Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Review

Credits: Image Source - Activison & Steam

"Call of Duty: Black Ops III" is a first-person shooter set in 2065, a dystopian future where advanced cybernetic technology has transformed both warfare and humanity. 

The game is the 12th installment in the franchise, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. In this review, I will cover the main topics regarding the game.

What is the central story of Black Ops III’s campaign?

The story takes place in 2065, where advanced cybernetic technology has revolutionized warfare and humanity. 

Players take on the role of a Black Ops soldier equipped with implants that grant superhuman abilities and a direct connection to the DNI (Direct Neural Interface) intelligence system. 

The story begins with a failed rescue mission that results in the protagonist’s cybernetic reconstruction. 

This puts him at the center of an investigation involving unstable soldiers, a rogue artificial intelligence, and the threat posed by a military group called the 54 Immortals.

Can the campaign be played in co-op with other players?

Yes, the game supports cooperative mode with up to 4 players online and 2 players locally.

What are the main differences between Black Ops III and previous titles in the franchise?

One of the key changes is the introduction of fluid movement and cybernetic abilities, such as wall-running, double jumps, and a more in-depth class customization system.

Instead of the traditional "perks" system, Black Ops III offers a "Specialists" system, each with unique abilities and superpowers, allowing for greater strategy during matches.

How long does it take to finish the campaign?

According to HowLongToBeat, the game takes around 9 hours to finish the main campaign and 14.5 hours for completionists. In my gameplay, I took 11 hours to complete the main campaign.

What does the Zombies mode offer in terms of story and gameplay?

The Zombies mode features an engaging and complex narrative that unfolds across multiple maps and story arcs. 

The story follows a group of characters as they face hordes of undead in a post-apocalyptic setting, with mysteries tied to secret experiments, time travel, and alternate dimensions.

In terms of gameplay, the objective is to survive increasingly difficult waves of zombies. Players explore environments to find weapons, power-ups, GobbleGums (temporary abilities), and traps to aid their survival. 

The gameplay is highly collaborative, with players working together to unlock areas, upgrade weapons, and complete objectives.

Credits: Image Source - Activision & Steam

How many multiplayer maps are available?

There are 13 multiplayer maps available, designed to support various game modes such as Team Deathmatch, Domination, Search and Destroy, and others.

Does the game have cross-play between platforms?

No, Call of Duty: Black Ops III does not support cross-play, meaning players on different platforms cannot play together.

What are the minimum system requirements to run the game on PC?

According to the official Steam page, the minimum requirements are:

• OS: Windows 7 64-Bit / Windows 8 64-Bit / Windows 8.1 64-Bit

• Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-530 @ 2.93 GHz / AMD Phenom™ II X4 810 @ 2.60 GHz

• Memory: 6 GB RAM

• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 470 @ 1GB / ATI® Radeon™ HD 6970 @ 1GB

• DirectX: Version 11

• Network: Broadband Internet connection

• Storage: 100 GB available space

• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

Note: Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

Does Black Ops III have dedicated servers for online matches?

Yes, the game has dedicated servers designed to provide a more stable and lower-latency gaming experience, ensuring smoother online matches.

Is there a progression system in Zombies mode?

Yes, there is. The progression system includes experience levels and rewards that enhance the player’s experience during Zombies matches.

Here are the key aspects of this system:

• Experience Levels (XP): Players earn XP as they progress through the zombie waves, complete objectives, and kill zombies. This allows the player to level up, unlocking rewards and additional abilities.

• Weapons and Perks: Players can unlock powerful weapons and perks that help them survive the increasingly difficult zombie waves.

• GobbleGums: A key feature of the progression system in Zombies mode is GobbleGum, consumables that grant temporary special effects, such as health regeneration, increased damage, or new powers. These can be collected and activated during the game, offering an extra layer of strategy.

• Customization Layers: As players progress in Zombies mode, they can unlock weapon skins and other customization options, allowing for a more individualized and rewarding experience.

Is there support for mods or customizations in the PC version?

Yes, through Steam Workshop, players can download and install mods created by the community, adding new content like maps, game modes, and changes to mechanics.

Does the game include microtransactions or loot boxes?

Yes, the game features both. Activision introduced these mechanics primarily for the multiplayer mode and cosmetic items in the game.

• Loot Boxes: The game features a "Supply Drops" system that allows players to acquire cosmetic items such as weapon skins, character gestures, and other visual items. These Supply Drops can be purchased with COD Points (CP), which are bought through real money transactions, or earned by playing and completing challenges or milestones in the game.

• Microtransactions: Microtransactions in Black Ops III are primarily used to purchase CP (the game’s virtual currency), which can be used to open loot boxes or acquire other cosmetic content. The option to purchase items such as skins and gestures is available, but all items in the loot boxes are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay or provide direct competitive advantages.

It’s worth noting that most of the content is focused on visual customization and aesthetic variety for players who choose to invest money, without offering any advantage to players who choose not to spend money in the game.

Credits: Image Source - Activision & Steam

Is there support for bots in offline multiplayer?

Yes. This feature allows players to play multiplayer matches against AI bots instead of real players. 

The bots can be adjusted in difficulty, giving players the option to choose between easy, medium, or hard levels, depending on the experience they want.

Conclusion.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a solid addition to the franchise. Its campaign has a good length and a fair quality in terms of story, but it excels in difficulty. 

The enemies on harder difficulty levels are truly challenging, which took me some time to get through each phase. 

As for Zombies mode and multiplayer, I can’t provide a final verdict as I didn’t play enough to form a complete opinion. 

Overall, Call of Duty offers a good experience in terms of campaign and providing a challenge for players.

If you are interested in watching any part of the game, you can watch my full YouTube playlist.