Black Ops 6’s Kill Order is a Diamond in the Rough
Just like with most Call of Duty games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 brings back the old while also injecting some new things into the mix. Though the biggest highlights are the return of round-based Zombies, the exciting campaign, and the classic Black Ops feel, alongside that, Treyarch has shaken things up with the introduction of the brand-new multiplayer mode Kill Order. Although not necessarily game-changing, this new mode could one day become a staple, even if it has been met with mixed opinions from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players.
Through Kill Order, players get a very different style of Team Deathmatch than what they are used to. Instead of focusing on everyone, this mode forces them to concentrate their efforts on one High Value Target, which makes for an exciting game of cat-and-mouse. Though not everyone has fallen in love with the mode, with a few small tweaks, it could become Call of Duty‘s next big thing.
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Black Ops 6’s Kill Order Shakes Things Up Nicely
Kill Order’s Core Gameplay Loop Seems to be a Bit Controversial
The core gameplay loop of Kill Order is relatively simple. Players are put onto two teams of up to six players, with the first team to earn 125 points winning. Just like with other modes, one kill equals one point. However, to make things a bit more interesting, a random player on each team will be designated as the HVT. If players are able to kill the HVT, then they get two points, and a different player becomes one. If an HVT is able to kill an HVT, then they get five points. And this goes on until one team comes out on top.
This puts a new unique spin on the classic Team Deathmatch, as Black Ops 6 players actively try to take out one target above all the rest. But some of the fanbase has felt like that concept is let down by a few issues. Some feel like it is a mode that incentivizes camping, while others feel like many players simply do not play the objective and ignore the HVT status, which makes for an aggravating match. Additionally, players dislike the low score count, as 125 points can be reached in minutes, making matches too short to get invested in.
Kill Order Actually Leads to Something Pretty Fun
The core concept of Kill Order is just a quicker form of Team Deathmatch. Practically everything works the same, with the only addition being two players that are worth more points than all the others. So, while players can still duke it out as normal, this element adds another layer of strategy as the HVT must be protected. And since everyone usually gets a chance to be the HVT, there are clear moments in Kill Order that provide a frantic and fun experience.
Of course, sometimes players do not play around that objective and there can be some issues with camping. Though this is not a Kill Order-exclusive problem, as it has been an issue that has plagued Call of Duty, and many FPS games, for years, it is more clearly visible since players can instantly see when an HVT is making poor choices. Perhaps Treyarch could encourage HVTs to stick with their team for bonus points, or make it clearer that players are the HVT by giving them a countdown timer before they are handed the role.
There is always room to grow, and Kill Order could probably benefit from a few tweaks. Treyarch could add an incentive for the HVT to move more, as it could speed up encounters by rewarding even more points for movement-based kills. Additionally, it could give players a bonus if they do actually stick together. The score limit could also be increased to eliminate one large criticism, potentially going all the way from 125 to 250. Since the mode was only just introduced, there will likely be plenty of tweaks like that in its future, and hopefully, that future is bright.