Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Thrives, But Warzone Stumbles

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 delivers a thrilling multiplayer experience and a massive new Zombies adventure, though its Warzone integration struggles to impress. Treyarch’s latest entry propels players into a futuristic 2035 setting, introducing advanced movement mechanics, high-tech gadgets, and the largest round-based Zombies map to date. While these elements inject fresh energy into the core game, the planned updates for Warzone feel surprisingly lackluster, offering little to excite battle royale enthusiasts at launch.

The shift to a futuristic era dramatically alters the feel of multiplayer. Treyarch embraces this advanced timeline with imaginative scorestreaks like the robotic D.A.W.G. and the Rhino, a mechanical take on the classic Juggernaut. Loadouts feature new field upgrades allowing players to deploy drones, activate temporary cloaking, or project decoy holograms. While not entirely new to the franchise, these gadgets haven’t been seen since the jetpack era, and they significantly enhance the futuristic combat atmosphere.

Movement receives a substantial upgrade with a refined omnimovement system. Building on the foundation from Black Ops 6, the team increased base speed, removed the tactical sprint by default (making it a perk-based ability), and introduced a wall jump. These adjustments, while seemingly minor, have a profound impact on gameplay. Chaining wall jumps together opens up new vertical routes, allowing players to access windows and vantage points previously unreachable. This creates opportunities for dynamic plays, like stunning a sniper and then scaling a wall for an unexpected elimination.

The maps support this advanced movement with their medium-sized, three-lane designs inspired by classic Black Ops 2 layouts. Forge emerged as a standout, a map set in a Guild research facility. Its most distinctive feature is the rotating cover surrounding the central B flag in Domination, creating unpredictable and engaging firefights. The curved exterior walls also provide perfect terrain for practicing and executing flashy wall jumps. The developers confirmed that a training ground on the Forge map will help players master the new movement, assisted by a wall jump assist setting in the options.

Zombies mode introduces Ashes of the Damned, a sprawling round-based map with a figure-eight road layout. The experience is built around a new Wonder Vehicle named Ol’ Tessie, an old truck players drive to navigate between map segments. This vehicle acts as a fifth squad member and can even be upgraded to include a mobile Pack-a-Punch machine, allowing for on-the-fly weapon enhancements. Traveling on foot is dangerous due to fast-moving Ravengers, making the truck the safest way to traverse the hazardous roads. The map features the largest playable cast yet, including the crew from Black Ops 6 and the original characters: Takeo, Dempsey, Nikolai, and Richtofen.

In contrast, Warzone’s integration feels underwhelming. The Season 1 update will bring changes to Verdansk, adding two new Points of Interest: Factory and Signal Station. Factory is a generic location, while Signal Station offers intel-gathering objectives that reveal enemy density on the Tac Map. Despite this, the core Verdansk experience remains largely unchanged. The new Resurgence map, Haven’s Hollow, is set in a pre-outbreak version of Liberty Falls from Black Ops 6’s Zombies. While visually vibrant, the location lacks a distinct identity and fails to leverage the futuristic theme of Black Ops 7, coming across as a missed opportunity.

The announcement of Blackout’s return on the Avalon map offers a glimmer of hope for battle royale fans, but this mode is not scheduled until Spring 2026. For now, Warzone provides little reason for excitement, leaving a noticeable gap at launch. Ultimately, Black Ops 7 shines brightest in its core offerings. The multiplayer is fast, fluid, and refreshed by its futuristic setting and movement, while Zombies presents an ambitious and vehicle-centric adventure. It’s a strong year for the traditional modes, even if the free-to-play component stumbles out of the gate.

(Source: Gamespot)