Ever since their conception in the late-1980s/early-1990s, shooters have remained some of the most popular video games on the market, being a genre that naturally lends itself well to an immense array of different characters, settings, and themes. 2024 has already been quite the year for shooters, and it's only going to get better with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It also doesn't hurt that it's now officially set for an October release.
Revealed fully at the Xbox Showcase, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is this year's entry in the annual franchise, but unlike last year's Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 6 looks like it's going to be the full package. With a fully-fledged campaign mode, the return of round-based Zombies, and 16 original multiplayer maps on launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 already feels like a return to form, and that's not even mentioning Treyarch's innovative new Omnimovement system, which along with Helldivers 2's mechanics, might set a new standard for movement in the shooter genre.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Helldivers 2 Have Broke New Ground for Movement in Shooters
Helldivers 2's Movement Feels Grounded But Unrestricted
One of the highest-rated games of the year so far, and undoubtedly one of the year's best shooters, Helldivers 2 sees players wage an ever-evolving galactic war against the bug-like Terminids and the robotic Automatons. In Helldivers 2, even the most basic enemy types can be lethal to encounter, and in a game where just one hit can mean instant death, movement becomes a key part of the player's strategy.
Thankfully, Helldivers 2 features some very satisfying movement mechanics. At first, Helldivers 2's movement doesn't feel all that special, with players controlling their character from a third-person perspective, and being able to move in all directions. But this seemingly simplistic system actually paves the way for a great deal of freedom, whether they're diving away from a rampaging charger or the AoE of a nuke, with players being able to sprint both toward and away from enemies while fluidly navigating their way around environmental obstacles.
This freedom of movement is paired nicely with some weighty animations and some hilariously realistic ragdoll physics, giving Helldivers 2's movement a unique flair.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Omnimovement Is a Big Innovation for First-Person Shooters
At today's Xbox Showcase, developer Treyarch spent a good portion of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct detailing the game's new Omnimovement system. For the first time in franchise history, players will be able to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction.
This new movement system could have a drastic effect on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's gameplay, as for decades now, most Call of Duty multiplayer firefights have consisted of players running into an enemy head-on and hoping they were the ones who shot first. But with this new Omnimovement system, players will be able to dash and slide away from gunfire and dive into cover quickly, which could change the whole flow of Call of Duty's multiplayer formula.
It might not seem like a big change to those unfamiliar with Call of Duty's usual run-and-gun gameplay, but Black Ops 6's Omnimovement could end up changing the franchise in quite a substantial way, that is, if it ends up being a hit with fans. If it does end up being a hit and future entries continue to expand on this Omnimovement system, it might not be long before this system becomes the norm for all first-person shooters.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
