating fun hectic environments and encouraging team play as players clear the symmetrical sides.

The inclusion of vehicles is nothing new to first-person shooters. However, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War doesn’t really seem to do anything with them the get to a destination really quickly. Other than that, there’s no real benefit. In a map like Crossroads, you can use a snow vehicle, but if you do encounter an enemy, you will be at a disadvantage for the most part from what I’m experienced. There are also tanks though, which totally change up gameplay to insist that someone on your team has a rocket launcher.

Some modes are easier on certain maps such as playing VIP in Miami vs. Crossroads, but the developer did their best to separate the extraction points with obstacles. I did think the VIP extraction time was a little too fast though, but I guess that’s just the way it goes.

As for customization, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War makes things straightforward. Earning levels unlocks new guns, throwables, and perks. However, using a gun more will unlock additional customization features in the Gunsmith area. It doesn’t get overly complicated or requires too much attention as items become unlocked through normal gameplay. Wildcards add an additional bonus that can set you apart from other players who may have similar loadouts.

I’d like to see how the gameplay differs from a full party of players. Right now, I’m not too interested in getting cussed out by 12-year-olds, as I wait to play with my friends who all have PCs, thank God for crossplay. However, there is always going to be additional balance needed for these games as players gravitate towards the meta weapons. From what I’ve played over the weekend, though, this is going to be a great entry in the series as far as multiplayer goes.

From what we’ve played in the Open Beta, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is giving us only a taste of what they have in store. With so much more going in the story mode, I’m excited to see the single-player offerings as well as some additional balance added from the feedback of gamers that are better versed in this series than I am. From a casual player’s perspective, this game is shaping up to be a lot of fun.