I’ve played 150 Hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in its first month — here’s why it’s not the game social media says it is

The title might sound a bit sarcastic, and that’s on purpose. While Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 definitely has flaws, I suspect a lot of the criticism comes from people who haven’t actually played it.

It seems like we’re living in an age where opinions spread quickly on social media. You see short, often out-of-context clips – like people complaining online that the newest Call of Duty game is terrible. It’s funny, because some of those same people apparently didn’t even play the previous one! Still, it’s true that a lot of users are giving the game low ratings.

I’ve previously discussed feeling burnt out on Call of Duty and suggested a year-long break could be beneficial. Now, Activision has listened to some of the feedback and announced they won’t release new Modern Warfare and Black Ops games consecutively anymore.

Releasing Black Ops 6 immediately after the previous two Modern Warfare games probably wasn’t the best decision, looking back on it.

It’s been a month since Black Ops 7 was released, and I’ve been playing it extensively – around 150 hours since November 14th. Here are my thoughts on the game so far.

Let’s talk about the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign

I won’t spend a lot of time discussing it, but the campaign is definitely a sticking point in the game. My coworker, Cole Martin, already published a complete review of Black Ops 7, so I won’t rehash what he’s said.

Was the game’s marketing campaign effective? It wasn’t as terrible as some of the online reactions suggest. The storyline itself is actually quite exciting. In my opinion, the biggest problem was attempting to connect the new game to the much older Black Ops 2. Beyond a few characters and the general timeframe, they don’t really have much in common.

This campaign continues the story begun in Black Ops 6, primarily taking place in the world of Avalon, also from Black Ops 6. The player takes on the role of members of The Guild, an organization introduced in Black Ops 6. Visual style is a key focus, and it’s unclear why comparisons to Black Ops 2 were ever made, as this is not a direct sequel to that game.

The highlight of the game is definitely Endgame mode. Now you can jump right into it without having to play through the story missions first. It’s just as quirky and enjoyable as the main campaign.

This game lets you experiment and take risks without being overly punishing. While you’ll lose your progress and equipment if you die, it’s generally not too hard to survive.

The game takes place on the Avalon map, which will also be featured in the returning Blackout mode. Players familiar with Black Ops 6 will find many recognizable locations.

Compared to other Call of Duty modes, Endgame is really relaxed. I’ve spent a lot of time playing it, trying to unlock the Genesis Mastery Camo and finish it completely. Sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like a typical Call of Duty experience.

The lobby is really friendly and lively, with players often using in-game chat to find groups and work together to defeat challenging bosses, whether it’s the final boss or those involved in World Events.

What makes this game great is that it focuses entirely on playing *with* others, rather than against them. Everyone can team up and enjoy achievements together. My biggest worry is whether the developers will keep adding new things to do – I’m really enjoying it and want it to continue! It’s easily the best part of Black Ops 7 for me.

Multiplayer is multiplayer

I’m not going to discuss whether the “open” playlists are truly open, or if the regular playlists are favoring more skilled players. It’s Call of Duty multiplayer – it’s always going to be competitive. That’s just the nature of the game.

If you’re looking for a relaxed, casual shooting game with other players, this isn’t it. That’s been the case for a long time, and it doesn’t matter whether the game uses skill-based matchmaking or not.

Even though it’s easy to overlook, the multiplayer experience is a noticeable step up from Black Ops 6. The new wall jump feature enhances movement without being complicated, and the maps are much more enjoyable.

The first few weeks were definitely challenging, to be honest. The most dedicated players were rushing to get the Singularity Camo, and I’m still not sure if I’ll even try to unlock it myself.

Classic maps like Raid and Standoff have been updated and are now playable. They feel great with the current movement and weapons in Black Ops 7, and even I, someone who never particularly liked Raid, am having fun with it this time around.

If I had to criticize something, it would be the current trend of using a boosted UAV, Looper, and constantly earning Scorestreaks. The Overclock makes it incredibly difficult to take them down, even with a rocket launcher – a single shot just isn’t enough.

This kind of gameplay is so frustrating it makes people leave matches – I admit, I’ve done it myself. I’m just too old to deal with that stuff; it’s completely draining.

Multiplayer is fast and fluid with good maps, but can also be exhausting.

The multiplayer mode is generally enjoyable. Gameplay is quick and smooth, and when matches aren’t dominated by constant Scorestreak usage, they’re really satisfying. I’ve had some of the most fun I’ve had with Call of Duty in years playing Black Ops 7, regardless of whether I’ve won or lost.

I’m really excited about ranked matches this year. It’s great to see the anti-cheat system working well – we’ve been asking for that for a long time!

I’m optimistic about the competitive scene because the game has fewer weapons and doesn’t rely on repetitive tactics. Plus, the maps being used seem well-designed, judging from the initial Call of Duty League games.

I need to spend more time on Zombies

I usually prefer playing against computer opponents rather than other players, so I don’t often dive into Call of Duty: Zombies. However, from what I’ve experienced and seen from others, it seems like a really good game mode.

The gameplay is very similar to Black Ops 6 Zombies, and I’m okay with that, although some longtime players might not like the way it works. However, the armor system is still frustrating – it takes too long to apply plates, and it’s a feature we could definitely do without, just like in Warzone.

Both of the maps released so far are solid, with Ashes of the Damned being a standout. The zombies experience feels much improved this year, and that’s largely thanks to how well-designed the maps are. While Liberty Falls in Black Ops 6 was just okay, Ashes and the new map, Astra Malorum, are significantly better.

I haven’t had a chance to try Cursed yet, but it’s a great addition to the game this year. Players are still searching for the ninth relic in Ashes of the Damned, and given how Zombies fans love a good challenge, it’s a really nice, difficult puzzle to solve.

A ridiculous amount of things to do in Black Ops 7

Unlock all four Mastery Camo sets, complete every Dark Ops challenge, and earn all Calling Cards – that’s 100% completion! Plus, level up 35 weapons (and more are coming!) to reach Prestige Master 250. There’s always something to do with the standard Prestige system, the Prestige Master progression, weekly challenges, and special limited-time events.

Black Ops 7 offers a ton of things to do. While not everyone will want to unlock everything, those who enjoy completing challenges will find a huge amount of content to explore.

This year’s Mastery Camos are simpler to earn, even if you don’t play often. Plus, you need to complete one fewer level for each weapon to unlock them.

The game offers a good balance of simple and really difficult challenges. For instance, unlocking everything in Zombies Dark Ops requires reaching Round 999, which could take over 100 hours of gameplay.

Over the last month, I’ve made great progress in the game. I completed the Genesis Camo, and I’m well on my way with two more. I’ve also unlocked Prestige status with several weapons and am nearing 100% completion of the Campaign and Endgame content. Currently, I’m at Prestige level 9.

I’m still really enjoying things, and that’s what matters most. There are plenty of exciting goals I’m still working towards.

There are still some frustrations

I really enjoy the content in Black Ops 7. However, I’m disappointed that some of the frustrating bugs from Black Ops 6 are still present. While they aren’t major issues that ruin the game, there have been a few times when it crashed.

We’re aware of some minor bugs, including incorrect player levels displaying, problems with Calling Card challenges progressing, and issues with Camo challenge tracking.

While playing Genesis, I ran into a frustrating issue with at least eight weapons. The game wouldn’t register progress unless I went back to the weapon customization screen and either removed the camouflage or completely reset the weapon’s setup.

There are still bugs present that were in Black Ops 6.

There are ongoing issues with how Calling Card challenges are tracked, and players have expressed frustration, including using profanity.

It’s incredibly frustrating that my profile keeps reverting to old settings. I want to use the Christmas-themed calling cards and emblems when it’s appropriate, but the game often overrides my choices and puts something else on instead.

Finding these small glitches still present in Black Ops 7, after they were also in Black Ops 6, isn’t reassuring for players.

Don’t buy into the negativity if you haven’t tried it, Black Ops 7 isn’t a bad game

I’m having fun with Black Ops 7, but it’s clear the game hasn’t performed as well as Activision and Microsoft expected. While it’s still selling and being played by a lot of people, even a small decrease in numbers feels significant when you’re dealing with such a popular franchise.

Actually, it’s a pretty good game. You might not enjoy everything about it, but if you haven’t tried it, don’t just assume it’s bad based on what you see online.

Honestly, I’m loving this game – it’s even better than what I was expecting from Black Ops 6! It completely blows the last couple of Modern Warfare games and Vanguard out of the water. There’s been so much hype and chatter around the Call of Duty franchise lately, but seriously, give this one a try. You might be really surprised. I’m having an absolute blast playing it, and I hope it stays that way for a long time!

Are you playing Black Ops 7 now, or are you holding out for a sale? Share your thoughts in the comments and be sure to vote in the poll!

2025-12-21 22:12