
70
MONSTER
This is WWII combat like never before. Witness the origins of Special Forces as you play a pivotal role and change the face of history, forming Task Force One in a gripping Campaign across four major theaters of war. Become an original Special Forces Operator in an online Multiplayer rich in innovation with 20 maps available at launch. Prepare for a franchise-first, universe-expanding Zombies crossover. Immerse yourself in a fully integrated Call of Duty: Warzone experience featuring a new and massive map. This is the most connected Call of Duty ever, all powered by the next generation Call of Duty engine introduced in Modern Warfare. This is Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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60
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s narrative splits critics: praised for humanizing characters, diverse perspectives, and emotional depth by some, yet slammed for disjointed storytelling, clichés, and hollow execution. While a few laud its cinematic flair and real-world inspirations, most call it predictable, unoriginal, and emotionally flat, with weak arcs and an anticlimactic finish—leaving its ambitious premise unfulfilled.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
60
Positive Reviews (80-100)
25%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
51%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
24%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s narrative splits critics: praised for humanizing characters, diverse perspectives, and emotional depth by some, yet slammed for disjointed storytelling, clichés, and hollow execution. While a few laud its cinematic flair and real-world inspirations, most call it predictable, unoriginal, and emotionally flat, with weak arcs and an anticlimactic finish—leaving its ambitious premise unfulfilled.
Gameplay Mechanics
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71
Polished but unoriginal gameplay, praised for customization, new modes, and tight gunplay but criticized for chaos, repetition, underdeveloped maps, and a stagnant Zombies mode that fails to innovate, leaving it as a safe but uninspired entry in the series.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
41%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
53%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Polished but unoriginal gameplay, praised for customization, new modes, and tight gunplay but criticized for chaos, repetition, underdeveloped maps, and a stagnant Zombies mode that fails to innovate, leaving it as a safe but uninspired entry in the series.
Graphics and Visual Design
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79
Call of Duty: Vanguard dazzles with cinematic visuals, immersive environments, and polished cutscenes, but technical hiccups—poor lighting, texture flaws, and frame drops—tarnish its next-gen promise, leaving a mixed legacy of ambition vs. inconsistency.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
68%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
28%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Call of Duty: Vanguard dazzles with cinematic visuals, immersive environments, and polished cutscenes, but technical hiccups—poor lighting, texture flaws, and frame drops—tarnish its next-gen promise, leaving a mixed legacy of ambition vs. inconsistency.
Music and Sound Design
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74
Call of Duty: Vanguard's sound design dazzles with Bear McCreary’s stellar score, immersive WWII atmosphere, and razor-sharp weapon details, but glitches like synthetic firing sounds, muddled voice acting, and inconsistent audio undercut its polish—proving audio excellence can still stumble.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
74
Positive Reviews (80-100)
64%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
26%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
10%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Call of Duty: Vanguard's sound design dazzles with Bear McCreary’s stellar score, immersive WWII atmosphere, and razor-sharp weapon details, but glitches like synthetic firing sounds, muddled voice acting, and inconsistent audio undercut its polish—proving audio excellence can still stumble.
Voice Acting
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71
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s voice acting dazzles with stellar performances from Dominic Monaghan and Laura Bailey, but plagued by technical flaws, clichéd characters, and uneven delivery that undermine its narrative impact.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
47%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
47%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s voice acting dazzles with stellar performances from Dominic Monaghan and Laura Bailey, but plagued by technical flaws, clichéd characters, and uneven delivery that undermine its narrative impact.
Technical Performance
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63
Call of Duty: Vanguard delivers solid next-gen performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X but struggles with PC optimization, plagued by glitches, crashes, and polish issues across all platforms—despite showcasing hardware potential, it needs post-launch fixes to shine.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
63
Positive Reviews (80-100)
25%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
57%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
18%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Call of Duty: Vanguard delivers solid next-gen performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X but struggles with PC optimization, plagued by glitches, crashes, and polish issues across all platforms—despite showcasing hardware potential, it needs post-launch fixes to shine.
Replay Value
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67
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s replay value hinges on its robust multiplayer—20 maps, 38 weapons, and addictive modes like Champion Hill—but struggles with a lackluster campaign (6–8 hours, linear) and underwhelming Zombies, which feel unfinished or unoriginal. While customization and updates offer promise, repetitive mechanics and missed innovation leave the experience uneven, prioritizing quantity over depth.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
67
Positive Reviews (80-100)
27%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
65%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
8%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s replay value hinges on its robust multiplayer—20 maps, 38 weapons, and addictive modes like Champion Hill—but struggles with a lackluster campaign (6–8 hours, linear) and underwhelming Zombies, which feel unfinished or unoriginal. While customization and updates offer promise, repetitive mechanics and missed innovation leave the experience uneven, prioritizing quantity over depth.
Overall Verdict
70
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
70
Positive Reviews (80-100)
35%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
63%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Call of Duty: Vanguard impresses with polished multiplayer and visuals but suffers from stale single-player, repetitive Zombies, and creative stagnation, earning mixed reviews for a safe, unambitious entry in the franchise.
70
MONSTER
Reviews
185 reviews found100
Gaming Age
Nov 8, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard is a welcome addition to the franchise and offers adventurous new territories.
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95
App Trigger
Nov 8, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard is considered one of the best CoD installments to date with stunning graphics and finely tuned gunplay. The solo campaign and multiplayer are both enjoyable.
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95
Digital Chumps
Nov 5, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard is a standout shooter experience that successfully blends a globetrotting campaign with an exceptional multiplayer mode, despite some minor drawbacks in content and gameplay balance.
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90
Forbes
Nov 12, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call Of Duty: Vanguard exceeds expectations with its multiplayer experience and visual design, though the campaign could be more engaging. It's recommended for fans of the franchise.
90
GamesBeat
Nov 23, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard is a balanced game with historical interest, good gameplay, and a strong narrative, though it lacks the polish of previous titles.
90
TheSixthAxis
Nov 11, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Call of Duty: Vanguard for its campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies mode. It mentions that the game has absorbed improvements and refinements to the COD formula, and has a faster flow and fairer playing field compared to previous titles. The reviewer also states that Vanguard has its hook in deeper than Modern Warfare or Black Ops Cold War.
90
GamingTrend
Nov 4, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard successfully combines elements from previous titles to create a compelling FPS experience, with a heartfelt campaign, engaging multiplayer, and inviting Zombies mode, despite some shortcomings.
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87
Xbox Achievements
Nov 8, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard delivers a superb campaign, comprehensive multiplayer, and a decent Zombies mode, making it a robust and polished package.
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87
Hobby Consolas
Nov 4, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard mantiene la esencia de la franquicia con un regreso a la Segunda Guerra Mundial, ofreciendo un multijugador renovado y un modo Zombies innovador. Aunque la campaña es más conservadora, el contenido adicional promete mantener el juego vivo.
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85
PlayStation LifeStyle
Nov 4, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Call of Duty: Vanguard is a quality experience that approaches WWII from a fresh perspective, with strong storytelling and character development, though it suffers from gameplay repetition. The multiplayer and Zombies modes provide ample content for players.
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