MeinMMO author Maik Schneider played the PS4 alpha of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War over the weekend and was excited about the announced “next-gen multiplayer mode.” However, it reminded him more of his PS3 days. He doesn’t find that so bad.
What did the alpha have to offer? Last weekend (September 18 – 20), CoD soldiers with a PlayStation 4 were allowed to take a first look at the multiplayer of the new CoD: Cold War. I didn’t want to miss the chance and immediately grinded a few maps and modes for MeinMMO and my own enjoyment.
The alpha offered:
- 3 6vs6 maps – Moscow, Miami, Satellite
- 4 modes for 6vs6 maps – Domination, Hardpoint, TDM, Kill Confirmed
- the 12vs12 “Combined Arms” mode – Domination
- 2 maps for the 12vs12 mode – Crossroads, Armada
- 15 weapons with about half of the possible attachments
With that, you could have a few good hours of fun and try out a lot. But even though the developers talk about the “next-gen multiplayer mode” in their PR texts, I felt more reminded of the glorious PS3 days. My goosebumps and I didn’t find that so bad.
Cold War distances itself from CoD MW and is more like Call of Duty again
This was my impression from the alpha test I think it was a successful test. The maps & modes offered already gave a good impression of the multiplayer mode. I noticed within the first few seconds that the movement and gameplay feel familiar, but less reminiscent of Modern Warfare and more like something that is hiding further back in my long-term memory.
Not only did the setting in the Cold War take me back in time, but the mechanics also remind me more of earlier times, before CoD let its soldiers run along walls thanks to technical support or maps in zero gravity pushed movement to the limit.
Except for WWII from 2017, all CoD titles on PS4 utilized superhuman movement options, which didn’t appeal to every player – I never liked it either. I find these movement enhancements unnecessary and think that Call of Duty provides enough opportunities to outplay opponents and engage in exciting battles without wall-running.
Where we would be back at the Cold War alpha. Because the new Black Ops, whose story is set between Blops I & II, also plays out like a CoD on the PS3. It feels less realistic than Modern Warfare, but offers a CoD experience that focuses more on the battles and provides less fluff, like weapon mounting or tactical sprinting.
Gameplay reminds of the past, but with meaningful developments
So is everything like before? Not quite. The loadout system clearly follows the direct predecessor and offers a gunsmith. We are also far from a PS3 title in terms of graphics; the models and animations make a high-quality impression, even if CoD MW can easily keep up with some parts, if not doing better.
The weaknesses of CoD Cold War could also be due to the fact that Cold War is still getting a version for next-gen consoles and the developers had to make some compromises on the PS4 – or simply due to the alpha status of the test version.
But in terms of gameplay, I was overcome by feelings I had long forgotten. This was especially due to the following points:
- There is less movement with the movement
- The weapons are generally a bit more stable
- There is no physical, only optical flinch (reaction when hit while aiming)
- No more tactical sprint
- Smaller maps with focus zones – you generally knew where the fights were happening
All in all, we can actually speak of a next-gen CoD multiplayer, but Cold War is not a direct evolution of Modern Warfare. It is rather a meaningful and good evolution of Call of Duty.
Modern Warfare, on the other hand, now seems to me like the CoD title that did a lot differently due to Warzone to create a better foundation for the battle royale.
The CoD Warzone continues with Cold War as well. Check here to see how Warzone & Cold War could grow together.
CoD feeling is back, but the maps were sometimes odd
What did I like? That the old CoD feeling with a competitive focus is back, I found very good. Only now did I truly realize how much Warzone influenced the last CoD. With Cold War, you get more Call of Duty for your money again, as it clearly orients itself to earlier gaming experiences.
It is also not shy about adopting some good features from CoD MW. The gunsmith is back, bringing with it a plethora of modifications for many firearms.
I also appreciated the higher time-to-kill. You can better hide behind cover and can then change tactics without immediately being downed. The time-to-kill is not excessively high, and secure kills remain secure kills if you land your shots.
What did I not like? The 6vs6 maps did not seem to match all game modes coherently. On the night map “Miami,” for instance, the mode “Domination” was absolute chaos. While players could quickly get from point A to B, players from C could take over a balcony that could cover the whole area at A & B.
On “Moscow,” however, I found Domination really good, whereas I liked the TDM modes less (Team Deathmatch & Kill Confirmed). It would be a shame if this trend were to appear in the finished game. However, the developers have already announced that there will be balancing adjustments before the release, even before the beta.
Along with the slight criticism of the maps come some issues with the graphics:
- Sometimes it took forever for the textures to load correctly.
- Sometimes the resolution was off. While there were no frame drops, the visuals sometimes suffered under the stable frame rate.
Here I was genuinely reminded of PS3 states sometimes.
“In a good way” more Call of Duty like before
My conclusion: Call of Duty takes a good direction with the new title and leans more towards its past. However, it also learns from experiences and does not simply present us with a “Black Ops 2” remake, which some fans would have liked.
After the test weekend, I am looking forward to the release and want to see more. I am already excited about the adventures and battles that the new Call of Duty will certainly bring me.
Players complain about matchmaking and see a regression
What do the players say? Looking at the reactions, you see many satisfied CoD soldiers, but also a lot of critics. There are quite a few who view Cold War as a regression – in terms of graphics & gameplay.
In addition, many players have the problem with matchmaking. Some testers believe Cold War employs a very strict skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). This means the game always tries to match you with opponents of equal strength in a match. Critics argue that Cold War becomes more difficult this way, and they cannot enjoy a relaxed round as much. They believe there should only be strict SBMM in a competitive ranked system, which is specifically designed to match players with the same skill levels. For normal matches, there should, however, be at most a weak SBMM that protects beginners or bad players.
Overall, the reactions were rather negative. The main points of criticism:
- The matchmaking
- It represents a regression in gameplay
- Unrefined technology (issues with graphics, hitboxes, etc.)
When is the next test phase? Before Black Ops Cold War is released on November 13, there will be 2 beta test phases that you can participate in. Here you will find all relevant information, such as time or participation conditions.
The developers want to adjust a lot during the beta and may clear up some of the major and minor criticisms. The game already makes a fun impression to me, but I certainly won’t complain about improvements.
What do you think of the alpha or the first longer gameplay videos of Cold War? Do you see potential, or do you also think it represents a step back compared to Modern Warfare? Here you will also find a survey on the topic.
