Call of Duty Black Ops III (Xbox One)

Status:

Complete and Play Tested

For more games visit us on: https://www.bobshop.co.za/seller/4692286/Just_Press_Play_ZA

----------------------------------

Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Xbox One) Review

Developer: Treyarch
Publisher: Activision
Genre: First-person shooter
Release: 2015

Call of Duty: Black Ops III pushes the series further into futuristic territory with enhanced movement, cybernetic abilities, specialist characters and advanced weaponry. It combines a lengthy campaign with cooperative play, competitive multiplayer and the return of the popular Zombies mode. The result is one of the more content-rich Call of Duty games of its generation, although its futuristic setting and complicated campaign story can be divisive.

Gameplay & Mechanics

The core gunplay remains fast, responsive and satisfying. Weapons have distinctive handling characteristics, while the extensive selection of assault rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns and heavy weapons provides plenty of variety.

The biggest gameplay change is the Cybercore system. Players can equip different cybernetic abilities that allow them to hack robots, control enemy technology, disrupt opponents or unleash powerful attacks.

The game also introduces enhanced movement. Wall-running, thrust jumps and underwater movement allow players to navigate environments more freely than in traditional Call of Duty games.

These mechanics work particularly well in multiplayer, where vertical movement adds another dimension to firefights.

Strengths

• Excellent gunplay

• Fast and responsive movement

• Interesting cybernetic abilities

• Large weapon selection

• Good customization

• Strong combination of traditional and futuristic combat

Weaknesses

• Movement system takes time to master

• Some abilities feel more useful than others

• Gameplay can become chaotic

• Less grounded than earlier Black Ops titles

Campaign & Co-op

The campaign is designed around cooperative play and can be played with up to four players.

The story follows a soldier who receives extensive cybernetic enhancements after being critically injured. The player becomes involved in a conflict involving advanced technology, artificial intelligence and international military organisations.

Levels are generally much larger and more open than those in earlier Call of Duty games. Players can approach combat using different weapons and cybernetic abilities.

The campaign also features a progression system, allowing players to unlock different abilities and customise their loadout.

The main problem is the narrative. Black Ops III presents a deliberately complicated story involving virtual realities, artificial intelligence and questions surrounding human consciousness. While ambitious, the plot can be difficult to follow, particularly during the later stages.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer is arguably the strongest part of Black Ops III.

The introduction of Specialists gives players distinct characters with unique abilities and weapons. Each Specialist encourages a different style of play, from aggressive close-range combat to defensive or support-oriented abilities.

The enhanced movement system adds verticality to the maps. Players can wall-run, jump over obstacles and use thrust-assisted movement to escape or attack from unexpected angles.

The traditional progression system returns, with players unlocking weapons, attachments, perks and scorestreaks.

The maps are generally designed around multiple routes and vertical combat, although the increased mobility can make matches feel significantly faster than older Call of Duty games.

Zombies

The return of Zombies is one of the game's biggest strengths.

The main Zombies experience is set in a noir-inspired version of 1940s Chicago, with a cast of characters trapped in a city overrun by the undead.

The mode retains the familiar round-based structure while introducing new weapons, perks, GobbleGums and progression systems.

Players can cooperate with friends to survive increasingly difficult waves, discover secrets and complete elaborate Easter eggs.

The Zombies mode provides considerably more depth than a simple survival mode and can keep players occupied long after the campaign has been completed.

Pros

• Excellent multiplayer

• Strong gunplay

• Specialist system works well

• Fast and versatile movement

• Extensive weapon customization

• Four-player campaign co-op

• Excellent Zombies mode

• Large amount of progression

• Impressive presentation

• Huge replay value

Cons

• Campaign story can be confusing

• Futuristic setting may not appeal to everyone

• Advanced movement changes the traditional formula

• Multiplayer can become extremely fast-paced

• Some campaign environments feel repetitive

• Progression systems can feel overwhelming

Final Verdict

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is an ambitious entry that significantly expands the franchise's futuristic gameplay. The campaign provides a substantial cooperative experience, but its complicated story is not always easy to follow. Multiplayer is considerably stronger, with Specialists and advanced movement creating a faster and more vertical style of combat.

The Zombies mode is another major highlight and provides a substantial alternative to both the campaign and competitive multiplayer. Combined with extensive progression and customization, the game offers an enormous amount of content.

While its futuristic setting and movement system represent a significant departure from earlier Call of Duty games, the excellent gunplay, strong multiplayer and substantial Zombies mode make Black Ops III a highly replayable Xbox One shooter.

Score: 8.5/10