“Call of Duty” is one of the most famous—or infamous, depending on who you ask—video game series of all time. In its 21 games released over the same number of years, the franchise has covered every kind of conflict imaginable, from World War 2 to fictional wars in the far future.

In this expansive and quite varied lineup, the latest game, “Black Ops 6,” still manages to carve out its own spot in shooter history as one of the better games in the franchise and possibly the most anticipated first-person shooter to ever release. 

Like most “Call of Duty” games, “Black Ops 6” has three main modes: the story-driven campaign, player-versus-player matches and zombies, all of which have their own highlights and flaws.

The campaign is set against the backdrop of the Gulf War and follows a group of rogue CIA agents hunting for a bioweapon created by a corrupt branch of the agency known as The Pantheon. 

While stories have usually taken a backseat to action in past “Call of Duty” games, the latest campaign does an excellent job at balancing both.

Even with a short duration—clocking in at about eight hours— the story packs many twists and turns into its plot and actually fleshes out its characters beyond being soldiers, a rarity for the franchise.

Most of the characters are fan favorites returning from previous games in the “Black Ops” line, such as the foul-mouthed yet wise Frank Woods and Russell Adler, an agent with questionable morals but undeniable results. 

New characters are also introduced in the games’ story, including assassin Sev Dumas, German hacker Felix Neumann and team leader Troy Marshall. The cast is tight, which allows for the game to add complexity to their personalities and create unique relationships between each character.

Sadly, the only bad character happens to be the main character, who is simply referred to as Case. Despite having an interesting background that is uniquely tied to the plot and the potential to be a great protagonist, Case’s chances at being memorable are ruined by his stoic silence.

A silent protagonist can work for some games, but when compared to the other characters that are full of personality, Case’s silence breaks player immersion and comes across as a boring and lazy decision. 

“Black Ops 6” also breaks the mode for a “Call of Duty” campaign by adding an impressive amount of variety to its story. Every mission has its own unique flair or gimmick, from high-stakes poker to downright creepy segments filled with hallucinations.

Fans of the over-the-top action they’ve come to expect from the franchise will not be disappointed by the campaign either. From firefights and stealth sections to grandiose boss fights, there is something in “Black Ops 6” for any fan of the first-person shooter genre. 

Like the campaign, “Black Ops 6” has a stellar multiplayer mode that goes back to the franchise’s roots while adding fresh content and mechanics. 

The game’s claim to fame is its new ‘omnimovement’ system that allows the player to sprint, slide or dive in any direction and completely changes how gunfights between players go. 

“Black Ops 6” also launched with plenty of fresh content for players to enjoy, including 16 multiplayer maps and an arsenal of weapons, equipment and abilities that can be made into countless unique combinations. 

Along with additions new to the “Call of Duty” franchise, the game brings back fan favorites from past games. The classic leveling-up system has returned, along with plenty of rewards for dedicated players that take on the challenge of grinding their way to the top. 

Additionally, theater mode has made a comeback, allowing players to view their past matches with a birds-eye view and either analyze their mistakes or rewatch hilarious moments. 

The zombie mode of “Black Ops 6” also brings back plenty from previous games and returns to the round-based survival format, ditching the open-world style of last year’s “Modern Warfare III.”

To many, the zombies mode is the best and most enjoyable option in a “Call of Duty” game, and those fans will not be disappointed. 

Featuring two massive maps teeming with Easter eggs and secrets upon release, the zombies mode offers an exhilarating experience for players. The mode does an excellent job balancing tough enemies with powerful, often silly weapons to keep the player hooked for hours.

With three superb modes to choose from, “Black Ops 6” has cemented itself as one of the best launches for a “Call of Duty” game and seems to only have great things in store.