Is Vanguard‘s Campaign Worth Buying the Game For?

The answer is a qualified yes – if you can get it at a discount price point. For most players at full $60-70 launch MSRP, Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s campaign is not compelling enough alone to warrant a purchase. But with tempered expectations and a deal, it can add some value for the right type of gamer.

Now let‘s take a much deeper dive into Vanguard‘s campaign and examine exactly who should consider buying it primarily for the single player experience.

Overview of the Vanguard Campaign

Vanguard‘s campaign focuses on the origins of Special Forces through the lens of an elite international squad of soldiers from different fronts of WWII:

• Arthur Kingsley – British paratrooper
• Polina Petrova – Russian sniper
• Wade Jackson – American pilot
• Lucas Riggs – Australian sapper

These operators band together in a special forces unit called Task Force One, later known as the Vanguard. Their globe-trotting missions take them from the Western Front to North Africa, the Eastern Front, and finally to Germany near the end of the war in 1945.

In terms of length, the consensus seems to be around 6 hours for a standard playthrough focusing just on core objectives. Completionists aiming to see all Vanguard has to offer can expect closer to 15-20 hours.

Here‘s how Vanguard‘s campaign length stacks up against previous Call of Duty titles:

So at just 6 hours, it‘s on the shorter side for a Call of Duty campaign. This is an important consideration when weighing its value proposition.

Pros of the Vanguard Campaign

Vanguard delivers on many fronts you expect from a Call of Duty campaign:

• Polished gameplay: Slick gunplay, satisfying shooting, varied missions to keep the action exciting
• Stunning graphics: Photorealistic visuals, environments, cutscenes thanks to Sledgehammer Games
• Hollywood talent: Excellent facial animation and performances from stars like Dominic Monaghan as Wade Jackson
• Intriguing perspectives: Showcasing diverse fronts of WWII through the international squad
• Some standout moments: Memorable set pieces like Petrova‘s daring escape across Stalingrad rooftops

As a longtime COD player myself, I can confirm it nails the core gameplay loop and production polish the series is known for.

Cons of the Vanguard Campaign

However, Vanguard‘s campaign also comes up short in a few key areas:

• Overall story is lacking: The international squad premise has potential but isn‘t executed well. The plot feels clichéd and lacks cohesion.

• Short runtime: At just 6 hours, it leaves you wanting more compared to previous COD campaigns often over 8+ hours.

• Uneven pacing: The pacing feels off at times, with repetitive shootouts bogging down the pace. Quieter moments meant to develop characters fall flat.

• Multiplayer-focused design: Level layouts seem tailored more for online multiplayer rather than a compelling single player narrative experience.

• Forgettable side characters: Beyond the main squad, supporting characters are bland and not expanded upon. Makes the story feel hollow.

• Repetitive side objectives: Optional objectives like destroying AA guns mostly feel repetitive rather than enhancing the experience.

As a fan of memorable COD campaigns like the Modern Warfare series, I was disappointed Vanguard‘s story didn‘t have the same impact.

Campaign Reception from Players & Critics

Reviews of Vanguard‘s campaign from gaming publications echoed similar pros and cons:

• "An action-packed but paper-thin singleplayer campaign." – IGN

• "Enjoyable but disposable." – PC Gamer

• "Forgettable characters and derivative scenes." – GameSpot

The Metacritic user score ended up at just 6.8/10 based on 315 ratings. On Steam, reviews are "Mostly Positive." So overall an acceptable but not spectacular reception.

Common complaints from players echo the short length and lack of memorable set pieces or compelling characters. It seems many were left wanting more, even considering Vanguard‘s lower $60 price tag.

Campaign Value for Multiplayer vs. Single Player Gamers

For multiplayer fans, Vanguard‘s campaign can provide a fun diversion and way to get your feet wet with the gunplay and mechanics before jumping into online modes. At around 6 hours, it‘s reasonably digestible alongside multiplayer.

However, for players focused on single player experiences, the campaign likely doesn‘t have enough meat on its bones to satisfy. Unless finding it at a discount, the content is too sparse for the full $60-70 pricing.

Here‘s a breakdown of how gamers with different preferences may view the value:

Is Vanguard Worth Full Price for Just the Campaign?

Given the 6 hour runtime, minimal integration with multiplayer, and one-and-done nature, it‘s hard to recommend paying full price solely for the Vanguard campaign. $60-70 is a significant investment for such a light solo experience compared to other shooters on the market.

As your friend, I‘d strongly suggest waiting for a sale in the $20-30 range to get your money‘s worth if playing just for the campaign.

To illustrate, here‘s a breakdown of what you‘re paying per hour of gameplay for Vanguard‘s campaign at various price points:

As you can see, the sweet spot is in that $20-30 range to maximize value.

Of course, if you plan on playing online multiplayer for hundreds of hours too, then the overall value proposition improves at full MSRP. But examining campaign alone, a discount is advisable.

Does the Campaign Alone Justify Buying Vanguard?

For Call of Duty fans like ourselves used to spectacular globe-trotting campaigns with cinematic flair, Vanguard probably leaves something to be desired. Unless it‘s on sale, the story and content alone may not justify a purchase – especially with other great shooter options out there.

That said, if you manage expectations and grab it at the right price, Vanguard‘s campaign can be a fun 6 hour solo experience:

• For multiplayer-focused players, it‘s a solid supplementaryaddition to complement online play.

• For bargain hunters and patient gamers, the discountprovides enough value given the polished gameplay and presentation.

• At full $60-70 pricing though, it‘s hard to recommend Vanguard solely for the campaign to most players. A deeper sale is advised.

So in summary:

✅ Buy for campaign at discount price

❌ Wait for sale if playing just solo

That‘s my honest take as a fellow gamer. Let me know if you have any other questions!