Call of Duty: Vanguard’s release date is still a couple of months away, but fans of the long-running first-person shooter franchise have now had a couple of chances to check it out. First they were able to play the Champion Hill mode in theCall of Duty: Vanguardalpha test, and this past weekend, those who have pre-ordered on PS4 or PS5 were able to try a variety of other game modes in the firstCall of Duty: Vanguardbeta.
TheCall of Duty: Vanguardbeta put the spotlight on new modes like Patrol, with three regular multiplayer maps and Champion Hill all available to play throughout the weekend. It’s clear after spending time with the next-gen version ofCall of Duty: Vanguardon PS5 that the game’s multiplayer is going to deliver yet another solid experience that should please longtimeCoDfans, even if it won’t necessarily win over any new recruits.
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Call of Duty: Vanguard’s multiplayerlacks major innovation, but it makes up for it in pure fun factor. This is the same oldCall of Dutymultiplayer experience that fans have been playing for well over a decade now, but it’s never looked this good. All the fan favorite game modes will be returning, the new modes are fun, and the maps featured in the beta were all impressive as well. It’s too early to say for certain, but it seems likeCall of Duty: Vanguardis on track to be one of the better games in the series.
Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta Game Modes
TheCall of Duty: Vanguardbetahad a variety of game modes for fans to check out, including the tried-and-true favorites like Kill Confirmed and Team Deathmatch. WithCall of Duty: Vanguardsticking close to the established formula when it comes to multiplayer, longtime fans already know what to expect from these modes, and are likely more curious about the new modes on display, like Champion Hill and Patrol.
Call of Duty: VanguardChampion Hill is an interesting experiment that combines elements of the2v2 Gunfight modewith a tournament-style battle royale setup. Champion Hill can be a lot of fun with the right partner, but hopefully there are some traditional Gunfight tournaments in the final game as well. Patrol mode, meanwhile, is a new addition for traditional multiplayer, and it’s easily one of the best new additions to the multiplayer mode lineup.
Call of Duty: VanguardPatrol is like King of the Hill, but with the point constantly moving around the map. This forces players to remain mobile and can lead to interesting strategies that aren’t usually seen inCall of Dutygames. Patrol on the snowy Red Star map was especially entertaining, and it will be exciting to see how the mode plays out in the otherVanguardmaps come launch day on November 5.
Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta Maps and Reactive Environments
Call of Duty: Vanguardfeatured three traditional multiplayer maps for its first beta, consisting of the aforementioned Red Star map, Hotel Royal, and Gavutu. Red Star takes place in a snowy city, whereas Hotel Royal is a fight at the top of a tall building, with both exterior and interior locations. Gavutu, meanwhile, is a tropical map set in thePacific theater. All three maps are solid design-wise, with nothing annoying popping out about any of them except in certain modes.
TheCall of Duty: VanguardBlitz modethat was featured in the beta was a little overwhelming on the Hotel Royal map (Blitz consists of 48 player matches). It was excessively hectic, but of course, players could simply avoid Blitz and stick to more traditional maps on the mode. Hotel Royal wasn’t the best for the Patrol game mode either, but it was a ton of fun to play on it in the more traditionalCall of Dutygame modes that were available during the beta.
All of theCall of Duty: Vanguardmultiplayer mapsfeatured in the beta looked fantastic, brought to life with a ton of detail and expert lighting. The backgrounds were especially lively compared to otherCall of Dutymaps, with Hotel Royal offering an especially breathtaking sight of dogfighting in the air and fires burning down Paris. It’s clear from the beta that, on next-gen consoles anyway,Call of Duty: Vanguardis set to be one of the most visually-impressive games of the year.
Call of Duty: Vanguardmaps feel much more alive than previousCall of Dutymaps, mainly thanks to their Reactive Environments.Call of Duty: Vanguardplayers can bust down doors, destroy chunks of walls, and generally warp maps as they fight in them. It’s nothing on the level of, say, theBattlefieldfranchise’s desctrubility, but it’s still a noticeable step forward for theCall of Dutyfranchise in this particular arena.
When Does the Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta Come Back?
TheCall of Duty: Vanguardmultiplayer beta was generally impressive and should leave one feeling optimistic about this year’s entry in the franchise. Those who are intrigued byCall of Duty: Vanguardbut were unable to participate in the first beta will have a couple more opportunities to do so.
The nextCall of Duty: Vanguardbeta will take place from September 16 to 17. It will be an open beta for PlayStation users, but will be restricted to those on PC and Xbox that pre-order the game. Then a proper open beta will take place from September 18 to September 20, wrapping up the game’s beta testing period. At that point, all fans will have to do is wait for moreCall of Duty: VanguardCampaign reveals and their first look at theTreyarch-developed Zombies modeuntil November 5 rolls around.
Call of Duty: Vanguardlaunches November 5 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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