Recently, Call of Duty Mobile debuted in closed beta in India, aiming to replicate the phenomenal success of PUBG Mobile. Initially, the beta focused solely on the multiplayer mode, allowing players to reminisce about the Modern Warfare era. However, the highly anticipated battle royale mode became accessible a few days ago.
I had been thoroughly enjoying continuous Team Deathmatch sessions on the Killhouse map, unaware of when the Battle Royale mode would be released. To my surprise, Activision and Tencent, the game’s mobile developer, unlocked the Battle Royale mode for beta users earlier this week.
Testing out Call of Duty Mobile’s Battle Royale mode for a couple of days, it’s shaping up as a strong competitor to PUBG Mobile. Why? Let’s explore:
Game Modes & Maps
Prior to assessing gameplay and performance, let’s briefly examine the various game modes, the map, and Call of Duty Mobile’s strategy for setting itself apart from PUBG Mobile.
Upon selecting Battle Royale mode in Call of Duty Mobile, you encounter a screen akin to the one below. Here, you can customize your weapons, parachute, and more before entering a match with 100 players. The core concept of battle royale remains unchanged, but we’ll delve deeper into gameplay shortly.
This screen showcases the available game modes. You can either play solo against 99 others or team up with friends, easily invited via the ‘Invite Friends’ option, forming duos or squads—unlocked from the start. Opting for the latter with ‘squad fill’ enabled facilitates quick pairing with other players, expediting your entry into a game.
Regarding the map, there’s currently a single one live for the battle royale mode, which is acceptable as the game is in beta and designed from the ground up for mobile. It bears no resemblance to the PC version’s Blackout map. Named ‘Isolated’, it looks like this:
It’s not the largest battle royale and features various terrains, allowing for different play styles. Some may prefer the foliage in the farm section, while others may favor the rocky terrain and mountains in the desert area.
The Right Class is Key!
One notable distinction of the battle royale mode in Call of Duty Mobile compared to the PC version is the incorporation of tactical abilities, akin to those featured in Apex Legends. Players can select characters with unique abilities prior to entering the map, adding strategic depth to their gameplay.
Call of Duty Mobile offers six distinct classes, including mechanic and medic, each contributing their abilities and perks towards team success. This diversity sets it apart from PUBG Mobile, where players solely focus on obtaining the Chicken Dinner.
Below is a brief overview of each class available in Call of Duty Mobile:
1. Defender: The Defender class enables you to deploy a deformable shield anywhere, anytime, providing protection against enemy fire and boosting resistance to all damage types except bullets.
2. Mechanic: With the Mechanic class, you can deploy an EMP drone for continuous interference against hostiles, while also enhancing vehicle vision and detecting hostile traps and equipment.
3. Scout: Specializing in enemy tracking, the Scout class allows you to utilize a sensor dart to reveal enemy positions and detect potential threats approaching. Additionally, Scouts can identify fresh enemy footprints in the vicinity.
4. Clown: You’re the friend of zombies and a master of distraction. Throwing a toy bomb summons zombies that only attack your enemies nearby, keeping you safe from random zombie attacks.
5. Medic: My favorite class, you’re the healer of the group, able to heal quickly and revive teammates faster than others. You can set up Medical Stations that immediately heal you and teammates in the healing zone.
6. Ninja: Lastly, the Ninja class allows you to move quietly and use your grapple hook to traverse buildings and approach enemies.
Choosing the right class is crucial, but don’t hesitate to test each class’s abilities and stick to the one that suits your playstyle best. Personally, I prefer playing as the medic in Battle Royale games because I tend to stay on the back lines, providing support to teammates in need of medical attention.
Gameplay & Features
Now, let’s delve into the battle royale mode in Call of Duty Mobile. We’ll examine its gameplay compared to popular titles like PUBG Mobile and Fortnite, which have been on mobile platforms for about a year, assessing if it offers a superior experience.
Begin by assembling in the deployment zone lobby with 99 other players, choosing your class and weapon loadout, including skins, camos, and more. Then, you and your team (if playing as a duo or squad) will be in an airplane, with a jump leader assigned to take you to a map location of their or your liking.
Comparing this to the ‘Follow’ feature in PUBG Mobile, it’s evident that Tencent has integrated numerous features from its other mobile battle royale titles into Call of Duty Mobile. The experience of dropping from the airplane is optimized in this game, utilizing a wingsuit for gliding across the map, facilitating extended travel distances. With precise timing and control over the wingsuit gliding, landing at specific locations becomes more predictable.
Regarding loot and combat dynamics in Call of Duty Mobile, resources are strategically distributed throughout the map, ensuring convenient access to weapons, adrenaline shots, first-aid kits, and tactical gear. Additionally, akin to PUBG Mobile, periodic air drops occur, providing opportunities to obtain high-tier loot.
In this game, you’ll encounter some familiar weapon names, alongside several new additions. Snipers are abundant in Call of Duty Mobile, and can be found easily, though acquiring scopes to optimize their utility may require some searching.
The touchscreen HUD controls are well-designed and customizable, akin to other battle royale games. There are no superfluous buttons; some have dual functions, such as using the crouch button to both prone and slide to evade enemy fire. Additionally, each class has unique tactical abilities, such as the healing circle for Medics and the sensor dart for Scouts, enhancing gameplay further.
Discussing an essential topic – gun mechanics, your experience in PUBG won’t translate well here as they differ significantly. However, the disparity is beneficial. The recoil, rate of fire (upgradeable), bullet drop, and scoping mechanism in Call of Duty Mobile closely mirror real-life compared to PUBG Mobile.
You can’t simply aim and shoot; adapting to the more realistic mechanics is necessary. Gunfights in Call of Duty Mobile are enjoyable and challenging due to these improved mechanics, which may pose difficulties for novice players. Additionally, this title displays footsteps and gunfire indicators on the map.
Quietly put, Call of Duty Mobile ingeniously incorporates key elements from various battle royale titles, resulting in a seamlessly immersive experience, even in its beta phase. Notably, it introduces the option to revive teammates, a concept pioneered by Apex Legends and later adopted by Fortnite.
In this mode, players retrieve fallen teammates’ dog tags and use the ‘Revive’ button adjacent to their username for swift recovery. Rejoining the fray from the returning airplane every 2 minutes, this mechanic not only enriches gameplay but also enhances team dynamics, bolstering victory prospects.
Delving into the details, Tencent has mastered chat and voice controls in mobile multiplayer, mirroring PUBG Mobile. You can mark objects, enemies, and more in Call of Duty Mobile, akin to Apex Legends and other games.
Playing Call of Duty Mobile’s battle royale mode, I’ve found plenty to like. Switching from PUBG Mobile, I now enjoy this tactical shooter more. While different from Blackout on PC or console, Call of Duty Mobile’s battle royale mode impresses on mobile.
If you’re seeking a break from the PUBG Mobile hype, try Call of Duty Mobile’s battle royale mode. Install the game on your smartphone and experience something different and amazing. Share your thoughts below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
