Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Awakening

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Cheat Code Central
    Feb 3, 2016
    96
    Plain and simple, Black Ops III’s Awakening delivers and is worth your 15 bucks if you’re looking for some fresh maps with solid architecture and an additional Zombies offering for you twisted freaks that love the heart-pounding scary stuff.
  2. Digital Chumps
    Feb 6, 2016
    84
    Awakening is worth the price of admission. Treyarch has always done well with creating a solid multiplayer experience through creative MP maps and Awakening just reaffirms that notion.
  3. COGconnected
    Feb 11, 2016
    81
    This time around the development team made the decision to mix the new DLC maps with the existing ones which stinks for those who just want to get into the new maps. Regardless, this small annoyance doesn’t take away from Black Ops III’s strong first batch of DLC.
  5. Critical Hit
    Feb 12, 2016
    80
    So that’s it! you'll get 4 great maps and while I definitely have my preference I can honestly say I’m never disappointed with which map is picked in the rotation. They are all good in their own way, just like the kid at school who licked the chalkboard when no one was looking.
  6. The Games Machine
    Feb 11, 2016
    80
    A pretty standard DLC for the Call of Duty series, but the overall quality is undeniably good. The cherry on top is a great co-op mode that perfectly fulfills the needs of fans of nazi-zombies.
  7. XGN
    Feb 5, 2016
    80
    Awakening brings us 3 great multiplayer maps, and one mediocre one, but does deliver the greatest zombies experience to date, making it a must have expansion for every Call of Duty player.
  8. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Feb 3, 2016
    80
    But regardless of how one happens to feel about the cast switch, Awakening still makes for a pretty attractive bit of DLC for anyone who’s still playing – and would like to keep playing – Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
  9. We Got This Covered
    Feb 3, 2016
    80
    For those not interested in the franchise, Awakening will do little to change your mind. However, for fans of the series, the first DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops III features a solid collection of maps and an excellent Zombie mode addition that more than justify the cost of the pack.
  10. Destructoid
    Feb 2, 2016
    80
    If you still play Black Ops III, you can't really go wrong with Awakening -- especially since the new maps are now built into normal playlists from the get-go.
  11. God is a Geek
    Feb 4, 2016
    75
    A competent map pack featuring two that are very good, one that's extremely popular, and one not very good map.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 48
  3. Negative: 17 out of 48
  1. oDjento
    Feb 4, 2016
    6
    I got this with the season pass so I would say a promising start to the dlc for sure.

    To Start with the Multiplayer maps I'll review each    I got this with the season pass so I would say a promising start to the dlc for sure.

    To Start with the Multiplayer maps I'll review each individually.

    Gauntlet is an extremely well made map that provides numerous paths to follow and each path plays differently to make each engagement different. All game modes I have played so far work greatly. Basically, the Street side provides a corridor engagement similar to something we haven't seen since vacant in COD4, which can be overcomes if you want to push forward by wall running the top so you're harder to see. There is also a corridor in the middle that can be used to evade fire. The snowy section provides two different ledges in which you can fire across the bridge and plays in the most multileveled way of all terrains. there is plenty of ways to cross to the other side which makes it surprisingly easier to pass through the middle than the sides. The jungle area is hard to see through due to all the foliage and therefore must be passed through slower. It is more vast than the street district yet smaller than the snowy one, less directions to cover than the snowy map and more direct in approach as to where to look like the street district. One of my all time favourite maps. 9/10
    Rise provides very interesting gameplay when it does work. The middle section is a death zone due to how many angles must be covered and therefore provides some real intense engagements, but the flanking routes are vast enough to easily counter enemies looking from the other side of the middle (especially the water route). This map plays pretty sweetly if it does work, as it is far too easy to spawn trap the map and can therefore kill any enjoyment you may get out of it. Nevertheless, when it does work it is very, very fun. 7/10
    Skyjacked is a little too small for the faster paced gameplay of BO3 compared to BO2, and therefore falls pretty flat. The middle section works pretty well however due to the wall running sides and it is hard but possible to completely flank the enemy by letting the propellers propel you across to the back of the ship but the indoor areas of the map allow for a clusterfluck of spawn killing and the map can be a pain on domination. 6/10
    Splash is the most colourful map but falls flat on most gameplay. The Middle section is well made with the water routes and two tunnels allowing multileveled entrances and a indoor tunnel in the middle to safely transfer you from one side to another (despite its on top of map glitch), but the other two sections of the map are fairly shoddy. Coming from the ticket booths the right side provides the cool broken ship and wall running section into the map but it is impossible to stay alive due to the other team having far more cover than you. the left side from the ticket booths however is a shambles. It is disgusting to try play on it on domination and is far too open and easy to access. You'll always get killed trying to take B. Even on other game modes, it's too open to cross if there are other enemies there. The rocky tunnels also feel ugly to run through when trying to play matches due to the cover on the other side of them blocking your side down to C side. 5.5/10
    The New zombies map is actually really sweet and I have been really enjoying it. The multi levels are cool and it provides a nice mixture of routes that you can run around freely in, as I thought shadows of evil could be a little too thin at times when trying to run down certain paths. Aesthetic is nice and map works well especially with additions of bow and gravity spikes. Best Map in this game so far. 8.5/10
    This is worth the pick up if you have the extra money, and on average for me comes out with a score of 7.2/10. Hopefully multiplayer maps improve overall (Not towards gauntlet though) and zombies keeps up with maps like Der Eisendrache.
    7.2/10    … Full Review »
  2. MovieVerdict
    Feb 14, 2016
    8
    Der Eisendrache- Treyarch has done it again. They created a masterpiece of a zombie map. 9/10

    Skyjacked- As good as it was before with a    Der Eisendrache- Treyarch has done it again. They created a masterpiece of a zombie map. 9/10

    Skyjacked- As good as it was before with a great design complementing the movement system. However, a little small for the BO 3 gameplay. 8/10

    Rise- Not a great map, it's middle isn't drawn out enough but the nooks and cranny's and turns make this map better. 7/10

    Gauntlet- Gameplay is a little slow because the map is so huge, but it benefits from the interesting unique 3 lane design. 8/10

    Splash- If there is one map I HATE in this DLC, it is splash. For a BO3 map it is way to cramped, with a lot of camping areas and cover exploits. Over all not fun to play on because you die every time you turn the corner. I will give it some credit for uniqueness with the design and colors. It gets a 6/10

    If you love COD and Treyarch maps, I recommend this for you. It will keep you playing for a while longer. If you don't really like BO 3. Don't get Awakening. These maps won't make it any better but just complement the base game style.    … Full Review »
  3. Easyman
    Aug 2, 2018
    10
    The multiplayer maps that you get are pretty good at most, but the real focus here is the zombie experience that has been added “DerThe multiplayer maps that you get are pretty good at most, but the real focus here is the zombie experience that has been added “Der Eisendrache”!!!… Full Review »
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