When the Black Ops story arc began with World at War in 2008, this sub-Call of Duty series delivered a different tone from its counterparts, leaning heavily toward government conspiracy, espionage, sci-fi and a hint of supernatural.

Black Ops hasn't always hit a home run, but when it has, it’s a reminder of why fans have loved Call of Duty for so many years. Following last year's disappointing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III campaign, a lot is riding on Treyarch to bring the blockbuster storytelling that fans of the series have come to expect.

Check out the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 story trailer below!

Black Ops 6 takes place ten years after the events of Black Ops Cold War, during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. Russell Adler and Frank Woods return, this time joining forces with CIA operative Troy Marshall, lethal assassin Sevati Dumas, and gadget expert Felix Neumann as they aim to bring down a private military company known as Pantheon. You’ll be shocked to learn this shady group poses great danger to the world’s security. However, it seems that an even more powerful foe may be pulling the strings from within the shadows.

Regardless of your skill level, just about anyone can pick up and play the Black Ops 6 campaign and enjoy the ride. I would recommend at least playing Black Ops Cold War first, to get caught up on events. Gunplay is as deeply satisfying as ever, popping in and out of scope as you take down hordes of bad guys one by one, making you feel like John Rambo kicking ass in no time.

Other than the exception of an open-map level set in an Iraq desert, I rarely felt that the pacing of the story broke my immersion, which is perfectly complimented by the high-octane action. Not much has really changed in that respect, and that’s fine for the most part. Treyarch knows what Call of Duty fans want and in that respect, the studio has delivered on those expectations.

Activision

The campaign is longer than recent entries, so don't expect to easily blast through it in a few hours. You’ll likely spend at least 10 hours for your first playthrough, perhaps more depending on your chosen difficulty and how you approach each mission. The story has plenty of fun moments, and I won't spoil it for you, but the missions ‘Emergence’ and ‘High Rollers’ will likely be standout moments for many.

Black Ops 6 looks absolutely gorgeous, by the way. The highly detailed cinematic cut-scenes will keep you hooked like a big-budget Hollywood action movie, supported by its complex cast of characters and exemplary performances. That cinematic flair is just as present during gameplay and, considering all the chaos that will be on screen at any given moment, I very rarely noticed off-putting performance dips.

Treyarch has been making a song and dance about its new omni-movement. Which is best described as like the Max Payne dive without the slow-mo. Diving in Call of Duty is nothing new, but Omi-movement provides 360° agility with complete freedom whether you're confronting or evading the enemy. As fun as the omni-movement is, I never found myself using this mechanic all that much in the campaign. It feels much better suited for traditional multiplayer and Zombies.

Similar to Black Ops Cold War, in-between missions you’ll be taken to your safe house with the crew. But instead of a garage, you can now explore Russel Adler’s remote mansion. Here you can chat with your NPC team to learn more about them and even search the mansion for clues to solve some puzzles for rewards.

Activision

The most important way you should be spending your time in the safe house is by upgrading your operator perks, in some part inspired by the perks of the multiplayer modes. You have the option of upgrading the Training Area, Gear Station and Weapon Bench. Depending on where you decide to spend your cash found during missions, you can upgrade abilities such as increased health, armour slots, faster reloads and more. If you save enough cash, you can even acquire exclusive multiplayer skins.

As much fun I’ve had with Black Ops 6, there’s one major downside that really shouldn't exist. The campaign is single-player, yet requires an online connection to Activision’s servers. An online connection is expected for multiplayer and Zombies, obviously, but it’s a pain for a single-player experience - especially when you’re being booted to the home screen during a heated battle, it’s a frustration that no player wants. Hopefully, Activision will fix this soon.

I went into the campaign of Black Ops 6 hopeful, but sceptical. It’s easy to get caught up in the pre-release hype and sometimes that can lead to disappointment. Thankfully, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a blast from start to finish, and provides some of the best moments that this series has to offer. I hope Black Ops 6 is indicative of a long-overdue upturn in quality for the series. If it is, Call of Duty fans have every reason to be excited about what the future may hold.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Pros: Fun combat, compelling story, memorable missions

Cons: Online requirement for single-player campaign

For fans of All Black Ops games

Score: 8/10: Excellent

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out now on PC, PlayStation (version reviewed), and Xbox. A review code was provided by the publisher. Find a complete guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.