Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Can Co-op Save the Game?

Treyarch and Raven Software are marketing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the biggest and most ambitious Black Ops game ever. The year is 2035, and the world is drowning in chaos, psychological warfare, and covert operations. On paper, it all sounds amazing. In reality? Unfortunately, not nearly as impressive.

Yes, the game looks good… sometimes too good. Visually, Black Ops 7 is amazing. Lighting, smoke effects, and other graphical details – it absolutely looks like a proper AAA game. However, at the same time, they push it so far that some characters end up looking unrealistic and moving in a strange, weird way. AI?

And wait, that’s not even the worst part. Who was the genius who decided Call of Duty needs boss fights?

Why on earth did anyone think it was a great idea to insert annoying, drawn-out boss battles into a Call of Duty campaign? To artificially extend playtime? Call of Duty is supposed to be fast, smooth, intense action – not fighting with some bullet sponge villains that kills all the fun. Every time a boss fight started, I let out a heavy, frustrated sigh.

And if you thought that was bad, here comes the next one: Platforming. Yes, really. Platforming in Call of Duty.

Black Ops 7 tries to offer variety with massive battles, these ridiculous bosses, stealth missions, and now platforming. It’s so “fun” jumping and climbing, only to slip and fall to your death… and then the game throws you back to the very start of the platforming section. “Start over, jerk, you definitely enjoyed that.” Thankfully, in co-op, if you fall behind too much, you get pulled ahead to where the first players are. But still… who asked for this platforming bullshit? A completely unnecessary addition.

A story that feels like a huge mess

I honestly tried to figure out if the developers were aiming for psychological tension and horror elements, trying to create something F.E.A.R.-like. If so, they failed spectacularly. The entire campaign leaves you with a distinct “meh” feeling; it’s a chaotic mess, and the moments designed to create tension just don’t land.

Will co-op save the day?

Okay, I’ve battered poor Black Ops 7 enough, so let me say something positive. The movement and weapons are still great. The selection of weapons is good, shooting feels great, and the movement is fast and smooth, as it should be. As a bonus, being able to switch between first-person and third-person views is a very welcome feature.

But the absolute best thing about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7? Co-op. Honestly, if I had to play the campaign alone, I probably would have quit after the first or, at the latest, the second mission and deleted the game. Playing with others made it playable and saved the campaign from being a total disaster.

“Endgame”

Once the campaign was finished, I got a small positive surprise: I was thrown into the “Endgame”, which at first glance seemed pretty cool and interesting. Unfortunately, after just three sessions, the whole thing felt so repetitive and boring that I lost all motivation to play it again. I truly don’t know who this is designed for. Probably someone who enjoys running from one point to another in an open world and doing the same tasks over and over again.

Multiplayer & Zombies – the classic COD experience

Multiplayer is exactly what you expect from Call of Duty: fast, chaotic, adrenaline-packed. Classic COD, unchanged.

Zombies mode is also included, for those who enjoy it. Personally, I’m not a fan, so I could happily live without it, but for zombie lovers – go wild.

Summary

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 tries to be big, ambitious, and innovative, but ends up failing in several ways. Yes, the game is beautiful, and the shooting part is enjoyable. But stupid boss fights, pointless platforming, a boring endgame, and a ridiculous story ruin the whole experience. The co-op option, however, is awesome.

Multiplayer and Zombies will probably keep long-time fans happy, especially those who don’t care about the campaign.

Recommended only for dedicated COD fans and players who plan to play only multiplayer and zombies or go through the campaign with friends.

For parents: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is rated for ages 18+ due to graphic violence and mature content.