Gaming

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 review: Ambitious but reliably good

Thanks to a refreshingly experimental campaign

Published

November 7, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

There is only so much you can do with the first-person shooter genre before it all boils down to just shooting at targets. With decades of experience under its belt, it’s easy – or perhaps, expected – to assume that the Call of Duty series has reached the end of its bag of tricks. Black Ops 6 can prove this assumption wrong, though. But it’s not so much a reinvention as it is a loving tribute to the greatest hits of the genre.

A campaign to (shoot, sneak, survive, and) die for

As someone who’s played the original campaigns of the very first Call of Duty games, the franchise relies on a few strategies to set each game apart from one another. They can tell a compelling story, design intricate maps, or – as is common in today’s game – showcase what players can do in multiplayer mode.

Black Ops 6, on the other hand, takes a more experimental approach, rather than going for the traditional run-and-gun levels. After a brief prologue of the latter, the campaign opens up to a cornucopia of variety. One level has players stealthily infiltrate a political event hosted by Bill Clinton. The next chapter then takes players to the front door of Saddam Hussein’s palace in a Halo-like open-world map. Each level is fundamentally different from the rest. But, if you miss the old run-and-guns, every level usually ends in a straight-up gunfight.

This is definitely a bold approach for a very traditional series. The campaign effectively borrows its ideas from the best of the genre: the aforementioned Halo, Bioshock, and Dishonored, for example. Amid its boldness, it’s also refreshing after years trudging through similar-looking shooting levels.

What makes Black Ops 6 a Call of Duty game?

Though Black Ops 6’s campaign is easily the most fun I’ve had in a Call of Duty campaign, it’s a bit difficult to sniff out its essence as a Call of Duty game. A lot of times, I kept forgetting that I was playing one.

It’s not a knock on Black Ops 6, to be fair. Rather, it’s a comment on the entire series. The game could have been tighter if it had a stronger fiber that bridges levels together into one cohesive unit.

Now, the campaign does have a few ways of doing this. The story, for one, has the makings of a traditional political thriller, as is expected from the Black Ops series. Another way is the safe house in between missions, a hub world stylized as “The Rook”. This is where the game can do a bit more.

The Rook is a safe house where the main crew rests in between missions. It’s where you, the playable character named Case, can learn more about your teammates. Additionally, it also offers upgrades you can take for missions, purchasable through collectible currency, which is difficult to obtain through the campaign.

While these are all what you would expect from a hub world, it doesn’t feel valuable in the overall game. Each upgrade, offered by improving the safehouse, offers only marginal benefits like reducing recoil by a small percentage. All of them are just tiny adjustments that can make the campaign a tad bit better but are ultimately unnecessary. Plus, since the game goes through different genres, an upgrade tree that focuses mainly on shooting doesn’t seem as useful.

Where do zombies go?

Leaving the campaign aside, it’s time to look at another Black Ops classic, the Zombies mode. Much like its previous iteration, Black Ops 6’s Zombies is an arcade mode that has players fight through never-ending hordes of ghouls.

As I’ve played over the years, the Zombies mode is always an enjoyable time, especially with friends. Black Ops 6 is no different. The game currently has two different maps: Terminus and Liberty Falls. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t really need to. The formula is still tried-and-tested for a coop experience.

It’s still a difficult journey for solo players, though. If you’re playing the mode without much experience of the maps, finding where to go is almost impossible. A guide was practically a necessity when I tried the new maps alone for the first time.

A multiplayer so fast, your head spins

As I mentioned, I played through the original Call of Duty a lifetime ago, which automatically puts me in an age group whose reflexes trail behind today’s younger players. Climbing through the leaderboard is more difficult. That said, Black Ops 6’s multiplayer mode retains the same trait that makes it popular year after year: being easy to pick up.

A multiplayer match rarely needs an introduction. Just click “Multiplayer” and fly immediately into a lobby. On-screen prompts and a voiceover tell you what to do, but the flow is simple enough to follow even without instructions.

Yes, I died a lot more often than I got a kill, but there was never any frustration of losing. The fun was always present, whether it’s watching others get amazing kills or getting the occasional one yourself.

Also, though I’ve waxed poetic about this before, it bears repeating that the new omnidirectional movement plays so fluidly on Black Ops 6’s system. The new maps are also fun to discover as they add more verticality in king-of-the-mountain-style layouts. Finally, the current map rotation includes an almost-identical recreation of Nuketown, the classic map from the original Black Ops.

Is this your GaMeMatch?

The Black Ops series is a bright spot for the entire Call of Duty franchise. The original featured the franchise’s most memorable story and other game modes to keep you playing for some time. Now, more than a decade later, Black Ops 6 regains the series its reputation as the most ambitious title to date. The game’s singleplayer experiments combines seamlessly with tried-and-tested multiplayer and zombie modes, making it worth playing for the whole year.

Related Topics:Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 featured

Gaming

NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 can turn your favorite AAA game into AI slop

DLSS 5 will launch on select games.

Published

March 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Have you ever wondered why RAM prices are going up this year? Everyone is rightfully saying that AI is the reason for the price hike, but it’s hard to palpably see why. Today, NVIDIA is showing off where its hard-earned profits are going by revealing DLSS 5.

For gamers who don’t have a particularly strong machine, NVIDIA’s DLSS technology upscales a game’s graphics quality and frame rate to artificially keep up with newer hardware. A few months ago, the company unveiled DLSS 4.5, which marks the latest step to help games sparkle. Today, with DLSS 5, the technology is going all-in on AI.

In a tech demo, NVIDIA showcased the latest version of the technology. This time, the feature will use photoreal lighting and materials to alter graphics. It can allegedly analyze a scene’s elements — including hair, fabric, and translucent skin — based simply on a single frame.

The demo’s most prominent example is Resident Evil Requiem. Grace Ashcroft, the gamer’s protagonist, evolves from her doll-like appearance into… well, something you might see on an AI-generated mobile game ad.

NVIDIA claims that the new version will make games look closer to real life. The jury is still out, especially with such a low sample size. However, in this writer’s humble opinion, it’s gonna be a no for me, dawg. I’d rather play with what the developer originally intended for their game than with yet another generic AI filter.

The new feature is rolling out to some of the biggest games today including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil Requiem, and Where Winds Meet.

Gaming

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.1: Dark secrets within the Phantasmoon Games

Ashveil becomes playable character

Published

March 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Version 4.1 update for Honkai: Star Rail will be available on March 25. Called “Unraveled for Daybreak”, the update will continue to revolve around the story of Planarcadia.

Here, the Astral Express Crew is invited to attend the grand Star Rail FEST, a fan festival inspired by their past interstellar journeys.

In the process, they will join a new 5-Star Character, Ashveil, as they uncover the dark secrets lurking during the Phantasmoon Games.

Star Rail FEST

This festival features three major open zones: the Belobog Zone, Xianzhou Luofu Zone, and Penacony Zone.

The festival is set-up after the Trailblazer has successfully obtained the mask of the supplicant to participate in the Phantasmoon Games. Pearl, the CEO of Planarcadia, then collaborates with the Astral Experss Crew to hold a grand exposition.

Citizens of Planarcadia can board a special Pom-Pom front shuttle express through Interplanar Jump to enjoy the highlights of their trailblaze journey.

Trailblazers can witness giant balloon figures, immerse themselves in a duel against the Lord Ravager Phantylia, and charge headlong at The Great Septimus.

Meanwhile, the festival’s organizer, Pearluxe Corp, will also have an area unlocked: Pearluxe Tower. Inside is a newly ultra-poseable model, “Alloy King Pom-Pom” and a variety of mechatron-themed interactive activities.

However, beneath the revelry, conspiracies are abound, and various crises will soon follow.

Ashveil joins the list of playable characters

This marks the start of a new adventure for the Trailblazers, to be joined by famous detective, Ashveil.

This 5-star Lightning-Type (Path of The Hunt) “detective unreliable” will showcase his serious and dependable side as a playable character.

Ashveil uses his Technique to inflict a Stunned state on enemies within a certain range. After entering combat, he can increase the CRIT DMG of all allies and selects one enemy to be the Bait.

As long as the Bait is on the field, the DEF of all enemies will be reduced. And when Ashveil uses his Skill on the Bait again, he will deal extra DMG and recover Skill Points for the entire team.

Moreover, when a teammate attacks the same Bait, Ashveil unleashes a Follow-Up ATK and gradually accumulates Gluttony in combat. Consuming this can further enhance the unit’s Follow-Up capabilities.

At the end of the last story stage, he will enter the Phantasmoon Games and begin investigating the murder case that occurred in the Dovebrook District.

He will work alongside the Astral Express Crew to uncover the conspiracy hidden beneath the surface of the elation feast to deliver justice for the fallen.

More features

In addition, Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.1 will launch with the Wispae War Saga. The Trailblazer can lead various types of wispae soldiers to battle in the Graphia Academy.

Here, they can defeat powerful champions by employing different strategies, upgrading wispae, and using spell cards and capsules with different effects.

Players can acquire both rewards and engage in even more challenging matches against outsider adversaries.

Gaming

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 available on March 24

Featuring Hollow Champions tournament, new Agents

Published

March 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Version 2.7 of Zenless Zone Zero will become available on March 24 across platforms. Called “Champions Never Fall to the Past”, the update features the Hollow Champion competition and new agents.

The Hollow Champion competition sweeps across New Eridu — hosted by TOPS — spreading excitement as far as beyond the city center.

Competitors can take home high-stakes rewards, including the rare Porcelloy W-Engine. The tournament’s scale draws not only familiar allies, but even several unexpected participants.

There’s the Public Security’s Metropolitan Order Division, aside from the Cunning Hares and Sons of Calydon. It is said that the Calydon’s Sweepers will also step into the competition.

New Agents emerge

Furthermore, among the figures emerging from the shadows is the infamous Black Wolf Romeul. In battle, Romeul can activate a Corruptive Barrier for increased CRIT Damage Resistance and Interruption Resistance. This also causes opponents to continuously lose HP.

To break through this barrier, teams must be capable of delivering sustained Anomaly damage. This adds a new tactical layer for those wanting to challenge him.

Moreover, Cissia of the Metropolitan Order Division will also enter the race. As an S-Rank Electric Attack agent, Cissia gains three stacks of Venom upon entering battle.

Each stack deals Electric damage, while temporarily increasing her own CRIT Rate. The Venom gradually dissipates over time, but Cissia can also generate additional stacks through her EX Special Attack. As the stacks accumulate, she may expend them with her Basic Attack, Serpent’s Kiss.

Joining Cissia is the Angels of Delusion lineup, captained by their dancer, Nangong Yu. The S-Rank Ether Stun Agent enhances her team’s Anomaly Buildup Rate against Stunned enemies.

During combat, she automatically regenerates Downbeat over time. Additional Downbeat is also restored whenever a squad member inflicts Anomaly on enemies.

Once the Downbeat is sufficient, she can unleash powerful charged attacks to extend the enemy’s Stun duration. This is while her own Stun and Anomaly buildup accelerates. Meanwhile, her Ultimate can activate Ether Veil: Delusion Reprise to boost the squad’s entire Attack.

Proxies can unlock an exclusive faction wallpaper after collecting all members of Angels of Delusion. In addition, S-Rank Ice Rupture Agent Yidhari and Electric Attack Agent Seed will also return to Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7.