Nov 2020
Welcome to the '80s, where shoulder pads were a fashion statement and Cold War literacy was a thing. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has landed on the PS4 like a tactical nuke at a reunion—loud, impactful, and likely to stir up some feelings. Grab your controllers, folks, because it's not just about shooting—it’s about stories that make you feel like a secret agent in a cheesy spy movie.
As with prior COD entries, the single-player mode takes center stage. Set in the lush backdrop of 1981, players jump into the shoes of CIA operative Russell Adler and his eclectic crew aiming to dismantle the imminent threat posed by the elusive Soviet spy known only as 'Perseus.' The campaign promises 'non-linear gameplay' which means you can choose how to approach your missions—like picking between frozen pizza or takeout for dinner; both aren’t gourmet but they will get the job done. The game lets you create your own character: choose your intelligence agency, skin tone, and even some spicy personality traits that add in-game perks. Sure, it’s like being in a high-stakes Tinder match, but with way more bullets. Multiplayer brings back traditional favorites with some new twists. It features new game modes like VIP Escort and Combined Arms. VIP Escort is like a game of cat and mouse where one team has to protect their VIP, while the other team generally tries to ruin their day. The maps showcase the classic COD three-lane philosophy—because who needs anything more complicated when you can have gunfights galore? As always, Zombies mode is back, and it’s glorious. Team up to tackle waves of undead in various locations, showcasing more creativity than my last failed cooking attempt. The inclusion of customizable weapons means players can feel like they’re really shaping their combat experience.
The visuals in Cold War are like a nostalgic trip through a VHS tape; they’re a pleasant homage to the '80s style while still feeling modern. Character models are startlingly detailed, and the environments really pop, even if they make me wish I could time travel back to an era where I didn't have to think about taxes. Explosions feel satisfyingly explosive, evoking that 'boom' factor without throwing realism completely out the window. Not to mention, the color palette is brighter than my future after finishing this game.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a refreshing cocktail of nostalgia, thrilling gameplay, and sheer chaos that does well at blending its components into a gameplay experience that is as explosive as the retro graphics suggest. While the campaign may not win any Oscar for storytelling, it still manages to deliver memorable moments and a whole lot of shooty-shooty bang-bang. Multiplayer offers exciting new modes and Zombies brings back that classic element in top form. While it stumbles in some areas compared to its predecessor, Cold War is definitely a worthy addition to the franchise and will probably make your friends jealous you got to the endgame before they did. Time to lock and load—that cold war won't win itself!
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