Competitive multiplayer has been the lifeblood of the
Call of Duty franchise since the generation-defining
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. While the Campaigns usually accomplish more than a simple checked-off box, they generally aren't what people return to over the years. It's the quick-fix rapid fire online action.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Eclipse freshens up the map list with four brand new themed arenas.
Spire is an airport in the sky. You read that right. The purpose and logistics of such a facility escape me, but it makes for an interesting combat locale. Its vertiginous heights combine with a slick, futuristic aesthetic to sell the illusion, and it does so well enough. I don't think there are quite enough opportunities to fall to your death, however; that would have made things a bit more interesting. But of course, this is Call of Duty, and the shooting is far more important than the movement.
Verge is a post-apocalyptic playground inspired by the likes of Mad Max, though it's a great deal more colorful than any of those movies. Everything looks like it's been jerry-rigged to make some kind of mad architectural sense. On top of that, it actually looks lived in, which is an unsettling thought.
Knockout is a lovely Asian-inspired setting that delivers a rather common contrast between the delicate beauty of cherry trees and pagodas against mass murder. It's here that your combat skills are put to their most comprehensive test, as the map undergoes some pretty radical changes as you move throughout it.
Rift is a facility positioned directly above a... you know, a rift. At the center of the map is a sizable fracture filled with molten rock. This zone is wide open, requiring anyone who dares to set foot in the general area to have either preternatural twitch skills or a death wish.
