Verdict
Call of Duty: Vanguard is the newest entry within the first-person shooter franchise, and it’s secure to say it didn’t blow me away. With the graphics outshining the story and the identical repetitive gameplay, this isn’t the revival the franchise wanted.
Pros
Impressive graphics Multiplayer holds upMost various CoD recreation I’ve seen shortly
Cons
Campaign is brief and never very impactfulThe try at a deeper story falls flatRepetitive gameplayWW2 is a predictable and boring backdrop
Availability
UKRRP: £59.99
USARRP: $59.99
Europeunavailable
Canadaunavailable
Australiaunavailable
Key Features
Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombie modes to playThere are a number of methods to play, as typical, you’ll be able to dive into the single-player Campaign mode, be part of your mates on-line in Multiplayer or sort out the undead in Zombie mode.
Multiplatform help Call of Duty: Vanguard will be performed on the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and on PC.
DLSS and FSR helpThis yr’s Call of Duty has help for Nvidia’s DLSS and ARM’s FSR, so you’ve decisions should you’re seeking to upscale the sport’s graphics.
Introduction
We’re now on the 18th primary recreation within the Call of Duty collection, and it’s secure to say that the properly appears to be working a bit dry for this first-person shooter collection.
Call of Duty: Vanguard takes a whole lot of pointers from the video games that got here earlier than it, so it’s best to count on to bear a really traditional CoD expertise, with a few surprises thrown in.
With a reasonably quick marketing campaign, you’ll principally be spending time within the multiplayer or Zombie modes, which do little to shake issues up, however are a trustworthy recreation of what made gamers fall in love with the franchise. Here’s my full evaluate.
Campaign mode
Only 9 ranges in marketing campaign modeFive playable protagonistsStandard and bland WW2 backdrop
Call of Duty: Vanguard’ story begins close to the top of WW2, when the Nazis are beginning to scramble, with the plot revolving round a secret plot that may make sure the Third Reich’s victory in the long term.
Throughout the marketing campaign, you swap between 4 totally different allies, with every character impressed by real-world heroes – with Lady Nightingale being my private favorite. There is little subtlety right here, with Vanguard trying to pursue themes relating to race and gender, however it comes off as ham-fisted at finest, and borderline offensive at worst.
A good portion of the marketing campaign revolves round flashbacks from every workforce member that came about earlier than the battle, supplying you with slightly perception into their persona and their struggles. Though I doubt it was intentional, the sport jogs my memory a lot of Suicide Squad that it’s slightly exhausting to take significantly, as The Expendables theming makes it exhausting to see any character as greater than only a killing machine, regardless of the sport’s efforts.
The finish of the primary mission reveals the workforce getting captured by Nazis after infiltrating their base. The story then focuses on every character’s backstory by means of the flashbacks and cutscenes, with the Sergeant’s story coming first.
Sergeant Arthur Kingsley is a black man, which the Nazis don’t like. The recreation drops any pretences round this character, letting the Nazi’s be as evil and racist as doable. At instances it was fairly enjoyable to hate, with Kingsley himself being very likeable; however it didn’t appear to be Sledgehammer Games knew what angle to take with him, making the race undertones really feel odd and unfinished.
The third mission is well my favorite, as we get to return to the Battle of Stalingrad with Russian sniper Polina Petrova. Her story begins together with her within the kitchen at house, with prompts that help you chat to neighbours as you wander by means of the city. Despite my private annoyance at that, she shines as one of the best playable character; she will be able to climb partitions and duck out and in of grates, with the extent design being extra dynamic and private than anything within the recreation.
Her ranges really feel like a beautiful mixture of Call of Duty and Tomb Raider, with choices to be stealthy or go in weapons blazing – if the whole recreation was primarily based on Lady Nightingale, it might have been a distinct expertise. The theme of gender is explored, although it’s not dealt with as clearly as Arthur, and it was satisfying to observe Petrova take out a person who referred to as her a ‘little girl’ simply moments earlier than.
We then transfer ahead to Wade Jackson, the cocky American pilot. The Battle of Midway was a wasted stage, as you’re taking to the skies to shoot down planes. This section doesn’t supply something you haven’t seen earlier than and until you like sluggish dogfights and sluggish turns, I’d advise skipping this stage altogether.
When Wade is on the bottom he’s a way more likeable character. His particular skill means that you can see enemies by means of partitions, with a larger give attention to stealth in comparison with all-out warfare.
And the final character we meet is the Australian Lucas Riggs, a loud-mouthed demolitions professional who can throw grenades with pin-point accuracy. Despite his fixed crude dialogue, which will get progressively much less humorous as you go on, his missions are very commonplace and bland. They’re set in boring deserts with little extra to do than run round blowing issues up.
The primary factor I can say for the Vanguard marketing campaign is that I recognize the trouble put in to create a extra various and attention-grabbing solid of characters, however I don’t suppose it was dealt with in addition to it might have been. The prejudice in opposition to every character (aside from the American) is referenced a number of instances all through the sport, however when the curtain falls Riggs remains to be hitting on Petrova.
All in all, you’ll be able to skip out on the marketing campaign, although I might advocate enjoying the third and sixth ranges, as Petrova is extra enjoyable to regulate than the opposite characters, and her distinctive model and angle was certainly one of my favorite elements of the entire recreation.
It’s additionally price mentioning that Vanguard’s marketing campaign mode is shockingly quick. I managed to complete the sport in round seven hours, although I believe you could possibly do it even faster, relying on which issue you play.
Multiplayer
The similar core gameplay as earlier entriesA few extra options than earlier than, together with Combat Pacing16 maps accessible at launch
There is lots much less to say in regards to the Multiplayer mode in Vanguard, because it actually doesn’t do a lot that I haven’t seen earlier than. I received’t say that it’s not an excellent time to run round weapons blazing, however should you have been after one thing comparably new, you’re out of luck.
The Multiplayer mode depends closely on the concept you’ll be joyful to maintain coming again, with weapons challenges that count on you to grind for days on finish to earn one other camo in your favorite gun. These facets are well-used and provides gamers one thing to work for, however I want that there was extra to return again for that wasn’t simply floor upgrades.
Speaking of floor upgrades, Call of Duty seemingly nonetheless hasn’t mastered how you can let you know that you simply’ve unlocked a brand new pores and skin, as I used to be steadily getting notifications for skins I’d unlocked hours in the past. It’s a small factor, however in the identical means that typically the subtitles don’t in any respect match the audio, it will get a bit annoying after some time.
But transferring on to what you’ll be able to really play in Multiplayer, there are the identical modes as typical with a brand new one thrown in for good measure. Champion Hill is Vanguard’s newest mode, wherein you play in both a workforce of two or three in opposition to seven different groups. Your squad will share lives, so for the primary 60-second deathmatch it is advisable to be certain each you and your teammates keep out of bother.
This mode was refreshing. I performed with strangers on-line, however I can think about enjoying with your mates can be much more entertaining because you’re very a lot counting on one another. I wouldn’t say it’s ground-breaking, however it’s nonetheless a pleasant addition to the same old Deathmatch and Search and Destroy modes.
The different new mode is Patrol, though it’s primarily an evolution on the Hardpoint mode from earlier Call of Duty entries. Your workforce must maintain management of a always transferring object, with just one workforce being allowed within the circle by the top of the match. This mode could have been my favorite, as the need to maintain transferring makes it grippingly frantic in the direction of the top.
The different modes are tried and true: Free-For-All is pretty apparent, kill anybody and everybody, with the primary to hit 30 kills taking the victory. Hardpoint is similar as Patrol however you’ll be controlling a stationary object. Deathmatch put you in certainly one of two groups, competing for the very best variety of kills inside 10 minutes. Kill Confirmed is similar as Deathmatch, however counts the variety of canine tags you’ve collected fairly than your kill rating.
Another new characteristic, Combat Pacing, means that you can enhance the variety of individuals in a match, with totally different ranges of depth to select from. This signifies that any thrill-seekers can go into Blitz (which is 24v24) whereas individuals in search of a extra relaxed killing spree can go Tactical Combat, which is 6v6.
As far as new issues go, the very last thing to say right here is the maps in Multiplayer mode. There are 16 maps within the recreation at present, with extra coming subsequent month. Dome has made a comeback, however this time it seems to be slightly worse for put on. The war-torn aesthetic matches with the sport properly, and I appreciated that the sport was making an attempt one thing totally different on one thing acquainted.
One of one of the best facets of those maps is that some are destructible. Hitler’s personal aeroplane base – the map Eagle’s Nest – reveals this off finest, as you’ll be able to crash by means of the ground onto unsuspecting enemies. It provides a stage of unpredictability that I actually loved, and it’s enjoyable to see how every participant chooses to make use of the surroundings.
All in all, the Multiplayer mode is actually enjoyable, however it doesn’t do something loopy or attention-grabbing sufficient that may make me change over to Vanguard completely. The recreation seems to be and handles properly, so it’s as much as you whether or not it’s price rebuilding again as much as that prime Prestige stage, contemplating the final couple of CoD video games have been remarkably constant by way of multiplayer.
Zombies
Almost no change from earlier than, nothing new has been addedFeels extra random than earlier than Lack of native split-screen is a giant disappointment
Vanguard additionally options the collection’ iconic Zombies mode, letting you shoot the rotting and frozen corpses of Nazi scum. However, it appears that evidently little has modified in comparison with earlier entries, since there’s nearly no new content material in anyway right here, making the Zombies Mode really feel like an afterthought.
It’s the identical routine as typical; run round and shoot zombies, unlock extra loot and maintain going till you’re ultimately overwhelmed. While the graphics and end-of-the-world aesthetic saved me entertained, the general Zombie expertise is similar because it’s all the time been, with the one actual distinction being the sense of randomness that comes with every new run.
The lack of native split-screen additionally appeared like a giant misstep, as probably the most enjoyable you’ll be able to have on this mode is with associates. You can play on-line with associates as a substitute, however lack of sofa co-op play remains to be disappointing.
In a really comparable vein to the multiplayer mode, should you’re a fan of CoD Zombie’s then you’ll have an excellent time. But with nothing new on supply, there’s little or no right here that you simply haven’t seen earlier than.
Latest offers
Should you purchase it?
You’re a loyal CoD fan: If you’re a giant fan of the collection and easily need extra of the identical, then this you’ll probably nonetheless take pleasure in Vanguard, particularly with the brand new next-gen graphics.
You’re in search of new CoD content material: If you’re after one thing you’ve not seen earlier than in a CoD recreation, then Vanguard might be a disappointment. While visually putting, there’s little or no right here that’s definitively new.
Final Thoughts
Call of Duty: Vanguard does have its moments, even when they’re fairly few and much between. The marketing campaign goes forwards and backwards between revolutionary and entertaining, to repetitive and bland, whereas the Multiplayer and Zombie modes don’t convey something new to the desk aside from how spectacular they give the impression of being.
How we take a look at
We play each recreation we evaluate by means of to the top, outdoors of sure exceptions the place getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is near not possible to do. When we don’t absolutely end a recreation earlier than reviewing it we are going to all the time alert the reader.
Played each accessible recreation mode
FAQs
Does Call of Duty: Vanguard help ray tracing? The newest CoD recreation doesn’t help ray tracing. Does Call of Duty: Vanguard help DLSS or FPS? Yes, you need to use DLSS or FPS on the newest recreation in case your chosen platform has help. Where can I play Call of Duty: Vanguard? You can play it on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and on Battlenet on PC.