Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War revisits the 1980s’ Cold War, placing players in the era of Ronald Reagan and the struggle against communism. Missions span diverse locations including East Berlin, the Soviet Union, Turkey, and feature flashbacks to Vietnam and the Tehran kidnapping. Those familiar with the 80s will experience moments of recognition, while newcomers can engage with an adrenaline-fueled narrative centered on American and British clandestine operations conducted by the CIA and MI6. This game explores a period that, while not a full-scale war, significantly shaped the modern world.
The Call of Duty series and the Battlefield series often compete for dominance in the FPS genre, much like FIFA and PES. Both franchises boast unique strengths and dedicated fan bases. The Call of Duty Black Ops series is known for its focus on intense scenarios, elaborate vehicle sequences, and relentless action. Black Ops Cold War continues this tradition, offering a high-octane experience from the initial mission – pursuing those responsible for the American embassy kidnapping – to flashbacks in Vietnam that showcase both helicopter combat and stunning natural vistas. The third mission introduces elements of stealth, requiring players to navigate the Stasi presence in East Germany. The game incorporates puzzle-solving and clue-finding through side missions that unlock additional content within the main storyline. Furthermore, the refined shooting mechanics are particularly impressive on next-generation consoles.
Our primary gameplay experience was on the Xbox Series X, which delivers both 60fps performance and impressive ray tracing. Ray tracing enhances lighting effects, creating a significantly more immersive and realistic visual experience compared to previous console generations. The mission set within the Vietnamese jungle exemplifies this, showcasing exceptional clarity, sharpness, and smooth performance. Alternatively, users can opt for a 120fps mode if their display supports it, sacrificing ray tracing in the process. The transition from PS4/Xbox One to PS5/Xbox Series X represents a substantial visual upgrade, although character hair modeling can appear somewhat artificial on both platforms. Activision’s studios have achieved remarkable technical feats in this cross-generation title. The game’s presentation demonstrably represents a significant evolution in visual fidelity.
The audio, featuring Dolby Atmos on Xbox Series X and 3D Audio on PS5, provides an unprecedented level of immersion. The sounds of gunfire whizzing past the player are incredibly realistic. Loading times have been significantly reduced, and the popular multiplayer online and Zombies modes are arguably at their peak. The PS5’s DualSense controller utilizes haptic feedback to simulate the distinct feel of different weapons when firing, offering a tactile dimension to the gameplay.
Players familiar with Call of Duty, particularly the Black Ops series, will find the expected hard-boiled FPS action, historically-inspired settings, appearances of real-world figures, and adrenaline-pumping set pieces. The game’s intense and engaging nature is particularly impressive on next-gen hardware. Furthermore, it is important to consider that this release represents only the initial offerings for these new consoles.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a compelling title to showcase the capabilities of next-generation consoles. Similar to Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, it represents a high point for the series in recent years. However, the next-gen version carries a premium price, exceeding 700 SEK and reaching 800 SEK at some retailers. Xbox Series X owners can also anticipate 120fps support for Modern Warfare and Warzone; no comparable upgrade has been announced for the PS5 as of this review.
A pertinent question for the future of Call of Duty is whether the franchise will explore new antagonists beyond the recurring Russian adversaries, potentially focusing on more contemporary and relevant conflicts.
Note: Exercise caution when selecting your version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Distinct versions exist for next- and last-generation consoles (with the next-gen version priced higher), along with an edition encompassing both. A free upgrade path is not available for those planning to purchase the XB1 or PS4 versions with the intention of later playing on XBSX or PS5.
