The Black Ops 6 Beta Weekend 2 has concluded, and like every year, I’m optimistic about the potential of this new Call of Duty installment. After dedicating nearly eight to nine hours over the last two beta weekends, I have a solid understanding of what to expect from the multiplayer experience in the coming year. Unlike previous years, I have a strong sense of excitement based on what I’ve observed thus far.
There are aspects of the gameplay that Treyarch Studios has excelled at, as well as some areas that need improvement. Nevertheless, this hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm, and I’m eagerly awaiting the full launch of Black Ops 6 next month.
If I were to summarize my experience in one word, it would be “messy,” but in a positive way. Black Ops 6 is set to redefine our expectations of the Call of Duty franchise from the ground up. So, what elements have changed? Let’s delve into it.
Black Ops 6’s Omnimovement: A Potential Game Changer
As promised by Treyarch Studios from the start, the new Omnimovement system in Black Ops 6 is a significant innovation. It’s smooth and functional, and the game feels as polished as Modern Warfare in 2019. So, what exactly is Omnimovement all about?
This new movement feature allows players to sprint and dive in any direction, reminiscent of gameplay in the Max Payne series, but executed at a much faster pace. It’s not just a fun new mechanic; Treyarch has introduced a movement system that fundamentally changes gunfights.
I initially encountered some challenges mastering this movement, but the Omnimovement boasts a gentle learning curve. Once you get the hang of it, there are numerous new strategies to employ during combat.
For example, if you want to catch an enemy off guard behind a door, you can leap sideways and fire while prone. In close-quarters combat, where every second counts, this feature allows you to slip behind opponents and gain the upper hand. It’s exhilarating and creative, though mastering it can initially be daunting.
The Slide Cancel feature remains intact, but it no longer resets the tactical sprint. In the first weekend of the beta, the tactical sprint felt significantly faster than the standard sprint, providing players with an advantage.
However, in the open beta, the developers increased the base sprint speed to the point where it nearly matches the tactical sprint. This alteration reduces the tactical sprint’s effectiveness in combat. Despite this change, it didn’t affect my gameplay too much, as my main focus was on mastering the Omnimovement system.
Classic Call of Duty Gunplay
As for the gunplay in Black Ops 6, there’s not much new to report—it retains that quintessential Call of Duty feel. What I did notice is that the time-to-kill (TTK) seems to have slightly decreased, making it easier to dispatch opponents in the Black Ops 6 Beta.
This aspect, however, is always open to adjustment, as the developers often incorporate player feedback throughout the year. Consistent with other Black Ops titles, the weapons feel noticeably lighter than those in the Modern Warfare series.
After two years of heftier Modern Warfare titles, the transition to lighter weapons in Black Ops 6 felt strange at first but ultimately, I welcomed this shift.
A standout highlight for me in Black Ops 6 is the sniping experience. The sniper rifles are remarkably potent, and using the LR 7.62 was immensely enjoyable, reminiscent of the thrilling sniping days of classic Call of Duty games.
Streamlined Gunsmith System
One of the features I appreciate in the Black Ops 6 Beta is the revamped Gunsmith System. Compared to the last two Call of Duty titles, it feels like a return to form–easy to navigate once again. In the beta, the availability of attachments was limited, simplifying the understanding of their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Moreover, optics are shared across nearly all firearms, which is a significant improvement. I’ve always thought that some of the grind in Call of Duty was unnecessary, particularly unlocking the same Optic for each weapon.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Gunsmith appears post-launch, as the integration with Warzone could complicate things in battle royale. However, for the multiplayer aspect alone, it was surprisingly streamlined.
Maps: Room for Improvement
I admire the vibrant lighting and shadows in the new maps of Black Ops 6. Most of them are full of color and have a distinct atmosphere, which is exactly what I’ve been advocating for in Call of Duty games. However, I’m somewhat disappointed with the map layouts I’ve experienced in the beta.
For instance, maps like Derelict and Rewind exhibited excessive verticality. This design might benefit certain game modes such as Search and Destroy (which was not part of the beta), but it hampers the fluidity that traditional Call of Duty players expect in modes like Team Deathmatch or Kill Confirmed.
Black Ops 6 has also introduced smaller-scale strike maps, one such map being the Pit. Personally, I found this to be the best map for practicing the Omnimovement and refining my skills before the official launch on October 25.
Additionally, there’s a new mode called Kill Order, akin to Team Deathmatch but with a High Valuable Target (HVT) on each team. This mode feels refreshing, but as I mentioned earlier, the excessive verticality in maps presents challenges for fast-paced game modes like this.
Persistent Issues with Room for Improvement
It’s essential to remember that this was a beta, and the developers have tackled many issues that emerged from the closed beta after Weekend 1. Nonetheless, there were ongoing problems with spawn points. The Babylon map, which felt reminiscent of Treyarch’s take on Shipment, had its share of spawn-related issues, with players camping spawn points and eliminating enemies right after they respawned.
Such problems are commonplace in betas, and we can be hopeful for fixes when the game launches. Additionally, gaining weapon XP was a bit challenging across both weekends; however, developers had promised improvements for the open beta that didn’t fully materialize.
Final Thoughts
Overall, my impression is that the Black Ops 6 Beta experiences were among the best I’ve encountered in recent years. There were minor issues like footstep audio and others that I previously mentioned, but most appear to be easily repairable with a patch at launch. More maps will also be introduced, providing further variety.
In terms of multiplayer, Black Ops 6 shows great promise. It’s visually striking, the gunplay feels solid, and the Omnimovement is an absolute highlight. While I do worry about the potential skill gap it might create, personally, I found the experience to be thoroughly enjoyable. Here’s hoping for an excellent Call of Duty year with Black Ops 6!
Reviewed on: PC (Code provided by Activision)
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch Studios
Release date: October 25, 2024
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