GameCentral's latest letters page has sparked heated discussion among UK gamers, with strong criticism aimed at Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7's campaign mode and nostalgic reflections on the PlayStation 2's 25th anniversary.
Black Ops 7 Campaign Falls Short
One reader's experience with the recently released Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign has raised concerns about the franchise's direction. The player completed the entire story mode in just four hours, describing it as a complete waste of time and questioning Activision's decision to withhold review copies from critics.
The campaign's brevity has particularly frustrated fans, especially given Activision's abandonment of their early access programme that previously allowed players to experience the story mode a week before launch. Despite the criticism, the reader acknowledged that the campaign wasn't the worst in recent memory, noting it surpassed the low bars set by Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 6's single-player offerings.
Growing Calls to Abandon Campaign Mode
The criticism has reignited debate about whether Activision should permanently ditch campaign modes from future Call Of Duty releases. As one reader pointed out, the publisher has historically claimed that few players actually complete the single-player content, suggesting resources would be better allocated to improving multiplayer experiences.
However, concerns remain about whether cost savings would translate to better multiplayer content, given that Black Ops 4's lack of campaign mode in 2018 didn't result in noticeable improvements elsewhere. The reader emphasised that for Call Of Duty to maintain its dominant position, the franchise needs to embrace more significant changes rather than sticking with outdated formulas.
PlayStation Nostalgia and Modern Comparisons
Meanwhile, other correspondents have been celebrating the PlayStation 2's 25th anniversary by revisiting classic games on the iconic console. One reader shared their experience of purchasing a refurbished original PlayStation 2, noting how dated certain features now feel compared to modern systems.
The inability to quit games without resetting the entire console served as a stark reminder of how far gaming convenience has progressed. The reader compared the experience to driving a classic car without power steering or modern navigation systems, acknowledging that while PlayStation 2 games remain excellent, contemporary consoles offer significantly refined user experiences.
Another contributor highlighted the technological advances by comparing their PlayStation 4 Pro's noisy fan and slower loading times to the quiet efficiency of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The dramatic improvement in frame rates and loading speeds between generations has apparently made returning to older hardware a jarring experience for many players.
Free Gaming Opportunities and Community Recommendations
In more positive news, several readers have highlighted that Immortals Fenyx Rising is currently free on Ubisoft Connect for PC until December 2nd. The game has received strong recommendations from multiple correspondents, with one describing it as a great game worth playing on either PlayStation 4 or 5.
The GameCentral team noted the interesting coincidence of multiple readers writing about the same relatively obscure subject within the same letters page, describing it as a hive mind phenomenon that occurs surprisingly frequently.
Other discussions included:
- Debates about Xbox's competitive position against PlayStation and the potential impact of Steam Machines
- Reflections on gaming's evolution, including how older titles like Super Mario Bros. 3 lacked save features
- Criticism of AI-generated artwork in Call Of Duty that mimics Studio Ghibli's distinctive style
- Practical advice for saving money on digital game purchases, including Metroid Prime 4
The letters page continues to showcase the diverse opinions and experiences of UK gamers, from harsh criticism of major releases to nostalgic appreciation of gaming history and practical advice for accessing free content.
