"That was just not part of our plan."
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield V are both are kings of the shooter arena but are focusing more on competition than ever before.
This is due to the huge popularity of battle royale style games such as like Fortnite and Player Unknown BattleGrounds (PUBG).
Black Ops 4 was developed by Treyarch and published by Activision, while Battlefield V was created by EA DICE and published by Electronic Arts.
Both first-person shooter games were released just over a month apart and players prefer one or the other.
Here we compare the key features, details and difference between the two games and what they provide the gamer.
Story Campaigns
A single-player story campaign targets those who want to be immersed in a video game as well as being taken on a journey.
Black Ops 4
While in development, there were rumours that Treyarch were not going to create a traditional story mode.
This came true upon the game’s release. This was the first time a COD game did not feature a single-player campaign.
Instead, the developers introduced the Solo Missions mode, which focuses on the game’s multiplayer characters, known as ‘Specialists’ and their backstories.
Treyarch revealed that it was always the plan to not have a traditional story mode as they want to maximise the social aspect of the game.
Studio co-head Dan Bunting said: “That was just not part of our plan. We started from a place that we were gonna make a game that across the board can be playable with friends. That’s been our mission from day one.”
They chose to focus their efforts on multiplayer because they felt it was what more people were engaged in when looking at previous titles.
Black Ops doesn’t offer any campaign, but Zombies mode can be played single-player with the computer acting as the allies.
The COD series is renowned for its multiplayer features, but it is responsible for memorable single-player campaigns that gamers still talk about.
The developers may bring back a single-player mode, but Black Ops 4 has been created to be more tactical within a multiplayer environment.
Battlefield V
Unlike its first-person shooter rival, Battlefield V offers a single-player story campaign which is set during World War II.
It follows on from its predecessor which explored World War I. Like Battlefield 1, this game threw you into the realistic chaos of war.
The mode was divided into episodes, known as ‘War Stories’ which were based on real-life events such as the Allied landings at Normandy.
In each episode, gamers play as different characters who are all affected by the war in different ways wherever they are.
As you progress through an episode, the development of the characters is showcased. Many emotions are revealed which makes you understand why they are part of the war.
Each character has unique personalities to enhance the single-player experience. This is combined with stunning graphics which just adds to the gaming experience.
Multiplayer
Both COD: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield V have their classic multiplayer modes but with new tweaks and slight changes in core gameplay.
Both feature ‘Team Death Match’ but there are new ones to appeal to different gaming preferences.
Battlefield V brings back ‘Combined Arms’ which is a co-op mode. Four players take on dynamic missions together and the objectives change each time so they cannot be played the same way.
Black Ops 4 sees the return of the ever-popular ‘Zombies’ but more customisation allows for more personalised play styles.
Both games have taken inspiration from Fortnite and have their own battle royale modes. Black Ops 4 has ‘Blackout’ whereas Battlefield will have ‘Firestorm’ in March 2019.
The major change to the Call of Duty series is that Black Ops 4 is doubling down on its character system.
It takes a page from Overwatch and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, players must choose a different character for their team, and each comes with advance gears and unique ability.
Competitive multiplayer has also been improved to 5-vs-5 in Battlefield V.
With Battlefield V, EA DICE introduced key changes in modes like War of Attrition that means respawning players will not be fully kitted out.
Ammunition will be limited, and players cannot just shoot enemies, it is more tactical.
Game World Improvements
The multiplayer maps and design in Black Ops 4 and Battlefield V are extremely different from one another as each goal to offer different experiences.
One offers an arcade-like shooter experience, while the other offers large-scale realistic experience.
The gameplay of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has gone back to its roots in a futuristic setting. This means old-school shooting combined in a newer environment.
Maps in Black Ops 4 may be small but they are intricate and are built with objective-based modes in mind like new Control mode.
In Battlefield V maps are of real-world locations which were affected by WWII. They include Norway, North Africa, France and Germany.
Prominent Changes
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 put more focus on weapons and functionality in an attempt to make their gear more realistic in the futuristic setting.
Each weapon has its own unique set features and modes as well, making them completely different from one another.
The main changes in multiplayer are the 5-v-5 multiplayer mode. This means each player has a defined role, adding a layer of tactics which have previously not been seen.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 does not have the double jumps and thrust jumping which was arguably a negative of the previous game, however, the player can still slide through.
Battlefield V has a number of light effects and weather conditions in each map as well as the best-looking explosions we have ever seen in a shooter.
The terrain and animations within Battlefield V are impressively executed. This affects the way characters move in specific locations.
Another key change in Battlefield V is the toolkits which help build fortifications. They are also used to build kits for when players spawn as they will be low on ammo from their pre-death battle.
Customisation
As for customisation, in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the multiplayer and Zombies use pre-defined characters.
However, like previous games in the series, you can change the appearance of characters with the skins and alternate outfits.
Black Ops 4 has a huge amount of customisation options which you achieve as your level increases. It is a simple way but an effective way of keeping players entertained.
In Battlefield V, the developers dedicated a lot of time in order to emphasise how much they wanted the game to be a unique experience for every gamer.
Players are able to customise every aspect of their multiplayer character including gender, face, clothing and much more.
Gamers can do this for their character whatever side of the conflict they’re on.
Both Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield V have been highly successful since they released in the third quarter of 2018.
They have some similarities and some differences when looking at gameplay and game modes.
However, they’re contrasting settings are what sets them apart. Black Ops 4 has gone for a more surreal setting of the future whereas Battlefield V is all about the realism of a violent war.
It all comes down to your preference. Do you prefer a realistic environment or a futuristic setting?
Whatever your choice is, both games are highly entertaining.
