Call of Duty: Black Ops III Reviews

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Erik Kain
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jan 1, 2014

While both the story and the multiplayer will likely be divisive—we're a long, long ways from Modern Warfare or the original Black Ops here—I'm glad to see Treyarch taking risks, trying something different, and impressed that even with all the changes, the core game still feels very much like Call of Duty.

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Nov 5, 2015

Messing with the core 'Call of Duty' gameplay is tricky work, but Treyarch has delivered a AAA beast with 'Call of Duty: Black Ops III.' On the one hand, there is an accessible speed and mobility that keeps everything moving in a guns up way. On the other hand, new abilities will make even the least adept player feel like a powerful part of a team. No doubt, the performance on the PS4 will spoil players. With robust options ranging from a slick co-op campaign to a moody underworld trip into zombie purgatory, playing 'Call of Duty' "just for the multiplayer" has new meaning.

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4.5 / 5.0
Nov 5, 2015

Call of Duty: Black Ops III was created in a three-year development cycle and it shows. This is basically five standalone games wrapped into one deep package. While it will have DLC released for it, there's enough content out of the box to keep players busy until the next Call of Duty and probably some time after that. The campaign is perfectly paced and entertaining throughout, the multiplayer is rich with customization and Zombies is refreshingly challenging. The only real black mark is a story teetering on the on the brink of pretension, but the existentialism of it is undeniably fascinating. Jam-packed with meaningful content, Black Ops III is the Call of Duty you've been waiting for.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is an insanely full featured game. If code was a physical thing, this game disc would be bursting at the seams with how much Treyarch has packed onto one Blu-ray. There's a little something for everyone here. Players looking for a dark, rich narrative have the campaign. Competitive players have a whole new way to play in multiplayer. Fans of roguelikes and horde modes have Shadows of Evil. Switching between all of these modes is extremely easy too, and it never felt like I was stuck playing one thing or another. Player freedom, customization, and choice are central to every element. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 isn't just a great Black Ops game. It isn't just a great Call of Duty game. It's a damn good game overall. 

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9.2 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

There's a lot going on in Black Ops 3, and all of it is a blast to play.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

What begins as a mundane campaign pleasantly diverts into wild territory. While the campaign elements are the weakest of what Black Ops III offers, the amount and quality of non-campaign offerings carry the title beyond the finish line

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8 / 10
Nov 5, 2015

From the big marquee features to the small touches and hidden modes, Black Ops 3 features an awful lot of content, and every aspect of it is designed with cooperative play in mind. It can feel a bit disjointed in places, but it's a broad and expansive game with plenty to enjoy, especially so when playing with friends.

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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

Black Ops III is the deepest Call of Duty experience to date. With not one, but two campaigns, new multiplayer modes and more robust customization, and a Zombies mode that will suck in even the most casual of players, Treyarch has once again found a way to raise the bar.

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87 / 100
Nov 5, 2015

With many multiplayer modes and 12 maps out of the box, Treyarch gave Black Ops 3's multiplayer game the time and attention it deserves.

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100 / 100
Nov 5, 2015

Call of Duty: Black Ops III deserves your time – take a day off work to play. With two campaigns, world-class online combat and a deep and passionate step forward with Zombies (not to mention the fantastic Dead Ops Arcade 2), there is something here for everyone.

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Nov 5, 2015

This massive, wonderfully diverse Call of Duty theme park is best enjoyed with a friend (or three). Going alone dampens the fun, but either way it's still worth the price of admission.

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8 / 10
Nov 5, 2015

Treyarch has clearly packed a lot of effort into Black Ops 3 and while not all of it necessarily hits, there's enough to keep both solo players and social butterflies active. While the campaign story itself feels silly, co-op is a marvelous addition and a far better way to experience the narrative for those that don't feel like killing zombies. Meanwhile, multiplayer feels like a huge difference from previous CoD games and much of it is for the better. With a faster pace, more fluid movement, and cool Specialist ablities, it feels like a refreshing twist on the CoD multiplayer formula.

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8 / 10
Nov 5, 2015

Campaign is dull and forgettable, but multiplayer is great fun and Zombies has had some real effort poured into it.

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Nov 5, 2015

You'd think a game with this many modes and features would be more exciting than it is.

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Nov 5, 2015

While three years has given us some time to possibly forget how masterfully crafted Black Ops 2 was, Black Ops 3 is both the biggest and best Call of Duty game we've seen since then.

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8.8 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

Black Ops III shows that Treyarch are in a great position to keep the Call of Duty series fresh and relevant.

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7 / 10
Nov 5, 2015

Black Ops III presents fine-tuned multiplayer, engaging fights against the undead, and a boring campaign.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2015

While the campaign could certainly be a lot stronger, Black Ops III is living proof of that concept.

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ACG
Top Critic
Buy
Nov 6, 2015
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Review "Buy, Wait for Sale, Rent, Never Touch?" video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Nov 6, 2015

In the end it is still Call of Duty and if you aren't a fan of the run and gun mechanic then you are probably not going to be a big fan. However if you've ever enjoyed any Call of Duty game since World at War you are going to love this. Easily the best multiplayer I've experienced in years along with a strikingly unique single player campaign plus a bucket load of extras and a massive community to enjoy it with. You can't go wrong picking it up this year.

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