Call of Duty forgot what 'Black Ops' meant

This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for everyone Call of Duty: Black Ops campaign, incl Call of Duty: Black Ops 7'with.

It's been a long time since a Call of Duty the campaign was considered a truly great one by the masses. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6After that, the campaign was fresh Modern Warfare 3A disastrous story mode with some memorable story beats and fun action scenes. But it couldn't quite capture the magic of the golden age Call of Duty campaigns like Modern warfare, Black Ops 1and Modern Warfare 2. Unfortunately, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 he feels different Modern Warfare 3-a big step back for the franchise.

During its opening weekend Call of Duty: Black Ops 7The user's campaign was heavily criticized on the Internet. Many longtime fans expressed their disappointment with the tonal direction Black Ops 7The campaign, as well as its over-the-top boss fights, its unfinished solo experience, and its lackluster ending. The general line of most criticism is this Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 it just doesn't feel like a Black Ops campaign, and the main reason for this is that it forgets one essential part of it Black Ops' identity.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's campaign forgets a crucial part of the Black Ops franchise's identity

(Almost) Every Call of Duty: Black Ops campaign has a huge twist

Call of Duty: Black Ops – Alex Mason was brainwashed by Dragovič and Reznov, and Reznov died in Vorkuta
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – Menendez gets Woods to kill Alex Mason
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – The player character is dead and has taken over Taylor's mind and each level is a simulation based on Taylor's memories
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Bell is actually one of Perseus' spies who was brainwashed to help the CIA
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Case was the original test subject of the failed super soldier drug known as The Cradle

The only entry in the series that doesn't contain any major twists is Call of Duty: Black Ops 4because she didn't have a traditional campaign.

David Mason at Numbers Station - Black Ops 7 Trailer

While the very first Call of Duty: Black Ops Packed with thrilling set pieces and iconic characters, the campaign is probably best remembered for its third twist, which reveals that player character Alex Mason has been brainwashed into killing multiple targets, first by Soviet General Dragovich and then by Viktor Reznov. Although Black Ops 2the twist is much more straightforward, Black Ops 3, Black Ops Cold Warand Black Ops 6 all major features reveal that they reframe the events of the campaign, usually in a way that bends the player's perception of reality.

The most memorable Call of Duty: Black Ops twists are those that are integrated into the game. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a great example of this, the “Break on Through” mission slowly reveals its stunning twist by changing the environment and enemies around the player in real time as their character's psyche begins to shatter.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's campaign doesn't have a big twist

Instead of delivering a mind-blowing big twist in its third act, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in the first 30 minutes it reveals the whole hand. The very first mission Black Ops 7The campaign ends with Specter One being exposed to a mysterious red gas that throws them into a hallucinatory boss fight together against the idea of death. Black Ops 2 antagonist Raul Menendez.

Before the players even begin to think about what they just experienced, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 he immediately reveals that the hallucinations were caused by red gas affecting the team's neural connections, that Menendez is actually dead, and that The Guild is behind it all. Any suspense or mystery around Black Ops 7At the beginning of the second mission, the plot is gone.

Cradle of the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 campaign

To make matters worse, there are practically no twists in the rest Call of Duty: Black Ops 7four hour campaign. The red gas is eventually revealed to be from The Cradle Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's campaign, but it reveals that it lacks narrative weight and feels like it's just meant to tie the game back to last year's entry. Razor also technically betrays Specter One, though his betrayal also lacks any weight since he's a new character for Black Ops 7 this was only seen in one mission before his heel turn.

The razor spin will also be ruined for anyone who looked at it Call of Duty: Black Ops 7Multiplayer operators before the campaign starts, as it is located in The Guild section.

Despite being a direct recreation of the previous one Black Ops mission series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 it doesn't feel like a true entry in the series, and the lack of any sort of jaw-dropping plot twist certainly doesn't help this big disconnect between the new entry and the series' core identity.