These trigger effects, alongside the smooth 4K 60fps gameplay, are the most “next-gen” feeling aspects of Cold War’s multiplayer on console. The rapid rattle of the controller when laying fire down with the MP5 is in stark contrast to slow thud of the Pellington sniper rifle, and both of these send shudders down your fingertips differently to the resistance of the combat bow as you pull back its explosive ammunition. The DualSense’s adaptive triggers really do feel different with each gun you wield and add an extra appreciated layer to the overall experience of a firefight. That’s not to say I haven’t been experimenting with different weapons though, and that’s something I’d recommend to anyone playing on PS5. Imbalance can always be expected at the start of a multiplayer meta cycle, but it’s never a good sign when nine out of 10 guns you run over on the floor are exactly the same. The MP5 is so good, in fact, that at times it feels fruitless to choose any other loadout. It’s currently an all-round monster that does significant damage at short-to-medium distances while allowing for maximum mobility. Likewise, the MP5 appears very popular and has become my go-to weapon when playing on all of the smaller 6v6 maps. While the Milano is not the powerhouse it was pre-release, it is still more than effective due to its absurdly high rate of fire.

Sub-machine guns are currently king in multiplayer. With longer time-to-kill, a visual step down when compared to last year’s gorgeous Modern Warfare, and a return to simpler map designs, this year's Call of Duty multiplayer is somewhat of a backwards step for the series.

I wonder if there is too much looking back going on in Cold War and not enough emphasis being placed on meaningful iteration, if not revolution. It is fun, largely due to the gunplay feeling solid and familiar and the heavy burst of nostalgia with each pull of the trigger, but it doesn’t do too much to excite at launch, largely down to most of the new modes not quite hitting the mark and a general lack of content. Black Ops Cold War’s multiplayer aims to recapture what made the original Black Ops great by stripping back a lot of the mechanics that’ve been layered on in the past several games. Sometimes, getting back to the basics just feels… basic.

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