Call of Duty: Vanguard

CD as a series has had a checkered past. There was a period about five years ago where the series was in a real slump, the game had become mass-produced and formulaic and one iteration even had the gall to release with no story mode. However, thanks to a soft reboot, the series is back and is healthier than ever, thanks largely to a new battle royale feature that has helped but the game back on the map after some time in the limelight. So as the holiday season draws closer, we take a look at how Call of Duty: Vanguard will shape up compared to the games of the last few years.

This game will obviously play like other recent CoD titles such as Call Of Duty: WWII and Call of Duty: Cold War. However, it will also play like games from other popular series like Battlefield, Hell Let Loose, Wolfenstein, Spec-Ops: The Line and CounterStrike. This game aims to keep the fire burning after years of continued success for the series. However, will this stoke the fire, or quell the flames? We find out in our review of Call of Duty: Vanguard.

Shooty, Shooty, Call of Duty

Call of Duty Vanguard is set to be a continuation, following on from the WWII title of two years ago. Meaning that this game’s campaign will be set in the 1940’s WW2 era. The game promises to allow players to enjoy a rich and enthralling storyline which will span across regions such as Europe, North America and Eastern Asia as the player takes to the trenches and battles in historically inspired missions, all culminating in a huge finale which you will have to play for yourself to find out what Activison have in store for you.

Then as for the gameplay, in the age of the modern shooter, it’s all about the multiplayer aspects. Which we can assure you, look very impressive indeed. The gunplay is much more realistic with a more ‘blunt and visceral’ feel. Allowing players to feel like they are the ones cowering behind cover, battling against enemy forces. New multiplayer modes are set to arrive here and of course, this game will tie-in with the world beater battle royale Warzone to offer a linked and all-encompassing experience.

Then with regards to the visuals, this game is nothing short of stunning. Whether you focus on the photo realism, the brutality of war that is conveyed, the dynamic maps, the realistic weather conditions or the smooth animations and keen attention to detail. We have to say that all of this ties together to offer one of the most staggeringly beautiful FPS shooters around. Dare we say that this game is the first FPS shooter to truly utilise the next-gen hardware?

The Verdict

Overall, we believe that this Call of Duty instalment has all the makings of a classic. Not only because the story sounds like it has had a great deal of effort poured into it, but also because the visuals and the smaller details have been given a real face lift.

Pros

• Visually outstanding
• Campaign shows a lot of promise
• Gameplay is as sharp as ever

Cons

• Shoves Warzone down player’s throat
• Multiplayer still plays a starring role