Games

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Kill Order is a Diamond in the Rough

Published

2 months ago

November 1, 2024

Just like with most Call of Duty games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 brings back the old while also injecting some new things into the mix. Though the biggest highlights are the return of round-based Zombies, the exciting campaign, and the classic Black Ops feel, alongside that, Treyarch has shaken things up with the introduction of the brand-new multiplayer mode Kill Order. Although not necessarily game-changing, this new mode could one day become a staple, even if it has been met with mixed opinions from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players.

Through Kill Order, players get a very different style of Team Deathmatch than what they are used to. Instead of focusing on everyone, this mode forces them to concentrate their efforts on one High Value Target, which makes for an exciting game of cat-and-mouse. Though not everyone has fallen in love with the mode, with a few small tweaks, it could become Call of Duty‘s next big thing.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Accessibility Features Are a Game-Changer

Table of Contents

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 features a ton of new exciting features, but one if its best comes in the form of its new accessibility options.

Black Ops 6’s Kill Order Shakes Things Up Nicely

Kill Order’s Core Gameplay Loop Seems to be a Bit Controversial

The core gameplay loop of Kill Order is relatively simple. Players are put onto two teams of up to six players, with the first team to earn 125 points winning. Just like with other modes, one kill equals one point. However, to make things a bit more interesting, a random player on each team will be designated as the HVT. If players are able to kill the HVT, then they get two points, and a different player becomes one. If an HVT is able to kill an HVT, then they get five points. And this goes on until one team comes out on top.

This puts a new unique spin on the classic Team Deathmatch, as Black Ops 6 players actively try to take out one target above all the rest. But some of the fanbase has felt like that concept is let down by a few issues. Some feel like it is a mode that incentivizes camping, while others feel like many players simply do not play the objective and ignore the HVT status, which makes for an aggravating match. Additionally, players dislike the low score count, as 125 points can be reached in minutes, making matches too short to get invested in.

Kill Order Actually Leads to Something Pretty Fun

The core concept of Kill Order is just a quicker form of Team Deathmatch. Practically everything works the same, with the only addition being two players that are worth more points than all the others. So, while players can still duke it out as normal, this element adds another layer of strategy as the HVT must be protected. And since everyone usually gets a chance to be the HVT, there are clear moments in Kill Order that provide a frantic and fun experience.

Of course, sometimes players do not play around that objective and there can be some issues with camping. Though this is not a Kill Order-exclusive problem, as it has been an issue that has plagued Call of Duty, and many FPS games, for years, it is more clearly visible since players can instantly see when an HVT is making poor choices. Perhaps Treyarch could encourage HVTs to stick with their team for bonus points, or make it clearer that players are the HVT by giving them a countdown timer before they are handed the role.

There is always room to grow, and Kill Order could probably benefit from a few tweaks. Treyarch could add an incentive for the HVT to move more, as it could speed up encounters by rewarding even more points for movement-based kills. Additionally, it could give players a bonus if they do actually stick together. The score limit could also be increased to eliminate one large criticism, potentially going all the way from 125 to 250. Since the mode was only just introduced, there will likely be plenty of tweaks like that in its future, and hopefully, that future is bright.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Tag Page Cover Art

Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.

The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.

In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.

Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.

Released: October 25, 2024
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op
Engine: IW 9.0
ESRB: Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
How Long To Beat: 8 Hours
Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown
X|S Optimized: Yes
PS Plus Availability: N/A
File Size Xbox Series: 216 GB (October 2024)
Split Screen Orientation: Vertical or Horizontal
Number of Players: 1-4
Local Co-Op Support: 1-2 Players
OpenCritic Rating: Strong
Cross Save: Yes – PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Cross-Platform Play: Yes – PlayStation, Xbox, PC
PC Release Date: October 25, 2024
PS5 Release Date: October 25, 2024
Xbox Series X|S Release Date: October 25, 2024