Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s ‘Hunting Season’ Makes Good on an Old Promise

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's 'Hunting Season' Makes Good on an Old Promise

As a longtime fan of the Call of Duty franchise, I must say that with each new installment, there’s always that anticipation for something fresh and exciting. And let me tell you, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has certainly delivered on that front! The ‘Hunting Season’ mission is a game-changer, offering an open-world experience that I’ve been yearning for since my first encounter with the series.

Similar to annual sports games facing criticism for repetition, the Call of Duty franchise has also been subject to similar comments due to its adherence to a familiar formula. To address this, each new installment in the Call of Duty series aims to introduce something fresh. While these innovations often revolve around cooperative modes and multiplayer aspects, they occasionally influence the single-player campaign too, as is the case with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, an array of fresh elements have been incorporated across its primary modes. For example, the Omnimovement system redefines the pace of multiplayer and Zombies, opening doors for inventive level design in the campaign. However, the innovations in Black Ops 6 don’t end there; a feature exclusive to the campaign at last realizes a long-standing ambition that Call of Duty has been striving towards for years.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s ‘Hunting Season‘ Finally Shows the Potential of an Open-World Mission

Call of Duty’s Past Open Missions Have Been a Mixed Bag

Over the past few years, each new installment of the “Call of Duty” series has aimed to incorporate at least one mission in its campaign that offers a degree of open-endedness. For instance, 2019’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” featured an array of stealth missions with expansive maps and non-linear goals, allowing players to navigate freely. In the same vein, 2022’s “Modern Warfare 2” offered a comparable set of stealth missions, such as the ‘Recon by Fire’ level where players could explore a cliffside encampment at their leisure.

Previously released “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” aimed high with its Open Combat missions last year, but the execution fell short in many aspects. The idea behind these missions was intriguing as it immersed players into a vast environment and gave them freedom to complete multiple objectives using their preferred strategies.

In truth, these missions fell short of being unique and engaging. The expansive zones appeared devoid of character, there was a scarcity of compelling story elements that motivated players to accomplish tasks, and the variety in gameplay styles was rather restricted, as many Open Combat missions predominantly pushed stealth approaches.

‘Hunting Season’ Offers A Taste of Everything Fans Could Want From an Open-World Call of Duty

Following years of anticipation without result, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 ultimately delivers an authentic open-world experience within the Call of Duty franchise. The fourth mission in the campaign of Black Ops 6, titled ‘Hunting Season’, sends players traipsing through the deserts of Iraq, on a quest to locate three Scud missile launchers. Scattered between these launchers are numerous optional tasks for the player to complete. For the first time in the history of Call of Duty, players have the liberty to decide their own approach and timing when tackling these tasks.

There’s quite a mix of additional tasks you can tackle here, ranging from straightforward treasure finds to challenging enemy outposts, plus a few more types. Each of these extra missions carries substantial worth, providing rewards such as new weapons, gear, and money that can be applied towards enhancements in the Rook.

Players are also given far more freedom in how they complete these objectives than those found in Modern Warfare 3‘s Open Combat missions. Players can find silenced snipers and throwing knives for a stealthier approach, along with RC-XDs, rocket launchers, and even Chopper Gunner Scorestreaks for a louder assault. It may not be perfect, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 6‘s ‘Hunting Season’ finally lays a strong foundation for future open-world missions.

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2024-10-29 20:23