Every single other match was TDM or Kill Confirmed (these are the only three modes available in 6v6). Alas, in all my hours of play I only got into a single Domination match. This is especially true in modes like TDM and Kill Confirmed, since-unlike Domination or Hardpoint-they can take place across the entirety of the map rather than around control points. There are several different streets, multiple interiors, the whole boardwalk area, and we’re supposed to battle it out in 6v6? Occasionally that means a big firefight basically centered in one location, but I had plenty of experiences just running around looking for the action.Īll three 6v6 maps feel too big for 6v6 gameplay, and they also feel less sensibly designed than the big Modern Warfare maps. The map is littered with cars and other obstacles. It’s way too big with far too much going on and too many blind spots and flanking positions, not to mention sniper perches. I’m sure Treyarch will do the same with Black Ops Cold War but the alpha’s maps, however pretty, do not inspire faith in the game’s design. (Not to mention the 2v2 Gunfight mode which remains the funnest competitive shooter experience I’ve played in ages). Over time, Infinity Ward released more and more small and medium-sized maps to the game, which helped.

Maps like Piccadilly have earned plenty of scorn from the community, though I think it makes for a pretty engaging Domination map. We’ll start there.Īt launch, Modern Warfare was widely critiqued for having too many large maps-maps that seemed awfully big for 6v6 gameplay, though you could play these in 10v10 mode to make them feel a little less sprawling and empty. On the other hand, both games also share some problems. After all, I have come clean as a fan of Modern Warfare and the things that make me a fan of that game, actively hinder my enjoyment of this one. Now, take all of this with a grain of salt. I kind of like doors, actually, but I don’t really mind the change one way or another.Īlas, it is here that we must segue into section number two. You will not open them or burst through them, for better or worse. There are doorways in Cold War but no doors. Once again, this is also in Warzone so I’m not sure how they’ll incorporate Cold War’s lack of door opening into that game. The second change I’m mostly neutral about is the ability to open and/or burst through doors. Mounting can also mean you’re stuck in place when an enemy flanks you. Some people decried it as a way to make camping too easy, but I never found much use for it one way or another. It let players in Modern Warfare stabilize their guns on various surfaces-crates, the corners of walls and so forth-in order to gain more stability and less recoil. I am more neutral than anything when it comes to two big changes to game mechanics, though these also make me wonder about how this will be incorporated into Warzone. It’s all well and good getting to vote until everyone starts voting for the same damn map over and over again. Map voting is also back for Cold War, which I think is a fine thing though not something I particularly missed in Modern Warfare. In Combined Arms we have a snow map (Crossroads) and a map that takes place across several ships on the open sea (Armada), both of which are designed for vehicles and larger teams of 12v12.

The map takes place at night on a beachside block replete with glowing neon signs, high-rise hotels and a pool you can swim in. I’ll have more to say about this map in the next section, but there’s no denying it brings even more variety to the table. It’s all very grey, as well, reflecting Soviet-era utilitarian design.įinally, of the 6v6 maps in the alpha, there’s Miami. Lots of blind points and mid-range shootouts.

Next up there’s Moscow, an urban map with lots of narrow corridors, sharp corners and different levels to play with. The majority of the map is desert canyons and ridges with a smattering of rock archways. On one side, sweeping dunes create long sight lines (though the dunes themselves provide a good cover option). You have Satellite, a desert map set around the crash site of a fallen satellite. Not only are maps more varied in terms of location than Modern Warfare, they’re also more saturated with a wider color pallette. Right off the bat, one thing I enjoy a great deal about Cold War so far is the map variety.

Cold war ps4