Call of Duty®: Black Ops III Review Summary

Zombies mode highly praised: The Zombies mode is frequently highlighted as the best in the series, with players appreciating its variety of maps, engaging gameplay, and innovative features. It is described as atmospheric, fun, and worth the purchase.

Custom and modded maps: The game offers a variety of custom and modded maps, which are praised for their design and the endless fun they provide. The community-created content is a significant highlight.

Multiplayer mode is fun: The multiplayer mode is noted for being enjoyable, well-designed, and entertaining. Players find it fun to play with friends and appreciate the balanced weapons and variety of maps.

Solid gameplay experience: The gameplay is described as solid, tight, and polished. Players enjoy the overall experience, including the campaign and multiplayer modes.

High replayability: The game is noted for its high replay value, with players mentioning endless content and extensive customization options that keep the gameplay fresh.

Multiplayer plagued by hackers: The multiplayer mode is heavily infested with hackers, making it unplayable and not fun for many users.

Security risks due to RCE exploits: The game has significant security risks, including Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploits that can compromise players' computers.

High price for an old game: The game is considered overpriced, especially given its age and the numerous issues it has.

Confusing and weak campaign: The campaign is widely criticized for being confusing, convoluted, and poorly executed. Players find the story hard to follow and unmemorable.

Community patches needed for safety: Players feel the need to use community patches to mitigate security issues and improve performance, as the game is unsafe without them.

Zombies mode with unique maps: The Zombies mode is highly praised for its unique and detailed maps, including community-created and official maps. Players appreciate the complex Easter eggs, deep storylines, and various mechanics within these maps.

Advanced movement in multiplayer: Multiplayer mode features advanced movement mechanics such as wall-running, thrust jumping, and sliding. These dynamics add a layer of complexity and excitement to the gameplay.

Weapon and character customization: Players can customize their weapons, accessories, and loadouts. The Create-a-Class system and character customization options provide a personalized gaming experience.

Multiple game modes: The game offers three main modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Each mode provides a different experience, catering to various player preferences.

Cooperative gameplay: The game offers cooperative play options, including a co-op campaign and multiplayer modes. Players can team up with friends for a shared gaming experience.

Hardware compatibility and performance: The game runs well on older hardware and can be adjusted to run on specified hardware. It also performs well on the Steam Deck, achieving 50-60 FPS.

Frequent crashes and launch issues: Players report that the game often crashes at launch or refuses to launch altogether. This includes frequent game crashes and issues with the game only working intermittently.

Security and stability concerns: There are concerns about security exploits and the need for patches or mods to play safely. This includes issues with hackers and the need for extensive troubleshooting.

Poor optimization and performance: The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to constant stuttering and performance problems. This is frequently mentioned across multiple clusters.

FPS and graphics issues: Players experience FPS fluctuations and issues, including graphics tweaks and rendering glitches. This affects the overall gaming experience significantly.

Worth buying on sale: The game is considered worth buying, especially when it is on sale. Many players suggest waiting for a sale to purchase the game.

Use community patches for safety: Players recommend using community patches like T7 Patch or T7x for a safer and better gaming experience, especially for online play.

Recommended for zombie and FPS fans: The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy zombie modes and first-person shooter games. It is particularly worth purchasing for fans of COD Zombies.

Avoid multiplayer, use caution: The game is not recommended for multiplayer due to various issues. Players suggest using protective clients or playing offline to avoid problems.

Zombies mode is a highlight: The Zombies mode is highly praised and recommended. It is considered worth buying the game for this mode alone.

Community fair range: $19.99 - $20.00.

Game completion: 20.0h.

Story completion: 10.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

Endgame: 1000.0h.

The game is fun immediately due to its engaging Zombies mode, which features beautiful maps and memorable puzzles. The multiplayer and campaign modes are less enjoyable and have significant issues.

Reported time to anchor: 10m.

Movement Enthusiast: Fast-paced, dynamic, and enjoys using advanced movement mechanics. Motivation: Enjoys the fast-paced and dynamic gameplay mechanics. Stance: sale.

Zombies Aficionado: Cooperative, puzzle-solving, and enjoys custom content. Motivation: Enjoys the intricate maps, puzzles, and the overall atmosphere of the Zombies mode. Stance: buy.

Frustrated Multiplayer: Competitive, but frustrated with the current state of multiplayer. Motivation: Seeks a safe and enjoyable multiplayer experience. Stance: no buy.

The game generally performs well across most hardware cohorts, with notable issues arising primarily on Linux systems and some mixed experiences on mid-range Windows hardware. High-end configurations report smooth performance, while lower-end setups also manage decent playability with some caveats.

Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM: positive. Most users report smooth gameplay with high performance, though some experience FPS drops in multiplayer.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. The game runs well for most users, with high FPS and good optimization, despite some reports of instability and exploits.

Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM: positive. Users report good performance with stable FPS, though there are isolated issues with game launch.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals several critical issues impacting the Steam Deck experience. Controller support issues and anti-cheat problems are significant barriers, leading to high severity ratings. Proton compatibility issues and performance problems, such as frame drops and crashes, also contribute to a less than optimal experience. However, there are positive experiences reported as well, with many users enjoying the game on Steam Deck without major issues.

Linux and Proton: The game generally runs well on Linux using Proton with only minor issues reported. Users highlight good performance and ease of use, although some adjustments and specific community patches may be necessary for optimal gameplay. The overall experience is positive with minimal tweaking required.

Monetization: The analysis of user reviews for the game reveals several key issues related to monetization and user experience. The presence of microtransactions is a significant concern, with players criticizing the need to spend additional money on in-game purchases. The high cost of DLCs is another major point of contention, as many players feel that the pricing is excessive and does not provide good value. The reliance on RNG and excessive grinding for obtaining certain items or weapons is also highlighted as a frustrating aspect of the game. Additionally, the multiplayer mode is criticized for being pay-to-win, which can create an unbalanced and unfair gaming environment. Lastly, a considerable amount of content is locked behind paywalls, requiring additional purchases to access, which further exacerbates player frustration.

Mod reliance: The game has significant security issues that make community patches highly recommended, especially for online and Zombies mode play. While some users find the game enjoyable with mods, there is a consensus that playing without community patches can expose players to security risks. However, there are mixed opinions on the necessity of these patches, with some users believing the game is safe without them.

External guides: The primary user complaints revolve around the excessive complexity of the game mechanics in Black Ops 3 Zombies. Players find themselves needing to consult multiple wiki pages and external guides to understand the various layers and hidden steps, which significantly detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

Mouse and keyboard input issues: Players have reported problems with mouse and keyboard inputs. This issue affects the gameplay experience and needs a solution.