Call of Duty: Ghosts Multiplayer Hands-On Preview – The Next Generation of Call of Duty

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Dan Webb

Love or hate Call of Duty, you have to respect what the franchise has done this generation of consoles. Year on year, not only is it the biggest video game release in terms of sales and what not, but in the space of five or so years, it's propelled itself from a much-loved first-person shooter to become the biggest entertainment release of the year. It's a humongous franchise, and that's mostly down to its multiplayer. The pick-up-and-play, fast-paced action has not only got its fair share of core gamers sinking hours into it week after week, but it's been a huge hit with the mainstream masses too. Here we are then, on the vanguard of a new generation and today attention worldwide turned to Call of Duty's next-generation offering, and we went hands-on with it to see how it was shaping up.

The foundations that remain the core of COD's next-generation offering can be boiled down to three simple mantras: it's about your soldier; your world; and the fact that you can now take COD anywhere. You could say the latter was possible when Elite was thrusted upon us a few years back, but with Ghosts more has been done to allow players to have a second screen function accessible to them, allowing them to change loadouts on the fly, ready for your next spawn and what not.

Infinity Ward's approach to 'Your Soldier' is multifaceted. On the one hand, players are able to fully customise the look of their online character now, being able to choose their gender, change their head and body gear, etc., something Infinity Ward says is not purely cosmetic. We'll see whether that's the case in due time. Then on the other hand, there's the 'Squads' mode, which is also now tied to Call of Duty's famed prestige system.

Squads is a single-player/co-operative/competitive facet in Ghosts, broken down into various modes with hugely differing objectives and criteria from one mode to the next. You could be playing in a 1 vs. 1, Squad vs. Squad battle, pitting you and your squad against someone else and their squad – the AI is said to have been vastly improved too, with them able to slide and the like with their loadout even affecting how they play – or Safeguard – a 4-player co-op mode that is inspired by the wave-based Survival mode – or even Squad Assault, which is a 6-player co-operative mode, pitting you against an elite squad of computer-controlled AI representing someone else's squad. Just taking those three modes as an example, the diversity is already plain to see, and there's a load more modes to be announced too.

Your squad though? How is that worked out? Well, quite simply really. Instead of simply prestiging in Ghosts and restarting afresh with your character - losing all your progress in the process - now you prestige while keeping all your progress, but subsequently unlocking another member for your squad, which you can then prestige again to unlock another character, and so on and so forth. Being able to have a squad of up to 10 players now means you can prestige 10 times, effectively. You don't have to wait to prestige either to unlock your next soldier, you can use the points you unlock as you level up to unlock them too. Obviously, the more you play, the more you unlock, the stronger your squad becomes.

Let's breeze though a few important updates right now, otherwise this'll end up being longer than War and Peace! Ghosts is set to introduce 20 new killstreaks, 7 new game modes, 30 new weapons, now has dual render scopes, deathstreaks stay dead, it now has less air-based strike packages and more ground-based ones to make things a tad more tactical - like the dog sidekick, which is awesome when you unlock it - it introduces more perks and even a new weapon class: the Marksman, which is said to bridge the gap between the assault class and the sniper class. Think of Call of Duty 2's M1 Garand, that right there is what they're shooting for, and our hands-on with the IA2 Marksmen rifle concluded that was the case.

Speaking of perks, there's even a new way to select them, with them now being attributed a points value of 1-5 and players are given 8 points to spend on them – think of something akin to Black Ops' 'pick 10' – or 11 if they sacrifice a secondary weapon.

So what's changed on a minute-to-minute gameplay front? Well, Ghosts not only introduces a contextual leaning system, which actually works rather well, it also allows players to perform a knee slide going from stood up to prone, and has a new mantling system, allowing players to fire while they mantle. The new contextual battle chatter is a simple but rather effective addition, allowing you to get an update from the opposing team's character without them having to say anything as a player, i.e. “there's someone over by the totem pole.” Handy, and surprisingly effective.

We went hands-on with multiple new maps and modes, some of which show off the new dynamic map events, whether that's bringing down the gas station in the Octane map, or someone triggering a strike package in the Strikezone level, which then turns the map from a rundown set of interiors to a smoking shell of its former self. It's Call of Duty's first attempt at some level of destructible environments, and while it's some distance from being able to match Battlefield, it's definitely a worthwhile addition.

In terms of modes, we went hands-on with your usual team deathmatch fare, as well as the new mode, Search and Rescue, and when we say new, we mean tweaked version of Search and Destroy, which allows for respawns, provided a teammate picks up your dogtags before the opposing team does. It definitely promotes tactics and teamwork more, which can be nothing but a good thing, right?

The most notable game mode we went hands-on with though was Cranked, a mode obviously inspired by the movie action-fest, Crank. The crux of it is simple: once a player gets a kill, they are blessed with improved speed; the problem is, if they don't kill someone else in the next 30 seconds they explode. Quite literally. Kill someone though and it'll extend the timer. It's quick, it's frantic, it's a little bit mental... in a good way, of course.

In terms of maps, we managed to go hands-on with three maps: Strikezone, set near an abandoned baseball ground in San Diego with thin corridors and plenty of abandoned food carts to hide behind; Whiteout, an arctic map of sorts, with wooden cabins galore, a few caves and a shipwrecked boat stuck in the ice being one of the focal points; and Octane, a dusty map with a gas station primed and ready to be blown up, plenty of varied interiors, like a club, and lots of battles amidst abandoned cars in the main gangway of the map. They're all rather enjoyable maps, with nothing too far removed from the traditional Call of Duty formula, but the dynamic map events do actually make all the difference.

So how is it? Well, it's more of the same and then some, but that's kind of what we all expected. The new destructible aspects of the map do add a new depth to Call of Duty, perhaps the likes of that we've never seen before, and the new handling mechanics means the gameplay is even more fluid than ever. It's ripe full of new features that extend from character customisation all the way to second screen functionality, but the minute-to-minute gameplay is largely unaffected – and that can be said between both this gen and next-generation versions of the game too.

Activision is quite clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place though: if they change it too much they'll have the rabid Call of Duty fans biting at their heels, and if they don't change it enough they'll have the cynics declaring “I told you so!” It's a no win situation for Infinity Ward and Activision if we're being perfectly honest, but let's put it this way; it's the most fun I've had with a Call of Duty multiplayer game in quite some time. Take that how you will.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is scheduled for a November 5th release on the Xbox 360 and PS3, with a launch date to be announced for next-generation consoles.

Check back on Friday for a smattering of gameplay videos. Watch us fail - and sometimes perform - triumphantly on all three maps.

Comments
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  • That first screenshot shows one of the things I hate most about CoD games. I'm sure most of you see what I'm talking about. I don't understand why they keep putting things in the game that they know only frustrates people. Anyways, I personally think this game looks cool. And now that I have BF4 and Watch Dogs payed off for the Xbox One, I am going to work on CoD Ghosts now. From that point on, I'm just waiting for either Destiny, The Division, or The Crew, whichever comes out first in 2014.
  • I'm just not impressed whatsoever with anything I've read or seen thus far. Just looks to be more of the same, really, and it's a $60 gamble in my eyes.
  • I watched the video presentation and I really like the addition of Squads for the game. I my buddies are not on and I have an itching to play some CoD, I can just play through some squads until they are on.
  • The problem with CoD is you never know if it's gonna be good or bad till you play it, all the previews, reviews, reveals and trailers count for nothing. Hopefully this'll be a good one, but from what I've seen...
  • yeah i mean to each there own and ive played all up to this point but im really done its like madden man same thing over and over now you can be a girl and the dogs look better who cares, its the same ole. They will keep doing it till everyone burns out what a few years then say its brand new its how it all works, ill be setting this one out like ive sat the last 3 years of madden out lol
  • Hopefully I'm wrong. I miss spending hours on CoD having fun... I miss CoD4 :( @5 Reading your comment made my head hurt.
  • I think they should have a Multiplayer Beta so we can feel the game before release. But if it is bad, they lose money from all the day one people that don't want it after playing it. If it is good, profit. Nevertheless, I believe that Activision should wait one year before releasing a CoD game. It would be bad for making money, but it would make the games have a longer life and not be as repetitive. Just a thought.
  • It's almost as though they could slap the Call of Duty name on anything these days and fanboys will suck up to it. The first thing that springs to mind would be Call of Duty Aftershave, but that wouldn't really work seeing as most CoD players wouldn't have grown facial hair yet.
  • I still play CoD4. I would play WaW and MW2 as well, but it's hacked up and unplayable on PS3. It's challenging to find good lobbies on CoD4, but it's manageable. It's my favorite CoD still anyway. I wish they could go back and fix these CoDs. I bet they don't fix old CoDs just so people stop playing them and move on and buy the newer ones. No. Fuck you. I'm not moving on.
  • @2 Call of duty games are $110 for months after release here in australia. You think you get ripped off? Lol. I do agree even 60 is too much for a reskin game like this
  • Haven't disliked any Call of Duty's yet... Only issue is whether to buy for the Xbox One or Xbox 360.
  • "Introducing Season Pass Guarantee: Buy a Season Pass on Xbox 360, Get a Season Pass for the Same Game on Xbox One Free" Just made up my mind.
  • It looks just like MW3.
  • How are the next-gen graphics compared to this generations graphics? I've read a few hands-on with the MP now and they all mention the game's lacking in the next-gen graphics department compared to other games.
  • Rainbow Six: Vegas and Vegas 2 were released over 5 years ago now and both of them had the character customisation options that CoD (and other fps) is introducing now (and I'm sure there were many others). I'd just like to know how come it took so long to get that level of customisation back in fps? It meant everyone was connected to their characters and you could tailor them to your exact liking. I miss those games.
  • Next generation of call of duty - hmmmmmm looks almost identical to the previous nothing new there then
  • It sounds like they are trying to change it up a bit. I think it sounds interesting, but I really didn't like MW3, so if it plays like that, I wont like it, and like someone else said, you don't know if its good until you play it, which means buying it first....
  • Not a massive CoD fan in general, but this one gave me a little semi. It's good to see some new Game Modes and Search & Resue looks like it could be a lot of fun. My only critic would be with the graphics, they wearn't that special, but for all I know a lot of it could've been done on the current-gen version. I just hope that some of the remaining Killstreaks aren't stupid, because if there's 1 thing I can't stand about CoD, it's the skilless Killstreaks that everyone camps for.
  • @1, I hope you are talking about noobtubes... They were never accepted, and I really hope they take them out because they ruin the fun... Next thing you know they will be putting the death streaks back in.
  • Looks amazing I have to say. Hardly going to win people over but I love the series and will be all over this. Some cool new features and the co-op stuff sounds great.
  • So much for any hope's of CoD actually being innovative in the next generation then, this new engine they built doesn't seem that different then what's been on offer for the last 6 years.
  • @22 exactly what i thought.
  • @8 Ha! Nice. All I have to say is, Fuck You CoD. I said that about BOII and first day bought for the achievements. 11/05 is my birthday, so payday. I'll more than likely purchase just for the hell of it, beat it and return it for $40 to $50. Veteran isn't that tough anymore.
  • Any news on the XBOX ONE prestige edition? I see it is up for XBOX 360, but can't see the ONE version:(
  • Wow, this sounds fucking awesome, I have to say. Seems like they did it again and probably hands down will sell best this year, like every other year. It might not win any awards, but CoD never was about awards. It's accessible fun for everyone anytime and anywhere. I will defo pick it up on next gen, just not sure if before or after BF. Plenty of time to make up my mind though=)
  • @15, and with that, you could take cover and appreciate how your character looked in third person. I don't see the craze for customization in 'Ghosts' because you'll never see how you look unless you're customizing your character in a menu.
  • well guys, if you dont like it then dont buy it.. simple
  • @15, Rainbow Six Vegas is probably my all time favorite MP game this generation. I miss it too, so hopefully Ubi is hard at work on Patriots.
  • Now every hater should shut their fuck up and enough with their excuses! Everything changed.Gameplay,killstreaks,weapons,perks,etc
  • By the way Cod ghosts> bf4
  • COD is fun if you have friends to play with, the thing I hate most is that 85% of the players are raging morons who dashboard and do shit like that if they're having a bad game, or send you messages about how you're a "fagget" and your mother is a slut.
  • i could careless what they add or change as far as gameplay i just hope there servers are as terrible as there now. constantly 3 bars and lag compensation crap. i play damn good money for my 70mb down/ 10mb up internet why should i get dumbed down becuz others can't afford or are to cheap to pay for decent internet.
  • also they better make more HC gametypes. this crap of only having 4-5 game types for HC terrible considering they could just make them all HC and core and then on top of that instead of adding a gametype they add one and take away another.
  • The game looks fine. So what if it's the same game just "re-skinned". Guess what BF3, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Medal of Honor and MOH-Warfighter are. The same game with different names. All four games feature classes with specific weapons per class. Snipers for the sniper class, smg's for the scout class, and AR's for the rifleman class. U.S. based weapons for American teams, and AK's, RPK's, and Dragunov's for the Russians. Playing all four of those games feels like I'm playing the same game just with different maps (and the fact that Ghost Recon was third person). "Blah Ghosts looks just like MW3 which looked just like MW2 they're all the same games". Cool. But try making that argument when your favorite game (if you're a BF fanboy) isn't just like three other games in the same genre out at the same time. COD may stick to a formula, but it's the only game that doesn't play like any other FPS (I can't speak on Rainbow 6 Vegas, after I finished the campaign I went to try multiplayer and was booted from the lobby, never went back). Even 343 with Halo 4 started doing kill streaks/care packages (a couple of years after a Bungie employee said kill streaks/care packages were the worst thing to happen to multiplayer). I hope Ghosts can keep their Hard Core lobbies open longer. Ever since BO2 came out, I can't find a match in MW3 Hard Core TDM or Hard Core FFA, so I have to play BO2 (and they took out HC FFA).
  • Wait, people still play cod?
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