5 Improvements BLOPS 4’s Blackout Must Make Before it Can Compete With Fortnite
Distinguishable Ammo Types
In a similar fashion to PlayUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Blackout features different ammo types for weapons. Shotguns use 12 gauge rounds, while pistols take 9mm, and so on. This in itself is not the problem Blackout faces, but the ability to quickly distinguish between which ammo belongs to which weapon does.
When players drop into the map, it is a quick and frantic dash to pick up as many items as the player can find. Luckily the featured ammo type for the weapon can be found next to the weapon on the ground, but players aren’t retaining that information. In a game all about being aware of your surroundings it shouldn’t be bogged down by trying to remember which type of ammo is vital to you and which isn’t.
The less time players have to spend in the menu or looking at their UI the better. It also doesn’t help that all ammo virtually looks the same from a distance, making it hard to distinguish if its even the ammo type you’re looking for. This could easily be rectified by simply color coating the highlight around the ammo based on weapon type. When busting into a house it would be much easier to tell from a distance if that is the ammo you are looking for or not.
Hopefully, some refinements are made to ammo before launch, because it’s going to take quite a bit of time to get used to if not.
5 Improvements BLOPS 4’s Blackout Must Make Before it Can Compete With Fortnite
More Zombies
As it currently stands, zombies are scattered across the Blackout map, and they truly add a uniqueness to the game mode. Countless times, dropping into Asylum has been crazy and chaotic due to players trying to scavenge for items, as well as avoid the zombies. Other parts of the map, however, are almost barren from zombies, which leaves something to be desired.
Additionally zombies can be found around mystery boxes, which are crates filled with valuable loot that cast a beam of light into the sky to signify where they are located on the map. Many times, however, you are traversing long stretches of the map with nothing interesting happening. This could be made much more exciting by having sections covered in zombies which would implement an interesting risk/reward system for players willing to take on the hoard. Having more of the unknown locations on the map be infested with small groups of zombies would even make those final moments of a match interesting by forcing players to juggle between enemy players and zombies.
We hope to see more of the undead out on the battlefield when Blackout officially launches.
5 Improvements BLOPS 4’s Blackout Must Make Before it Can Compete With Fortnite
Interesting Cosmetics
Blackout focuses heavily on bringing back favorite characters and specialists from the Black Ops series. Mixing characters from the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies experience together helps create a more memorable game mode full of fan favorites. Even though it is exciting to be able to play Blackout as zombie killer Tank Dempsey or the Black Ops 3 specialist Seraph, ultimately it boils down to the fact that they all look way too similar.
One of the reasons Fortnite makes money hand over fist is because its skins are vibrant and fun. While Call of Duty is much more grounded in reality than that, there is still a middle ground to be found. Having weapon skins would be a great way for Blackout to capitalize on this market with the ability to purchase or unlock different colors, patterns, and symbols for your weapons. Weapon drops would still remain random and it would improve the overall progression system of Blackout.
Another improvement to the cosmetic library would be emotes. The ability to signal to a teammate about approaching enemies, or a silly dance to preform for your recently fallen opponents would go a long way in Blackout and is something Black Ops 4 could implement. It’s extremely important to take note of what your competition is doing correctly and find a way to make it work, but differentiate itself.
5 Improvements BLOPS 4’s Blackout Must Make Before it Can Compete With Fortnite
Fun Challenges
Challenges are an excellent way to add more depth to the overall progression system in Blackout, while giving players attainable goals to work towards each match. Rewarding players with experience for completing a list of daily and weekly challenges will keep them around and coming back for more. Sure, the feeling of winning a game of Blackout is good motivation, but smaller goals like getting a certain number of kills or visiting multiple named locations in a match are a good way to spice up the matches for players.
The beta shows a spot for challenges completed in the after action report of each match, but nowhere in the beta does it showcase what those challenges will be or how they will work. Adding some unique goals for players is a smart way to engage with your community and we hope to see more of them when Blackout launches on Oct. 12.
5 Improvements BLOPS 4’s Blackout Must Make Before it Can Compete With Fortnite
Map Markers
While it is awesome that the Blackout map is comprised of old Black Ops maps from the series, none of the locations have any real distinctive markings when dropping in from above. This makes it difficult to really tell where your squad wants to drop while soaring through the air. Currently players can mark the location on the mini map where they want to go, but it does not show that in real time. Fortnite implemented a system not too long ago that allowed a colored beacon to show up in the game world to better signify to all squad members where they were headed.
This helped tremendously when gliding to a destination, because players don’t have to constantly pull up their map to check if they are headed in the right direction. This simple change would do a lot to alleviate confusion when trying to coordinate players to all land in the same location.
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