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An annual Call of Duty release is practically an international holiday now, with the yearly tradition of the FPS game dropping a new entry in the Fall. However, with the Black Ops 6 beta release date finally here (at least, in early access), my impressions of the new COD Black Ops 6 beta have left me hopeful that this year’s Call of Duty may stand out.
Key Takeaways
- The early access Black Ops 6 beta was available for people who pre-ordered the game.
- The Black Ops 6 open beta starts on September 6 until September 9, 2024.
- Black Ops 6 features a new omni-movement system, which overhauls how you play.
- Core maps in the closed beta are Derelict, Scud, Skyline, and Rewind.
- Game modes available in the beta are Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Order, Face Off Team Deathmatch, and Face Off Kill Confirmed.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Beta
Of course, this is only a small section of the larger game. The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 beta only features a few maps and game modes of the multiplayer section of the game, and I still need to experience Black Ops 6’s campaign and Zombies modes before giving a full review. That said, I’m expecting something worth playing when the Black Ops 6 release date arrives.
Based on that, it’s no surprise that my time with the Black Ops 6 early access period is heavily positive. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember, and after playing all of the Call of Duty games since I was practically born, I know I prefer Treyarch’s long-running Black Ops subseries. But that doesn’t negate how impressive the Black Ops 6 beta feels compared to recent CoD games, especially with the heavily marketed and fresh omni-movement system.
Making New Moves
It’s surprising that a Call of Duty game has gone so long without omni-movement, considering how well it fits into the formula of the FPS franchise.
Being able to dive in practically every direction, evading shots like Max Payne, and delivering a volley of bullets back in retaliation sits nicely within the action hero-style gameplay of a Call of Duty game, and landing those impressive clip-worthy moments feels as excellent as you’d expect.
It helps that Treyarch has seemingly developed a wide range of maps to fit the new mechanic, with each location offering more verticality and varying paths than most Call of Duty before it. Admittedly, the only disappointing part so far is the fact that the Black Ops 6 beta’s map selection is missing some smaller arenas for those wanting pure chaos, like a new version of Nuketown. Fortunately, it seems that Nuketown is coming to Call of Duty BO6 at launch under a new name – Sandhouse.
Skyline delivers a secret vent system that allows you to enter the enemy’s side of the map (of course, until the spawns inevitably flip), while Derelict gives you a rundown trainyard that offers numerous lanes whether playing Team Deathmatch or Domination. In all honesty, I’m not a big fan of Scud, as it doesn’t offer the vibrancy of other maps as well as being a hot spot for those who enjoy sitting in corners, lying in wait.
New Movement, Same Problems
Of course, playing as a versatile soldier able to pull off new trick shots only matters if the weapons are worthy, and fortunately, that’s the case. Besides the powerful Jackal PDW SMG that has been plaguing the BO6 beta servers since it came online, all of the weapons feel balanced, providing equally powerful instruments of death, depending on your preference. The XM4 assault rifle delivers a solid all-rounder, while on the other hand, the AMES 85 rains bullets on your enemies at the price of a higher recoil.
Of course, it’s not all perfect, despite my praise for this year’s Call of Duty. My biggest gripe is, unsurprisingly, the spawns.
Call of Duty games have suffered with spawn issues during beta and early launch for years, and it’s no different here, with enemies and allies alike spawning in similar vicinities too often. It doesn’t feel as bad as early Modern Warfare (2019), but it’s certainly noticeable.
There’s also been a huge problem with packet loss issues, with the alert popping up constantly throughout my time with the beta. Most of the time, it seems to just be a warning and not much else, but I have had issues with some shots not connecting when they should have.
The worst part, however, is not actually in Black Ops 6 itself. In fact, it’s the application, as Call of Duty HQ is absolutely abysmal.
It should be alleviated at launch, hopefully, but having to access Call of Duty HQ, update and restart the app, log in to the beta, and then watch it restart from scratch again is mind-blowingly dumb, and I wish Activision would go back to having each CoD game with its own library offering. However, all of that being said, the highs certainly outweigh the lows.
The Bottom Line
The Black Ops 6 beta feels like an improved version of Cold War in almost every way so far, and as Cold War is one of my favorite entries in almost a decade, it shouldn’t shock you that I’m seriously impressed. Obviously, the hope is that Treyarch will stick the landing with the rest of the Black Ops 6 content, but I’m not as anxious that Black Ops 6 wouldn’t be as good after years of CoD games having issues. We’ll see whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is one of the best FPS games in October.
