Call of Duty: Vanguard – A Cinematic Masterpiece Hampered by Unfinished Business
Call of Duty: Vanguard delivers stunning visuals and a compelling narrative, transporting players to the heart of World War II. But beneath its polished surface, the game struggles to deliver on the promises of its ambitious scope. While the campaign boasts captivating characters and cinematic brilliance, its brevity leaves players yearning for more. Similarly, the multiplayer mode, despite introducing exciting new features like combat pacing and Champion Hill, feels rushed and unrefined, leaving seasoned veterans unsatisfied. The Zombies mode, still in its infancy, falls short of expectations, further highlighting a lack of polish that permeates the entire game.
A Story that Fizzles Out Before It Peaks
The single-player campaign, crafted by Sledgehammer Games, shines with its focus on a diverse squad of four protagonists – the level-headed British leader Arthur Kingsley, the tough Aussie Lucas Riggs, the American showman Wade Jackson, and the stoic Russian sniper Polina Petrova – each with their unique backstories, specialties, and special abilities. You’re thrust into their individual tales before converging into Task Force One, tasked with taking down the formidable Fourth Reich.
While the characters are remarkably well-developed, the campaign suffers from an unfortunately short six-hour runtime. This brevity, coupled with a difficulty setting that fails to challenge even seasoned veterans, leaves a feeling of unfinished business. The narrative unfolds at a breakneck speed, lacking the depth and complexity that a more extended experience could offer.
However, the campaign undeniably excels in its visual storytelling. Sledgehammer Games delivers a cinematic experience that rivals Hollywood blockbusters, enhancing the immersion and emotional impact. The intricate character development, combined with beautifully rendered cutscenes, elevates Vanguard beyond a mere shooter; it’s a story you’ll truly want to invest in.
The Multiplayer – A Fast-Paced Battlefield with Mixed Results
The multiplayer mode, a crucial focal point for Call of Duty fans, takes the action to the next level with a frenetic pace that pushes players to their limits. The game features 20 maps at launch, each offering a unique layout and tactical challenges. Combat pacing, a new feature that allows players to customize their match experience based on the number of players and map size, adds another layer of strategic depth. This dynamic system caters to varying playstyles, giving veterans the option for intense 48-player Blitz battles while offering a more controlled 6v6 Tactical experience for those seeking a more strategic approach.
The introduction of weapon mounting and blind firing mechanics expands tactical options, allowing players to utilize environmental cover more effectively. Destructible environments, however, feel more like a gimmick than a truly impactful gameplay element.
Vanguard introduces a brand-new mode – Champion Hill. This round-robin elimination game pits teams of Solos, Duos, or Trios against each other in a fast-paced, high-stakes competition. Champion Hill provides a highly competitive environment, forcing players to hone their skills and adapt quickly to challenging situations.
Despite its ambition, Vanguard’s multiplayer mode falls short of its full potential. The visual palette, dominated by shades of green and brown, can make visibility a challenge, especially during intense action sequences. The fast-paced action is further hampered by the overzealous sound and visual effects of hit markers, often creating a cacophony that masks crucial information and obscures the player’s ability to react.
Overall, while the multiplayer mode offers new mechanics and an expansive map selection, the frenetic pace and visual limitations leave it feeling like a work in progress. It requires significant investment, potentially alienating casual players looking for a more approachable experience.
The Zombies Mode – A Promising Start With a Long Road Ahead
The Zombies mode in Vanguard, developed by Treyarch Studios, takes players on a journey into the unsettling realm of the undead, fueled by the Nazis’ insatiable quest for power. Players face hordes of skeletal enemies in the Der Anfang mode, a starting point for an expansive roadmap that promises additional game modes and content in the future.
While the narrative, driven by a relentless search for occult secrets and the resurgence of a powerful artifact, does have a certain appeal, the initial launch experience is underwhelming. The lack of content and diversity in enemy types leaves the gameplay feeling repetitive and lacking the depth found in its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War Zombies.
The new mechanics, such as Covenant upgrades and the portal challenge, add a layer of complexity but are not enough to salvage the uninspired gameplay. While the future roadmap promises a more substantial and engaging experience, the initial offering feels like a rushed placeholder, leaving those expecting a fully fleshed-out Zombies mode feeling disappointed.
The Verdict – A Missed Opportunity with Glimmers of Promise
Call of Duty: Vanguard stumbles in its attempt to deliver a complete package. It boasts cinematic brilliance and compelling characters but gets caught in a frustrating game of balancing. The captivating single-player campaign is overshadowed by its brevity and unimpressive difficulty, while the multiplayer mode, despite its ambitious features, feels rushed and underdeveloped. The Zombies mode, in its nascent stages, fails to meet the standards set by its predecessor.
However, Vanguard showcases glimmers of promise. The visuals are phenomenal, the story is engaging, and the multiplayer offers fresh mechanics. Despite its flaws, the game holds potential, particularly for dedicated players willing to invest time in learning its nuances and mastering its gameplay.
Pros:
- Beautiful cinema
- Well-written single-player campaign
- Great characters; interesting addition of special abilities
- Champion Hill game mode and combat pacing in multiplayer
Cons:
- Single-player campaign is way too short
- Campaign difficulty skewed towards easy
- Multiplayer visuals and pace make it more challenging
- Zombies mode is not ready yet
Rating (out of 10): 6
Call of Duty: Vanguard is out worldwide for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S starting at Rs. 3,999.
