Revitalizing Call of Duty: Black Ops for a New Era

The Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise boasts some of the most beloved titles in the series, however, it is also one of the most erratic subseries in the Call of Duty universe. With Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward has consistently released smash hits, while Treyarch has struggled to find a clear path for the Black Ops series. With six vastly different titles, Call of Duty: Black Ops has become disjointed and it may be time for a complete reboot.

Recently, Infinity Ward rebooted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, resulting in two stellar games. If it worked for Modern Warfare, then it's possible that a reboot could do wonders for the Black Ops series. A fresh start would allow Treyarch to course correct and deliver the thrilling, covert CIA Cold War adventure that originally made the series so popular.

It's clear that Call of Duty: Black Ops has been all over the place, but a reboot could be the perfect solution to get the series back on track.

Instead of continuing with the Cold War, Treyarch decided to take the Call of Duty: Black Ops series in a completely new direction with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The game's plot alternates between two time periods, the 1980s and 2025, as players embark on a mission to prevent the notorious Raul Menendez from starting another Cold War. Once again, players take control of Alex Mason, this time in the 1980s, and his son in 2025. While the game retained some of the elements of its predecessor, it became significantly more futuristic. Despite this shift, the game's story was a major highlight and Menendez was widely considered to be an outstanding antagonist.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 took players on a journey to the year 2065, marking a significant deviation from the original title. The Mason family was replaced by a new group of supersoldiers with the daunting task of saving the world. Despite the game's unique blend of hero shooter mechanics with Call of Duty's gameplay loop, it did not resemble a typical Black Ops game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 failed to impress gamers, lacking the story mode that its predecessors had. The game was quickly overshadowed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, making it forgettable. Treyarch attempted to return to the roots of the franchise with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which felt more like a Black Ops game. However, it further highlighted the inconsistent nature of the subseries.

The future of Call of Duty: Black Ops remains unknown. However, it is hoped that a reboot will be in the works. The futuristic entries, Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4, have caused the subseries to become disjointed and disconnected, unlike Modern Warfare. Treyarch must go back to the drawing board, hitting the reset button, and focusing on building a more cohesive story that will help strengthen the franchise.

A new Call of Duty is in development.