Call of Duty: Black Ops III is undeniably one of the most-awaited games of 2015. It’s also one of those games that can’t help but get some flak due to its yearly releases and tired approach. Don’t get me wrong. I’m one of those guys that grew tired of the ‘copy-pasta’ method of Activision. But then again, this one looks quite promising.
Although I’m mostly fond of playing Battlefield, Call of Duty holds its place as one of the finest multiplayer shooters that I’ve played. But after the fiasco of Call of Duty: Ghosts, I ended up dropping the controller. Nevertheless, I decided to give this one a chance since it bears the ‘Black Ops’ name. Last October’s ESGS 2015 enabled me and a couple of my buddies to get a glimpse of how the shooter would play out. Sony’s booth invited teams of players to duel in 6 versus 6 matches with prizes given to the victors. Prior to the contest, we were given an opportunity to preview the game.
As I sat in Sony’s sprawling arena-like booth, I was lent with a controller, a large Sony TV to scan the field, and a Sony headset. Much to my chagrin, the mic works, so the whole audience can hear my high-pitched screams and maniacal laugh. Anyhow, the demo started with each players customizing their gear. I’m more of a stealth guy, so I chose a loadout that minimizes noise, opting for silencers and perks that mask my movement.
The match began after a couple of minutes in the customization screen. Everybody sat with their eyes on the screen, knowing fully well that the other team is hellbent on destroying the opposition. One thing to note of is that the loading time is incredibly shorter than what I was used and what I anticipated.
We were shoved into a snowy arena map that features a number of elements such as indoor chokepoints and walls for vertical maneuvering. With muscle memory kicking in, I played it like Black Ops 2 with a pinch of Titanfall wall running.
As with all Call of Duty multiplayer matches, you can use special abilities and call down killing spree packages to further your advantage. You can scale walls, jump across them like Titanfall. Aiming is akin to controlling a rabid killer- if you aim near a target, it automatically clips. Everything is fast-paced and the battle ended in less than ten minutes. It works in glorious 60FPS and is buttery smooth to watch. You die and after about five seconds, you’re back into the fray. It’s cheesy and I love it.
If you’ve played Call of Duty: Black Ops, or any spin-off, iteration, incarnation, of Call of Duty, well you’ll definitely feel at home or tired with this one. It’s the same thing on a glorious new console with better graphics. Again, the significant change is primarily focused on player customization and it is what sets it apart from other shooters.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 may have the Call of Duty name on it. But the arcade approach is best taken in short bursts. Though I do not expect myself to immerse into the singleplayer ‘Hollywood’ campaign, I can say that the multiplayer is something to watch out for. Given that Battlefield 4 is more of a stressful and slow tactical combat, replaying CoD is another dose of a good gaming experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is set to launch tomorrow, November 6, 2015. It will be available in both current-gen consoles and the PC. The preview not only solidified my intention of buying the game but also declared that the Sony PS4 is capable of helping it deliver.
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