The Black Ops 6 beta has turned me into a knee-shooting menace, and now I can't go back to Modern Warfare 3

GamesFPSCall of DutyCall of Duty: Black Ops 6The Black Ops 6 beta has turned me into a knee-shooting menace, and now I can’t go back to Modern Warfare 3When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesFPSCall of DutyCall of Duty: Black Ops 6The Black Ops 6 beta has turned me into a knee-shooting menace, and now I can’t go back to Modern Warfare 3When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Activision Blizzard) It’s been 14 years since Call of Duty introduced dolphin diving to the masses, and in that time, I’ve frequently wondered if the feature has done me more harm than good. I’m not an exceptionally good player, and the urge to dosomethingis often stronger than waiting to do the right thing. Hold a corner? Move quietly? All well and good if you care about small things like winning, but sadly incompatible with the overwhelming impulse to throw my character prone in any given situation. For every time I’ve successfully dolphin-dived through enemy fire to capture a point, I’ve also flopped around corners and been riddled with bullets for my trouble. It’s a habit I’ve been trying to curb for the last year, but playing theBlack Ops 6 betahas tested my resolve like nothing else. Thanks to omnimovement – which boils down to being able to dive, slide, or sprint in any direction – I’ve completely submitted to my stupidest compulsion. Slide and destroy (Image credit: Activision Blizzard) Peek around the corner(Image credit: Activision )Call of Duty has been treading water since Modern Warfare – and now Black Ops 6 is here to “define the future” of the franchise Peek around the corner (Image credit: Activision )Call of Duty has been treading water since Modern Warfare – and now Black Ops 6 is here to “define the future” of the franchise (Image credit: Activision ) Call of Duty has been treading water since Modern Warfare – and now Black Ops 6 is here to “define the future” of the franchise Despite my obsession with diving and sliding, I’ve been very apprehensive of omnimovement. Partly because I don’t trust myself to show some restraint, but largely because I struggle to keep up with Call of Duty when it gets too fast. I abandoned the series in favor of Battlefield when thrust jumps and jetpacks entered the equation, and didn’t return until 2021’s Vanguard. After spending a few days with Black Ops 6’s beta, it’s true that its pacing is lightning fast compared to last year’s Modern Warfare 3 – not so much in time-to-kill, which seems only a little quicker than usual, but because of the breakneck pace everyone moves at. Yet rather than it being overwhelming, it’s such a blast that I’ve spent the entire beta eagerly trying to perfect my movement. Yes, you can smoothly slide from cover to cover, shooting all the while, but actually making it work is another matter. That mobility comes with big tradeoffs – heavy aim penalties mean you’ll struggle to hit any target that isn’t in near-touching distance while sliding or diving, and trying to shoot while moving that quickly is a feat in itself. But when you manage to slide around a corner and gun down two opponents before they have a chance to look down, it feels phenomenal. On the other side of things, shootouts are less predictable because whoever you’re firing at can now throw themselves virtually anywhere. Even when I’ve tried to actively avoid flinging myself around as much, it’s still much harder to hold a position or even stay alive for very long – the angles you’re fighting from change very quickly, rewarding players that chase down kills and stay mobile over ones who prefer to hunker down and play reactively. It’s as chaotic as it sounds, but part of that will be due to the new-ness of everything. Each map flows weirdly right now, as in tandem with players sliding around at blinding speeds, nobody really knows where they’re going. It doesn’t help that they’re quite dense. Skylight, for example, is a rooftop apartment complete with vents and a panic room to crawl around in. It’s a small map, but verticality and massive windows in nearly every room make it hard to predict where you’ll be attacked from. My personal favorite map is Rewind, a ’90s shopping plaza complete with a shiny vinyl-floored video rental store. Besides its brilliant aesthetic, it’s got a nice blend of open lanes and tight interiors, meaning it’s perfect for trying out a wider range of thebest Black Ops 6 loadouts. (Image credit: Activision Blizzard) Speaking of which: It’s all SMGs right now. As it stands, the Jackal PDW is so far ahead of the pack that it’s barely a competition. It remains to be seen if many of Black Ops 6’s maps will be more open than those in the beta, but right now it looks like SMGs and shotguns will benefit the most from omnimovement’s shenanigans. That being said, the assault rifles on offer feel a million times better than the majority of Modern Warfare 3’s snooze-a-thons. The XM4 is light and snappy, while the AK-47, though dire at long range, will tear through people like paper when you inevitably careen into them at knee-height. I’m even having a blast with the Marine SP shotgun, which is a breath of fresh air – I fell in love with Modern Warfare 2 (2022)’s punchy pump-actions, but the last year of MW3 has done them dirty. There are areas I don’t dig as much. I’m still on the fence as to whether time-to-kill is too fast, and worry that sniping as a playstyle will be doomed if these dominant SMGs and hyper-mobile tactics prove to be an accurate glimpse into the future. Neither am I sold on the deliberately messy flow of each map, but that may be a bit more palatable if those we’re yet to play offer a bit more variety. But as a whole, Black Ops 6 feels damn good to play. In fact, a little too good: after slipping and sliding to my heart’s content, Modern Warfare 3 now feels too stiff in comparison. I’d love nothing more than to swoosh down the big chute on Rust like a big rusty waterslide, but rather than return to the last game, I’ll probably play the ongoing beta to death then abstain from all things Call of Duty until launch. I’m very keen to see how the full game shapes up – and if Black Ops 6 zombies lets us slide-tackle the undead, you’ll have to pry me away from the floor come October. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Here are the best FPS games you should check out after theBlack Ops 6beta ends. 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that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the 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heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”