Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Awakening

 PlayStation 4
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

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  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 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    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    … Expand
  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 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    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.    … Expand
  3. Cryteknologi
    Mar 13, 2016
    1
    This could have been so much more than it is. The levels are just plain and boring, but what could you expect from EA? If they had put more time into making the levels they could be epic, but it's clearly just for milking the franchise. Wasted potential.
  4. danber2512
    Feb 2, 2016
    9
    Really good value for really good maps.

    Splash is probably the funniest map I can remember in a Call of Duty game. Not only because of the funny theme, but also because it's really well made in terms of competitive FPS design. Rise is also very good. Central choke area with minor corridors around and swiming areas. Skyjacked is BO2 Hijacked all over again with new clothes.    Really good value for really good maps.

    Splash is probably the funniest map I can remember in a Call of Duty game. Not only because of the funny theme, but also because it's really well made in terms of competitive FPS design.

    Rise is also very good. Central choke area with minor corridors around and swiming areas.

    Skyjacked is BO2 Hijacked all over again with new clothes.

    Gauntlet is probably the one the pleased me the least. The jungle area is a campers' paradise, the industrial area is plain simple corridor and the snow area is ok.

    The zombie map is amazing. Very well made in minor details.    … Expand
  5. 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 “Der Eisendrache”!!!
  6. aidanpscott
    Apr 22, 2016
    5
    It amazes me that Advanced Warfare was able to a more diverse set of multiplayer maps than Black Ops 3 day one!

    First off, I have to say I didn't expect the new zombie map Der Eisendrache to be all that good. Shadows of Evil was mediocre at best, and while the Giant is really good, we've played it already in WaW and BO1. I'm personally not a fan of Mob of the Dead. I don't like it    It amazes me that Advanced Warfare was able to a more diverse set of multiplayer maps than Black Ops 3 day one!

    First off, I have to say I didn't expect the new zombie map Der Eisendrache to be all that good. Shadows of Evil was mediocre at best, and while the Giant is really good, we've played it already in WaW and BO1. I'm personally not a fan of Mob of the Dead. I don't like it because it was too easy with the Zombie Shield, BlunderGat and Electric Cherry Perk. The Boss was annoying, and setting up the map was a grind, but this map seemed to have made the MotD formula work! It can get a little grindy, but it's easy to set up by round 8, 9, or 10. This map has numerous camping spots that rival even the Catwalk of Der Riese (The Giant), as well as a few really good Training Spots. There aren't any new regular weapons sadly, but there are new elemental bows, which are great (Overpowered actually. The map becomes too easy when using the Lightning Bow!). It's fun, public lobby friendly, I just wish players didn't have to continuously recreate the bows every damn time they play! The biggest issue I have with the map is the color palette! There is f***ing NEON BLUE LEVITATION GAS!!!! WHAT!!! This is Nazi Zombies for god's sake! This is suppost to be scary! I miss the fear factor and challenge factors of the old zombies maps, especially WaW and BO1. Overall, however, Der Eisendrache is one of the best zombies maps to date. It gets a 9/10, but that isn't enough to balance the crappy new multiplayer maps.

    The map I like the most is called Rise. It's design is similar to Array from Black Ops 1, which is confusing because Array isn't all that great. This map is surprising because I didn't expect it to be good. I thought it'd be the bad map of the group. It has circular lanes that connect to both spawn sides and a neat center lane with opposite windows for sniper support. I like the map because the flow is present, it's easy to maneuver, and has some good choke points. Visually, the map isn't all that special. It has a number of different paths to take, making every lane useable to the player. It actually feels balanced, which is something the other maps sorely lack. It's not too big, not too small. Overall, it's an enjoyable map. But as I said, nothing special. 7/10 (Good)

    The second best map is Gauntlet. A lot of people seem to like it. However, I was disappointed with it. I thought it would be a field changing map like those in AW, changing from Snow to City to Jungle environments, but sadly it's merely a map that has a Jungle Lane, City Lane, and in the middle, a snow lane. The map has some decent close quarters encounters, but it feels very small, and yet open. I don't know what it is. It's definitely not a bad map, but I feel that there could have been a much better one. 6/10 (Decent)

    The next map, Skyjacked, is a remake of Hijacked from BO2, a fan-favorite. I feel a lot of people are going to like this map just because it's a remake of Hijacked, but the feel of Skyjacked, combined with the Double jump ability is very different, and that isn't a good thing. It feels a lot duller, for one. I liked the wall running path they replaced with the Catwalk from Hijacked, but everything is basically the same otherwise. But because this map is a copy-paste of Hijacked (Activision puts no effort into creating maps! They are pretty much all copy-paste at this point in one way or another). That said, because movement is faster with double jump, boosting, sliding, etc. It destroys the flow of the map, which was built for standard old-school CoD movement. It's sad because I really loved Hijacked. This map is very disappointing. Not bad, but compared to Hijacked, it's mediocre. 6/10 at best (Decent)

    The last map is Splash. Oh... my... god... This map is living proof that Activision markets to little kids more than teens or adults because the colors in this map are absolutely ridiculous! I'm talking about neon blue, green, bright yellow, even PINK! What! The map plays well enough, but there are so few choke points! The map has a few camping spots that are really annoying. The water paths are nice for flanking, but hard to use due to the sniping spots from both sides (Which are open waterslide tubes) What has call of duty become!? This map plays really well actually, but the colors, the camping spots, the sniping, just makes it unbalanced and kid-friendly. I've enjoyed this map, don't get me wrong, but it has some serious problems 5/10 (Mediocre)

    What's funny about this map pack is what I expect to be good wasn't that good, and what I expected to be not-that-good, was actually pretty good.

    There are two maps worth getting here: Rise and Der Eisendrache.

    And there are three that aren't: Skyjacked, Gauntlet and Splash.

    I would say that it's worth buying when the price goes down, especially for Zombies Players, like myself, because I haven't seen a really good zombie map since Call of the Dead in Black Ops! 5/10    … Expand
  7. harlan10
    Feb 17, 2016
    10
    A great DLC Skyjacked was great and Splash, Gauntlet, and Rise were also very good and the zombie map was also very good. I liked alot better than shadows of evil witch I thought was okay and the Giant was also good.
  8. mrpeanut332
    Mar 9, 2016
    5
    If i were you i would save your money on these maps because if you play the awakening playlist you will 9 times out of 10 be playing on sky jacked an average remake of hijacked which is fun until you've played it 50 times and the remainder of the maps are just decent except for splash which i fell in love with it was a cool creative breath of fresh air and the zombies is fantastic but allIf i were you i would save your money on these maps because if you play the awakening playlist you will 9 times out of 10 be playing on sky jacked an average remake of hijacked which is fun until you've played it 50 times and the remainder of the maps are just decent except for splash which i fell in love with it was a cool creative breath of fresh air and the zombies is fantastic but all in all not worth the price tag… Expand

Critic Reviews

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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. GameOver.gr
    Apr 19, 2016
    50
    This new map pack could be described in one word as mediocre. The new maps feel repetitive and uninspired. This is very unfortunate, since the core game remains the best Call of Duty experience in our mind. The only bright side of the Awaking is its new zombie map, which we are certain that the fans of zombie mode will enjoy.
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  2. Hardcore Gamer
    Feb 13, 2016
    70
    Awakening’s new multiplayer maps are well designed, encouraging players to experiment with different playstyles. Skyjacked will be appreciated by those who loved Hijacked, but others may find its constant spawn-flipping annoying. Der Eisendrache is an excellent Zombies experience that longtime Zombies fans will have a great time sinking their teeth into. The only downside to Awakening is Splash thanks to its numerous glitches.
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  3. 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.
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