The Call of Duty franchise is gearing up to launch another ambitious twist on the long-running Black Ops series with Black Ops 7. This time around, Black Ops 7 is taking things into the near future in the year 2035. Call of Duty is no stranger to futuristic settings, as the franchise has featured a variety of entries that offer more sci-fi-inspired stories.
Over the years, futuristic Call of Duty games have been controversial, and Black Ops 7 is no exception. The marketing for Black Ops 7 has focused primarily on its campaign, as protagonist David Mason will be tasked with facing a monumental threat while also dealing with mind-bending psychological warfare. Right now, the feedback regarding Black Ops 7 has been quite negative online, but one underrated past entry proves that a futuristic Call of Duty campaign can definitely work: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
Infinite Warfare launched in November 2016.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Puts Emotional Storytelling Front and Center
A Heartbreaking Story Set Far in the Future
- Infinite Warfare takes place in the year 2187.
In Infinite Warfare, humanity has made its way to space, colonizing various areas of the galaxy, like Europa and Mars. The United Nations Space Alliance (UNSA) fights against the Settlement Defense Front (SDF), a fascist state that was formed on Mars 30 years before the events of the game. The main protagonist, Nick Reyes, accompanied by fellow soldier Nora Salter and a lovable robot named Ethan, work to hold off the SDF while the UNSA recoups after a devastating attack on Earth. Black Ops 7's embrace of the future may have been controversial, but for those looking for a story that handles its sci-fi slant incredibly well, Infinite Warfare might be worth checking out.
Antagonist Salen Kotch is portrayed by Game of Thrones star Kit Harington.
Infinite Warfare Proves That Call of Duty Has Room for Deeper Emotions
Even though Call of Duty is well-known as a franchise centered around war, it's not exactly revered for its emotional narratives. Many of the Call of Duty games keep their emotions at surface-level, but Infinite Warfare isn't afraid to pull on the heartstrings. Throughout his journey, Reyes has to make truly tough decisions, with many of the outcomes being heart-shattering. This entry deals with themes of loss and sacrifice in a way that makes Infinite Warfare a breath of fresh air.
Infinite Warfare Was the Right Campaign at the Wrong Time
Unfortunately, the timing at which Infinite Warfare came out was bad. Once Infinite Warfare arrived, a wave of futurism fatigue was washing over the Call of Duty community. Black Ops II (2012), Ghosts (2013), Advanced Warfare (2014), and Black Ops III (2015) were the games before Infinite Warfare, and they all had their own takes on futuristic settings. This led many to immediately write off Infinite Warfare without giving it a solid chance to shine.
Despite the massive popularity of Call of Duty, Infinite Warfare being associated with the brand may have ultimately been what hurt it. The futurism fatigue simply became too much, and it kept a wonderfully-written campaign from meeting its full potential.
This entry deals with themes of loss and sacrifice in a way that makes Infinite Warfare a breath of fresh air.
Black Ops 7's Campaign Can't Be Afraid of Complex Feelings
There's no telling how Black Ops 7's launch is going to turn out, especially with such frustration surrounding the game at the moment. The marketing for the game is teasing important themes, like mental health and the disturbing intermingling of tech and military companies, which is promising. However, Call of Duty also has a tendency to introduce fascinating concepts just to showcase the tip of the iceberg. Only time will tell, but while gamers wait, Infinite Warfare is definitely deserving of a second chance.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 49%
- Released
- November 4, 2016
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Infinity Ward
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
WHERE TO PLAY
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare delivers three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.
In Campaign, players play as Captain Reyes, a pilot turned Commander, who must lead the remaining coalition forces against a relentless, fanatical enemy, while trying to overcome the deadly, extreme environments of space.
Multiplayer combines a fluid momentum based movement system, player focused map design, deep customization, and a brand new combat rig system to create an intense gameplay experience where every second counts. Combat Rigs (Rigs) are the ultimate combat systems. Each Rig is a cutting-edge, tactical combat suit worn by the player and is built for totally different styles of play. Players will also join one of four brand-new Mission Teams to unlock calling cards, camos, emblems, and weapons unique to that team.
In Zombies, go back in time to fight the undead in a 1980s amusement park, complete with a plethora of rides, an awesome arcade, and a funky, functioning rollercoaster. Embrace previously beloved aspects of the mode like easter eggs, power ups, and novel weapons while experiencing innovations like brand-new team mechanics, the After Life Arcade, and Fate and Fortune Cards.
- Engine
- IW 7.0
- Genre(s)
- FPS
