Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | Multiplayer Review

Those who have followed the Call of Duty franchise over the years won't be completely surprised by the features included in the Cold War multiplayer. I say that because it carries with it very familiar content. Content that includes a weapon setup system that is a conjoined feature which harbors more of the same. You get a mixture of past, and recent weapon loadout options including the return of a primary, secondary, tactical, lethal, field upgrade, wild cards, and even perks. On top of all that you get access to the accessories, and stickers. It's definitely a Frankensteinian effort on Treyarch's behalf that is less innovative. 

When it comes to weapon types the offerings are more limited than previous games' stocks, and once again carries with it fan favorites in the form of assault rifles, SMGs, tactical rifles, snipers, and LMGs. Secondaries also return to a familiar formula by including pistols, melee, rocket launchers, shotguns, and a grenade launcher. While the assortment is somewhat lacking within each sub-section of weapon there is plenty to level up, and tinker with though. The guns in particular bring back MW's five attachment add-on system that increases gun performance, and handling. Adding bonus stats to things like horizontal and vertical recoil, sprint to aim quickness, and the other perks that come with MW's take on things. You can even change aiming dots, and add skins that are unlocked from all modes. All of which is also lacking in quantity, and quality.

While the offerings of unlocks are currently limited the grind still remains as multi-layered and time consuming as it ever was. You'll be grinding to level up weapons, unlock newer weapons, earn new weapon parts, and other loadout options such as blueprints. You'll also be grinding for skins, banners, and icons to go along with your CoD identity. The unlockables in the way of banners, and icons are rewarded through three tiers of challenges including casual, hardened, and Dark Ops. Both casual, and hardened let you know the requirements for unlocking banners while the latter is a more secretive unlock that only lets you know you've unlocked something when you've met the requirements to unlock it. Visually the bits, and baubles that are the cosmetics are definitely dated in appearance. It could be chocked off to the era of the game's campaign or laziness on the developers' part. In-game though the lighting, and details are still in sync with current-gen console renderings. 

When it comes to gameplay you'll find several modes to play in, and a handful of maps to play on. The modes are your bog standard CoD offerings including modes such as TDM, Capture the Flag, Kill Confirmed, Domination, Free For All, and Ground War. The only new mode being an escort mode where teams take turns escorting, and defending a single player. When it comes to map designs in these modes some maps are more mode friendly than others. The maps for the most part are large scale with plenty of head glitching spots, and camping corners. It can be very aggravating trying to get any larger amount of kills as you are constantly being flanked from all sides, and vertically so. I think Treyarch realized this in trading killstreaks for scorestreaks. All you have to do to get your scorestreaks is score enough kills, and earn enough points throughout a match. I'm not sure it even resets upon death. It makes them less rewarding as a result. 

The pacing of the game is also problematic in that it is slow due to the players' fear of advancing. The game is made in such a way that player approach isn't as easily heard before unless you place field upgrade mics that amplifies foot sounds, and pings the approaching player. Not many players will want to sacrifice their field upgrade spot for that since there are much better field upgrade options like the proximity mine. Being the maps are so large the line of sight also becomes a major issue in that players hiding behind cover at a distance aren't easily seen or targeted. The latter reason being the scaling, and clarity of character models being so poor. I've heard some players complain about the size of the maps saying they are too big for 6v6 team modes, and I have to agree. These maps border on being ground war sized maps. They are certainly not run & gun friendly in most cases.

Something else that is returning is the prestige system. It has been tweaked to be a more seasonal or monthly effort. The goal being to get to rank 50 before the month is over. Those who prestige are awarded a special gun blueprint. And, yes, blueprints do make a return as well, and come pre-packaged with their own attachments that have their own buffs. 

Last, but not least are the operators. Cold War's operators are the most pitiful assortment of soldiers I've seen in a CoD game yet. You've got initially available Mil-Sim operatives, and unlockable operatives from the game's campaign. None of which are really all that awe-inspiring. To unlock the best of the best you will need to grind in-game requirements until they are fulfilled. These requirements include all base game modes, and even weapon specific challenges. You can also unlock skins for the operators as in last year's MW. Giving them different cosmetic appearances upon equipping the skin. In regards to the unlocks there will be a season pass added in, in December. It'll likely follow the same structure as 2019's MW. Cost you around ten dollars for the full grind version, and more for the bundle with unlocked tiers.

Thoughts ...

The multiplayer seems rushed to me. It needs sorting out in many areas, and definitely could use some more maps, guns, and operatives. That aside I actually hate the current state of gun play of Cold War. It's slow, and does not inspire a player to get into the action even if the mode they are playing is objective based. There's way too many vantage points, and the maps are too big for most multiplayer modes. I'm not gonna bash the graphics though the rag doll deaths are hilarious, and the character scaling clarity in-game, questionable. I think these things can be fixed. I just think it's sad that Treyarch released this game in what seems to be a "Work In Progress" state. It does not feel like a fully fledged Call of Duty multiplayer experience, and it is most definitely not polished to perfection.