Few first-person shooters can compete with the juggernaut that isCall of Duty. Each game in series provides adrenaline-fueled combat with an engaging multiplayer offering. While the series has created over a dozen games at this point, each one in the franchise is much more varied than meets the eye.
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Three studios alternate yearly to release aCoDgame:Infinity Ward,Treyarch, andSledgehammer Games. Infinity Ward is known mostly for theModern Warfareseries, and Treyarch is known for creatingBlack Ops. Both series have been competing for gamer’s attention since their inception, providing the chaotic gunplay in unique ways.
10Modern Warfare: Killstreak Variety
Most fans ofModern Warfarewill remember how game-changing killstreaks were to the flow of a match.CoD 4’sintroduction of the system was great for the time, but everyMWgame since has upped the ante.
Modern Warfare 2introduced some of the most overpowered killstreaks the series has seen, ranging from the 7-kill Harrier Strike to the game-ending Tactical Nuke at a whopping 25 kills.Modern Warfare 3then added Strike Packages, classes of killstreaks that encourage certain styles of play. The fan-favorite was Specialist, forgoing traditional killstreaks for perks instead.
9Black Ops: Experimental Additions
While theModern Warfareseries nailed the core gunplay that makesCoDso addictive, Infinity Ward never dived into the social aspect of the series as well as Treyarch has.
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The firstBlack Opsalone introduced Theater Mode, private matches with bots, and Wager Matches such as Gun Game and One In The Chamber.Black Ops 2would later go on to overhaul the Create-A-Class system whileBlack Ops 3overhauled its movement mechanics. Even the changes to healing inBlack Ops 4dramatically changed that game’s sandbox.
8Modern Warfare: Spec Ops
Spec Ops was an optional third mode that started inModern Warfare 2and was also included inModern Warfare 3and the rebootedModern Warfare. These missions are bite-sized encounters that reward speed and accuracy.
Missions ranged from replaying segments of the campaign to playing levels from the enemy’s perspective. It was a great change of pace for the series and allowed for some fun co-op moments. Most also forget aboutModern Warfare 3’sSurvival Mode, a Spec Ops variant that tasked players with surviving against waves of enemies. Admittedly, the Spec Ops variant in the reboot is rather lackluster, but Spec Ops is a core part of theMWformula that many enjoy.
7Black Ops: Setting Variety
One ofModern Warfare’slargest weaknesses is that it’s stuck in the modern-day setting.BlackOpshas the ability to create games in any setting they wish, something Treyarch has used to great effect.
Vietnam and the Cold War were the centerpieces for the firstBlack Ops. Each game since has pushed the near-future setting withBlack Ops 2’sfocus on drones,Black Ops 3’s take on transhumanism through technology, andBlack Ops 4’sprequel approach to the third entry. No game in theBlack Opsseries overlaps to the degree theModern Warfaregames do.
6Modern Warfare: Campaigns
Infiltrating missile silos, defending the White House, and clearing apartment buildings in the dead of night are whatModern Warfare’scampaigns are all about.
These campaigns are grounded just enough in reality toget fans investedin the story, but theCall of Dutygames never pretend they’re anything more than games either. Rushing through urban environments while taking out dozens of troops is a great distraction from the multiplayer offering. Campaigns that Treyarch made are solid as well, but the third game is just a confusing mess.Black Ops 4doesn’t even have a campaign to begin with.
5Black Ops: Multiplayer Maps
It is hard to pick which series hasthe best maps;Modern Warfarehas classics such as Rust, Terminal, Dome, and Vacant.Black Opsalso provided some fan-favorites.
Firing Range, Hijacked, Raid, and Nuketown are just a few maps thatBlack Opsfans adore. Most of these maps have a perfect balance between lane-control and vantage points through buildings. Most maps inModern Warfare 3and the reboot aren’t as fleshed out as the maps inBlack Ops 2and arguablyBlack Ops 3. Even the mediocre maps had something to set them apart, whether that was the art style or interactive elements.
4Modern Warfare: Warzone
Battle Royale has taken the gaming landscape by storm. Virtually every competitive FPS title has a BR mode,Call of Dutyincluded. Treyarch has their own take withBlack Ops 4’sBlackout, but Infinity Ward’sCall of Duty: Warzoneis one of the most successful BR games of all time.
Its blend of large-scale combat withModern Warfare’ssandbox is a refreshing shift from Blackout’s larger focus on loot and puregun skill. Vehicles, killstreaks, and even custom Create-A-Class Loadouts are all present to great effect. Those disappointed withModern Warfare’smultiplayer offering should giveWarzonea chance. Its sandbox works much better here than in 6v6 matches. Best of all, it’s free.
3Black Ops: Pick 10
Control over your loadout was the largest achievement ofBlack Ops 2. Its introduction of the Pick 10 system revolutionized the Create-A-Class system and has been in almost everyCall of Dutysince.
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Instead of choosing your favorite weapons and perks,Black Ops 2let players have full control over what they could use. Every item in your loadout costs 1 point and Wildcards exist to break traditional rules. Players could use 2 perks in the same category or invest most of their points in their primary weapon. Choice was paramount in this system. Pick 10 also made for a much healthier meta inBlack Ops 2and subsequent entries.
2Modern Warfare: Chaotic Matches
No franchise in FPS history has as intense gunfights asCall of Duty. Infinity Ward tends to focus on more chaotic matches than Treyarch, usually a result from game balance or map design.
Maps in the olderModern Warfaretitles encourage players to push to certain positions, allowing many to run-and-gun. Killstreak snowballing helped keep players moving as well. Infinity Ward’s 2019 reboot captured the spirit of this thanks to Super Sprint and short TTK values for guns. Treyarch’s games have less overpowered killstreaks and weapons to encourage more objective play. It’s a personal preference, but manyCoDfans prefer the chaotic nature of Infinity Ward’s titles than Treyarch’s slower entries.
1Black Ops: Zombies
Entire communities have been created based onBlack Ops’sfantastic Zombies mode. As a bonus map inWorld At War, Zombies has exploded into one of the largest survival modes in any video game.
Zombies is a rather simple mode. Players spawn into a map and need to survive as long as possible, obtaining new weapons and perks by opening parts of the map. Easter eggs have been included in later entries to keep things interesting, withBlack Ops 3and4’s easter eggs taking the forefront of gameplay. There’s something in this mode for everyone no matter your skill level. Even if you dislike Treyarch’s campaigns and multiplayer offerings, few games can match the pure carnage of Zombies.
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