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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War by Activision By Thomas Bender 2020 has been anything but consistent or predictable, so it almost feels comforting to have the new Call of Duty in my hands as the year draws to a close. This year’s iteration, spearheaded by Treyarch and published by Activision, takes players back to the Cold War and entangles them in an international tale of intrigue and espionage. With another triple threat of gameplay modes, plus an enhanced Warzone experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is like comfort food on a cold winter day. Last year’s Modern Warfare title was one of the best Call of Duty’s in a while, with a memorable multiplayer that kept me coming back throughout the year, so Cold War has big shoes to fill. And even if Cold War keeps things pretty traditional and doesn’t stray far from the finely-tuned Call of Duty machine, it still offers a lot of gameplay and plenty of content for new players to experience. The single-player campaign is chalk full of era-appropriate references, including an abundance of mustaches, CRT televisions, cigarettes, and questionable hair styles. It’s a laudable attempt to take players back to recent history, and offers a different challenge than recreating World War era combat. Regardless of whether or not you lived through the 70’s and 80’s, you’ll definitely be able to appreciate the authentic soundtrack that Cold War calls on. There are some amazing pieces of good ole rock’n’roll that really drive home the mood. Beyond the soundtrack, the campaign offers a surprisingly story-rich and bullet-poor experience. Being raised on Call of Duty exploding-set-piece-extravaganzas, Cold War’s more paced story is actually quite refreshing. There are elements of stealth, dialog trees, decisions, and reconnaissance aspects that give the Cold War campaign a unique feel. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved how quickly they kick you into the action and have you chasing down an airport runway on the back of a jeep trying to stop a plane from taking off. It certainly still has it’s fair share of blockbuster moments and turret sequences, there just seems to be a little more intention and nuance this time around. The spy tropes are on full display here, coupling a little bit of James Bond with the top-notch gunplay that is Call of Duty. Spy cameras, interrogations, tranquilizers, and sneaking through air ducts are the types of things