CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 7

So close to being more interesting than it actually is

- By Rory Norris

A new Call of Duty has come out every year like clockwork since Call of Duty 2 in 2005. By this point, everyone knows roughly what to expect. I mean this in a positive way, but it's like junk food - you know it's not going to be oozing creativity, it's not going to be artistically challenging, but it is fun all the same.

I was surprised then that Black Ops 7 is actually an entry that's got me torn. On the one hand, I'm glad the pace of combat has slowed down somewhat, and its launch multiplayer maps are generally very strong. On the other hand, its campaign is messy, there's AI artwork and it's overall very soulless. And with hits like Arc Raiders, Dispatch and Clair Obscur this year, nothing's more important to me now than a game with a clear vision.