Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 PS5 Review – The Series’ Most Absurd Game Ever?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 PS5 Review – The Series' Most Absurd Game Ever?

The Call of Duty franchise has a long-standing tradition of pushing boundaries, but with Black Ops 7 on PlayStation 5, it seems the developers have taken a colossal leap into uncharted territory. From its earliest teasers, whispers of a truly bizarre and unprecedented experience circulated, and now that the game is in players’ hands, those whispers have erupted into a roar. This review delves deep into whether Black Ops 7 truly lives up to its reputation as the series’ most absurd game ever. We’ll dissect its mind-bending campaign, eccentric gameplay mechanics, chaotic multiplayer, and how the PS5’s power amplifies its unique brand of madness. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about Call of Duty.

The campaign’s mind-bending narrative

From the very first mission, Black Ops 7‘s campaign throws players into a narrative vortex that makes previous installments look like a walk in the park. Gone are the clear-cut good vs. evil scenarios; instead, we’re presented with a labyrinthine plot that blurs the lines between reality and delusion, past and present. Protagonists grapple not just with enemy forces but with their own fractured psyches, experiencing vivid hallucinations, memory manipulation, and a recurring sense of existential dread. Key historical events are twisted into elaborate conspiracies, featuring characters who defy typical human limitations, capable of feats that stretch credulity to its breaking point. One mission, in particular, set within a shifting, dream-like cityscape, forces players to question the reliability of their senses, making it less of a military shooter and more of a psychological thriller. The sheer audacity of the storytelling, coupled with its willingness to embrace the outlandish, firmly plants Black Ops 7 in a league of its own for narrative absurdity.

Gameplay mechanics: innovation or insanity?

Beyond the story, Black Ops 7 introduces gameplay mechanics that are either visionary or utterly insane, depending on your perspective. The traditional run-and-gun formula is still present, but it’s now layered with abilities and scenarios that defy conventional military simulation. Players gain access to a “Synapse Override” ability, allowing momentary control over enemy minds, leading to hilariously chaotic friendly-fire scenarios. Certain environmental interactions are exaggerated, with destructible elements reacting in surprisingly over-the-top ways, like entire buildings collapsing from a single well-placed grenade launcher shot. Vehicle sections feature gravity-defying maneuvers and weaponry that seems straight out of a sci-fi cartoon. While these additions undeniably inject a fresh, albeit bizarre, energy into the gameplay loop, they often contribute to the feeling that the developers simply threw every wild idea they had at the wall, and somehow, most of it stuck. This embrace of the absurd is a double-edged sword, providing unique thrills while occasionally sacrificing tactical depth for pure spectacle.

Multiplayer madness and modes

If the campaign hints at absurdity, the multiplayer in Black Ops 7 fully embraces it, cranking the dial to eleven. Maps are designed with verticality and chaotic choke points that ensure constant, frantic action. Take “Carnival of Chaos,” a map set in a dilapidated amusement park where active rides and explosive props add layers of unpredictability to every gunfight. New game modes, such as “Reality Bender,” where players randomly switch loadouts and even character models mid-match, push the boundaries of conventional online shooters. Specialist abilities are particularly outlandish, ranging from temporary invincibility that turns you into a glowing spectral figure, to a device that teleports you across the map instantly, leaving a temporary, explosive after-image. The weapon customization system also leans into the bizarre, allowing for attachments that create laser beams or projectile-splitting rounds. This over-the-top design choice ensures that every multiplayer match is a unique, often hilarious, and undeniably chaotic experience, cementing its place as a truly absurd online offering.

Visuals, sound, and the PS5 power

The PlayStation 5 hardware plays a crucial role in bringing Black Ops 7‘s unique brand of absurdity to life. The game leverages the console’s power to deliver stunning 4K visuals at a smooth 60 frames per second, ensuring that every exploding asset, every fantastical character model, and every mind-bending environment looks incredibly sharp and detailed. The visual fidelity of the particle effects during chaotic firefights, combined with ray-traced lighting that casts dynamic shadows in ever-shifting spaces, truly enhances the surreal atmosphere. Sound design is equally impressive, with the PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech making every distorted voice, every impossible explosion, and every disorienting effect feel incredibly immersive. The haptic feedback of the DualSense controller further amplifies this, providing tactile sensations that match the game’s increasingly bizarre events – from the subtle vibrations of a hallucination to the powerful thrum of an absurd weapon firing. This technical mastery ensures that even when the game is at its most ridiculous, it remains a visually and aurally spectacular experience.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on PS5 is an experience unlike any other in the venerable franchise. It fearlessly embraces a level of absurdity that will undoubtedly polarize its player base. The campaign’s fractured narrative and psychological warfare push storytelling boundaries, while its gameplay mechanics introduce a chaotic freedom that redefines what a Call of Duty game can be. The multiplayer, a true carnival of madness, provides endless moments of unpredictable fun, amplified by the PS5’s stunning visuals and immersive audio. Whether this is a brilliant evolution or a step too far into the bizarre depends entirely on your taste for the unconventional. However, one thing is certain: Black Ops 7 is a memorable, audacious, and profoundly unique entry that permanently etches its name as perhaps the most absurd, yet undeniably captivating, game the series has ever delivered.

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