While a captivating campaign and engaging Zombies experience are certainly appealing, my current attention is squarely on Black Ops 7‘s multiplayer offering. The multiplayer gameplay in Black Ops 6, in my opinion, stands as one of the finest since the ‘Warzone era’ of Call of Duty began, and I’ve been highly optimistic that Black Ops 7 would elevate it even further. Following today’s reveal, my feelings are a mix of excitement and a touch of exhaustion. A fantastic selection of maps, an intriguing new game mode, and a fresh wall-run mechanic all sound incredibly promising. However, I’m less enthusiastic about the Call of Duty loadout system, which feels already quite extensive, becoming even more layered.
Crafting the ideal loadout in Call of Duty can already be quite a time sink. Players navigate through choices for weapons, equipment, field upgrades, perks, and wildcards, not to mention the immense selection of attachments available for every single firearm. In Black Ops 7, a new layer is being introduced: Overclock upgrades. As you effectively utilize equipment and field upgrades during matches, you’ll progressively unlock a pair of Overclock modifiers. You then select one to either enhance the gear’s existing capabilities or subtly alter its performance. For instance, a basic trophy system could gain an Overclock that significantly reduces its charge time, or one that provides two additional charges to intercept incoming explosives.
This new system might be more palatable if it were limited solely to field upgrades. However, Overclock upgrades extend to all equipment, meaning items like frag grenades, stim shots, smoke grenades, and C4s can now be modified. Even scorestreaks are being integrated into this system. While offering players extensive loadout freedom is understandable, it feels like we already had plenty of options. The question remains: is upgrading a smoke grenade truly the most satisfying or impactful way to expand player choice? Personally, it doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Despite the potential for more time spent in loadout menus fine-tuning every detail, Black Ops 7 offers a welcome solution: Build Codes. Each weapon customization will now generate a unique share code that players can easily send to friends. This feature allows for instant replication of attachment combinations on any given weapon, significantly streamlining the process of implementing builds recommended by teammates or expert guides. (Naturally, you can expect to find comprehensive guides on effective builds here once the Black Ops 7 release date is upon us).
On a more positive note, the impressive launch lineup of 18 maps looks incredibly appealing. A substantial 16 of these are dedicated to core 6v6 multiplayer, which is fantastic news for fans. Treyarch has also shown restraint with remakes, featuring only three beloved Black Ops 2 maps at launch: the iconic Raid, Express, and Hijacked. These are certainly fan favorites!
Furthermore, a brand-new game mode called Overload has captured my attention. It appears to be a dynamic fusion of Hardpoint, Control, and Capture the Flag. The objective involves transporting a device into one of two enemy control zones to ‘overload’ it. A strategic twist is that the device’s location will be continuously visible on the opposing team’s HUD. This mode will demand coordinated efforts to safely transport and defend the device, while simultaneously preventing enemies from reaching the objective zones.
Below is a visual representation of the Black Ops 7 multiplayer features discussed:
The newly introduced Wall Jump mechanic also appears to be a welcome and exciting addition. This feature allows players to briefly scale walls, gaining a dynamic height advantage and further enhancing the Omnimovement system. According to Treyarch’s deep dive into Black Ops 7 multiplayer, “Wall Jumps can be ‘chained’ together up to three times, though with a deliberate loss of inertia each time to maintain balanced momentum. Players can anticipate utilizing Wall Jumps to access higher vantage points, traverse dangerous gaps, or discover alternative routes across maps.”
The coming week promises significant revelations, with the CoD Next showcase scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, and the Black Ops 7 beta commencing on Thursday, October 2. This will be an excellent opportunity for players to experience the game firsthand. Before then, be sure to catch up on the details regarding the Black Ops 7 carry forward system to understand how your existing weapons and cosmetics might transfer over.
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