Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on PS5 is an ambitious package that aims to deliver across multiple game modes – yet its reach sometimes exceeds its grasp. With a co-op campaign, a tension-filled extraction-style Endgame mode, fast-paced multiplayer, and a massive round-based Zombies map, the game tries to be everything … and the result is often uneven.
The campaign throws players into a futuristic thriller set in 2035, as David Mason and his team delve into conspiracies and hallucinations. While the setting is rich, the missions feel clearly designed around a four-player co-op experience. Playing solo can quickly become frustrating: enemy waves don’t scale well, and mission structure often demands repetition. The environments, though visually familiar, recycle old Black Ops maps, diluting the freshness that the new story promises. If you love the classic solo campaigns in the series, this one might be a bit of a let-down even though it has its moments.
One clever design touch is the weapon progression system: the guns you use in the campaign earn XP that transfers to multiplayer, creating a meaningful connection between modes. However, the campaign’s loot feels too scattered, and frequent forced weapon changes prevent players from truly mastering their loadouts. Open-world sections interspersed with linear set-pieces struggle with pacing – and some stretches feel empty for a mode aimed at providing narrative-driven thrills.
In multiplayer on PS5, movement feels exhilarating. Treyarch leans into vertical gameplay: wall jumps, fast traversal, and fluid verticality all contribute to a bold evolution of shooter mechanics. But this very dynamism may be polarizing: players who prefer classic, grounded gunfights might feel out of place in this high-flying system.
Multiplayer also shakes up matchmaking, offering a looser, more relaxed feel that many will welcome. This freedom brings variety, though some purists will miss more competitive matchmaking. The maps blend nostalgic layouts with new designs – yet the reuse of old assets is hard to ignore, making portions of the game feel like an expansion of last year’s game rather than a full sequel.
Endgame, the 32-player extraction mode, stands out as perhaps the most original piece of Black Ops 7. You navigate Avalon, take on objective-based missions, loot, and try to extract – with the risk of losing progress if you fail. The tension is there, but for some, the stakes don’t feel quite high enough, and the gameplay loop (at launch) can become repetitive over time.
The Zombies mode is a clear highlight. Its huge round-based map offers intricate design, with multiple interconnected zones and a usable vehicle that gives the mode a fresh feel. For seasoned players, the “Curse” difficulty provides a real challenge: limited revives, aggressive foes, and enticing rewards. Meanwhile, a playful Dead Ops Arcade mode adds variety by turning things into a tongue-in-cheek twin-stick shooter.
Technically, the game mostly performs well on PS5. Cutscenes and character models look sharp, but certain open-world areas feel underpopulated and visually familiar. Sound design is solid – the gunfire, voice acting, and explosions are all well-executed – though there are few moments that reach for dramatic flair.
Ultimately, Black Ops 7 is a mixed bag: bold in its intentions, but compromised in its delivery. It offers tremendous value for players who want a deep co-op experience, high-flying multiplayer, or challenging Zombies, but it may disappoint those hoping for a tight, cinematic campaign or a more traditional multiplayer experience. It’s not a failure – far from it – but it doesn’t quite live up to the full weight of its own ambition.
Score: 7.0/10
Press Play Media 