Call of Duty: Black Ops III

As a package, Black Ops III is a muddle. It is packed to the gills with things, certainly, but none of it joins up. [Jan 2016, p.114]

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a game of two thirds that gives us a fantastic multiplayer experience and an ever addicting Zombies mode, coupled with a poor single player. Hopefully Treyarch’s next entry can finally give us a commendable campaign to boot.

There’s plenty to do, but you can’t rid yourself of the feeling that there has never been a release in this franchise more dedicated to a certain kind of player. If you’re part of that crowd, rest assured that you’re going to wholly entertained. Everyone else might want to think twice.

Black Ops 3's biggest point of recommendation may be the breadth of content there, and that's a valid point of view. But Treyarch doesn't meaningfully move the series forward here.

This year's Call of Duty has a disappointing campaign, but is ultimately saved by its multiplayer modes. The increased movement and specialist classes add some much needed variety, and Zombies is a real treat this time around.

Call Of Duty’s most concerted effort to break the usual formula is unfortunately the most unsatisfying sequel in years, especially the badly flawed story campaign.

In its undead modes, and the first 10 hours of multiplayer, it excels. But in its campaign, it merely crawls forward. Black Ops III doesn't offer anything remarkable to the series, but does just enough to maintain the Call of Duty status quo. The franchise, however slowly, continues its inexorable march.

Black Ops III is a proof that it is not always necessary to change the basics at any cost, when you don’t bring a better solution. Especially in single player the creators attempted to make a revolutionary change and unfortunately it ended in disaster. Multiplayer, fortunately, stands on the same principles as in previous parts; it works excellently and entertains players for many hours, even though it brings nothing substantially new. Finally, MP is the only reason, why to play Call of Duty this year.

The game is filled to the brim with content, most of it disappointingly or needlessly executed.

It’s a grand and gaudy spectacle of incoherence that will likely be difficult to remember, but was a sight to see while it lasted.

Black Ops III is the classic fan game: if you still love the series, you’ll love this one. But if the relationship is fading into routine, if the spark has gone, those old habits and nervous tics are really going to nag at you. You will go through the motions, but quietly – guiltily – you will already be looking elsewhere.

Perhaps some pockets of the still-large Call of Duty fanbase will enjoy different parts of it more than I did, but as I add it all up, Black Ops III is a pretty even mix of positive and negatives. It's OK.