Call of Duty Warzone First Impressions

Just over a day ago, Call of Duty Warzone launched to millions of players from the get-go. The best part of a Call of Duty battle royale isn’t that it exists, but that it’s also free. If you’re considering downloading and trying the game, then hopefully this Call of Duty Warzone: First Impressions guide helps. 

Call of Duty Warzone First Impressions, Likes and Dislikes

I usually don’t get too worked up over new multiplayer shooters. However, Call of Duty Warzone really nails the battle royale experience. The Call of Duty Warzone player count hit six million players in 24 hours Obviously, that’s a good sign for Activision. However, does that mean the game is here to stay? Here are a few things I like and dislike after a few rounds of the game mode. For the record, I played eight rounds of Warzone ahead of writing this review.

Likes: First Impressions are Very Positive

Image Credit: Activision

I think the entire experience of playing Call of Duty online is nostalgic and invigorating all at once. Many nights in high school were spent playing the original Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2 on PS3. There is a lot to love about the experience, including fun weapons loadouts, great controls, and wonderful sound. The latter is a feature I think Activision nails in their Call of Duty games. 

Not unlike Fortnite and Apex Legends, my Call of Duty Warzone first impressions are likely to alter seeing how the game holds up after updates and new content. For example, I loved Apex Legends at first, but lost interest pretty quickly. I never got the Fortnite itch like so many, so it’s safe to say a Call of Duty battle royale game might end up the same. I will say this: I didn’t have this much fun with Fortnite or Apex Legends from the get-go. 

Dislikes: The Map is Huge…Like, Really Huge

Image Credit: Activision

Something I hate about the battle royale genre is the wait. You know, the time spent hunting in buildings and landscapes for enemies. It’s essentially like 40% of the time you play these games, you are playing a scavenger simulator. In this take on the popular game mode, things are even more spread out. The map is huge; much larger than in its competitors. While the scenery and environments look great, I can’t stand walking around for long periods of time only to get a few fights in before dying.

Likes: Call of Duty Warzone Gulag is Genius

Image Credit: Activision

Essentially, your first death isn’t really a death. In a genius move by Activision and Infinity Ward, players go to the gulag on their first death. In this afterlife scenario, enemies take you to prison and forced to fight someone for your life. You both get a pistol and are situated in a small laser-gun sized and style map. It’s a ton of fun, but once you come back to life once, you cannot get another shot. Use your second life wisely. 

Overall First Impressions: Call of Duty Warzone Feels like the Real Deal, Not Some Fad

Image Credit: Activision

I think my number one takeaway from time spent with Warzone is that this feels like a real, permanent project for Activision and Infinity Ward. Black Ops 3 featured a battle royale mode, but it felt included out of obligation. The presentation of Call of Duty Warzone is gorgeous, and my first impressions point to this being a lasting project. Because of its new place in our gaming world, it’s tough to say if battle royale is here to stay. As games like Fortnite might slowly fade, I think Call of Duty is a name worthy of keeping the game mode going. 

Do you have any Call of Duty Warzone first impressions? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for choosing Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture.

Featured Image Credit: Activision

Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.