Call of duty Vanguard is a multiplayer video game in the genre of First-person shooter. CoD Vanguard’s official release date is 5th November 2021.
The test weekend, on which the community was allowed to dive into Call of Duty Vanguard for the first time, did not get off to a good start: The game mode selected for the alpha phase and the associated map confused the majority of players.
Instead of a classic mode like Hardpoint or Domination, a completely new game mode introduced with “Champion Hill,” the map was much too dark to be able to get an impression of the game at all. The typical CoD feeling could not be found but had to play over several hours.
But that has little to do with the actual gameplay of Call of Duty Vanguard. Or with his problems. While the Alpha has already considered many significant features and can show clear strengths, there is still a lot to do for Sledgehammer before the release.
CoD: Vanguard Alpha – What’s Impressive
With the IW8 engine, which was already used in Modern Warfare 2019, CoD Vanguard was graphically convincing across the board. Although only owners of a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 could take part in the Alpha. The potential of the next-gen consoles could at least be indicated on the PS5.
Of course, the weapons in Vanguard were also, particularly in focus. Historical accuracy was essential to the developers of Sledgehammer – but you still have to turn a blind eye or two. Although, all weapons fit into the historical scenario of World War II. The attachments are modern even by today’s standards. It remains to be seen whether this will change anything by the time it is released.
There have also been some changes with regards to gunplay. The TTK (Time To Kill) has been significantly reduced compared to its predecessors in the CoD series. However, this adjustment always fits into the selected period. And the slightly increased recoil also does justice to the time of the Second World War.
CoD: Vanguard Alpha – What’s Not So Impressive
In addition to the positive aspects, there were also some disruptive factors. The game feels slow. The game speed has generally been reduced. Whether it’s changing weapons or the popular slides, Call of Duty Vanguard felt more like a tactical shooter.
In the community, however, the mini-map was hotly debated. Although the fan base wanted the classic mini-map, Sledgehammer opted for the version from Modern Warfare 2019. For example, shots without a silencer cannot be seen on it – one of the biggest criticisms of the community.
The destructible environment should be a plus. Since almost everything on the map selected for the alpha phase was destructible, the new feature was noticeable rather negatively. Machine guns became a meta over the weekend, as you just had to shoot through walls to get kills.
The conclusion to the Alpha of Call of Duty Vanguard
Certainly, Vanguard’s first test phase would have made a different impression if Sledgehammer had opted for a different game mode. It leaves a bland aftertaste in the end. Otherwise, Vanguard was able to convince over long distances, but some of the community’s wishes remained unfulfilled. To what extent one can expect changes for the beta phase on 10th September remains to be seen. However, Sledgehammer Games assured that they would be open to feedback from the community.
