Call of Duty: Vanguard is here, bringing another edition of Activision’s blockbuster shooter franchise. This year’s entry is from Sledgehammer Games, set against WW2. Rather than familiar large-scale battles like D-Day, though, this one takes a more intimate look at the war through the eyes of several members of special forces as they attempt to turn the tide of the war through precision and subterfuge.
Reviews hit just ahead of the release of Vanguard, and impressions are generally positive. In our own Call of Duty: Vanguard review, Phil Hornshaw said Vanguard builds on a strong framework of yearly iteration, but it suffers from some inconsistency when it comes to the strength of characters and some weaker individual campaign missions.
We’ve compiled more reviews from around the industry. For an even more detailed look, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
- Game: Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Release Date: November 5
- Price: $70
GameSpot – 7/10
“The thing about Call of Duty games is that, with each yearly iteration, you pretty much know what you’re getting–and that’s largely the case here. It’s both a blessing and a curse for Vanguard, however. Elements of Vanguard feel like good additions to the franchise, but its ideas also don’t always mix well with the series’ framework. That framework is still strong, and the solid gunplay, exciting multiplayer, and inventive moments of the campaign are worth seeking out. But forcing those two parts together exposes the seams in Call of Duty: Vanguard at times, weakening both parts of the game rather than pushing either one to the forefront.” — Phil Hornshaw [Full review]
Game Informer – 8/10
“Call of Duty: Vanguard’s campaign misses the mark, but multiplayer and Zombies do the heavy lifting to get the title to a good place. If you’re most invested in the single-player experience, you can pass on this year’s entry, but if you’re into the other modes, Call of Duty remains an excellent choice for some shooting, looting, and zombie executing.” — Daniel Hack [Full review]
Hardcore Gamer – 4/5
“Despite stumbling with the campaign, however, Call of Duty: Vanguard nails the Call of Duty experience everywhere else thanks to its stellar multiplayer and fun Zombies. Sledgehammer may have finally found their niche in the Call of Duty franchise.” — Kevin Dunsmore [Full review]
Attack of the Fanboy – 4/5
“All in all, Call of Duty: Vanguard is a solid yet unremarkable entry into the long-running franchise. On a technical level, it’s one of the most impressive games out there right now. On a gameplay level, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. Still, whether you’re in it for the single-player campaign, multiplayer suite, Zombies mode, or Warzone, Call of Duty: Vanguard has a lot to offer. It’s a step in the right direction for Sledgehammer Games, but it feels like it’ll take a second entry for the studio to really knock it out of the park.” — Diego Perez [Full review]
IGN – 7/10 (Campaign Review)
“Call of Duty Vanguard’s highly polished campaign provides a healthy amount of fun, even if its brief length and lack of variety lead it to fall short of the classic pieces of war cinema it’s trying to emulate.” — Simon Cardy [Full review]
Games Beat – Review-in-Progress
“Call of Duty: Vanguard is a balanced game across the vectors of historical interest, good gameplay, variety, and a strong narrative. It ties everything together in a competent way that makes sense. That doesn’t mean it’s a spectacular game on the order of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which was a breakthrough game for the franchise because of its thoughtfulness and disturbing material. This is a good installment, but the stutter in combat makes me wonder if it’s as polished as it should be.” — Dean Takahashi [Full review]
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