# Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - A New But Familiar Way To Play Campaign - Review

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAqkk1-5Zv8
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/BAqkk1-5Zv8
Generated: 2025-11-14T05:33:18.286+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign is a successful blend of cinematic narrative, returning characters like David Mason, and satisfying next-generation shooter gameplay featuring new movement mechanics and open-world elements, despite some underdeveloped villainy and the forced re-use of assets from Black Ops 3 and Modern Warfare 3.

**Key Points:**
- The campaign is a direct sequel to Black Ops 2, set in 2035, bringing back protagonist David Mason.
- The game successfully integrates new mechanics like the grapple gun and protective shield bubbles into both linear and open-world missions.
- The open-world co-op mode, Avalon, features level scaling based on player count (up to 4 players) and offers high-risk/high-reward missions.
- The villain, Emma Kagan (CEO of The Guild), is criticized for being emotionless and underdeveloped, despite being voiced by actress Kiernan Shipka.
- The campaign features psychedelic, hallucinatory sequences where characters relive past traumas, reminiscent of Black Ops 3.
- The game reuses assets like zombies and parasite enemies from Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 3 in the co-op mode.
- The campaign is considered the most robust Call of Duty campaign experience in years, offering a good blend of action and story.

![Screenshot at 00:03: The title sequence immediately establishes the game's near-future setting with a character experiencing a red-hued hallucination, signaling the campaign's focus on psychological elements.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-03.png)

**Context:** This video provides a review of the single-player campaign for the rumored 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,' which is set in 2035 as a direct sequel to Black Ops 2. The review focuses on the narrative, the integration of futuristic movement mechanics, and the introduction of an open-world co-op mode called 'Avalon,' contrasting it with previous installments like Black Ops 3 and Modern Warfare 3.

## Detailed Analysis

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign is deemed a successful attempt by Treyarch to lean into fantasy and deliver a mind-bending narrative, serving as a direct sequel to Black Ops 2 and featuring the return of David Mason as the protagonist. The gameplay successfully blends traditional tight corridor gunfights with larger, open-world missions set in the fictional city of Avalon. New mechanics like the grapple gun, protective shield bubbles, and Kinetic Jump enhance player mobility. The campaign features trippy, hallucinatory segments where characters relive memories, similar to Black Ops 3. However, the villain, Guild CEO Emma Kagan, voiced by Kiernan Shipka, is criticized for lacking emotion and feeling underdeveloped. The co-op mode, Avalon, supports up to four players and features dynamic scaling, offering high-risk/high-reward missions that reward progression through skill unlocks and weapon upgrades. While the campaign is highly praised for its cinematic moments and solid gunplay, the reviewer notes the reuse of enemy types like zombies and parasites from Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 3, and finds the open-world objectives occasionally tedious, though ultimately, the overall experience is strong enough to maintain player engagement.

### Campaign Narrative & Characters

- Direct sequel to Black Ops 2, set in 2035
- David Mason returns as the protagonist
- Villain Emma Kagan is criticized for being emotionless and underdeveloped
- Story features intense hallucinatory sequences reliving past trauma.

### Gameplay Mechanics

- Integrates movement features like grapple guns, protective shields, and kinetic jumps
- Offers both linear set-pieces and open-world exploration on Avalon
- Co-op mode supports up to 4 players with scaling difficulty.

### Endgame & Progression

- Avalon map features numerous activities, strongbox hacks, and challenge tracking
- Players level up soldiers to unlock new abilities, health upgrades, and higher rarity weapons
- Progression is shared across co-op and single-player.

### Critiques & Comparisons

- Campaign is deemed the most robust in years but still features asset reuse from Black Ops 3 and 6 (zombies, parasites)
- Open-world sections can feel empty, and some objectives are tedious
- The game avoids focusing solely on competitive multiplayer modes.

![Screenshot at 00:01: David Mason experiencing a visually intense, red-filtered moment, establishing the campaign's psychological tone.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-01.png)
![Screenshot at 00:04: The introduction of the open-world co-op mode 'Avalon' featuring characters parachuting over a sprawling, floating island environment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-04.png)
![Screenshot at 00:08: First-person gameplay showcasing the core shooting mechanics in a Mediterranean-style town setting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-08.png)
![Screenshot at 00:33: A poignant cinematic moment showing a gravestone, referencing the legacy of characters from previous Black Ops titles.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-33.png)
![Screenshot at 00:46: A news broadcast montage showing global chaos erupting after the return of Menendez, tying into the campaign's overarching plot.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-00-46.png)
![Screenshot at 01:18: Holographic character profiles displayed in a futuristic setting, suggesting advanced technology and intelligence gathering.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-01-18.png)
![Screenshot at 01:54: A surreal, hallucinatory combat sequence against demonic or zombie-like creatures under a strong red visual filter.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-01-54.png)
![Screenshot at 02:33: A dark, snow-covered prison-like corridor showcasing a location from a past Black Ops installment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-02-33.png)
![Screenshot at 03:34: A weapon upgrade station interface, highlighting the progression system for customizing gear within the campaign.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-03-34.png)
![Screenshot at 04:25: A high-speed vehicle sequence in a tunnel, demonstrating diverse mission types beyond standard infantry combat.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/BAqkk1-5Zv8/00-04-25.png)