Summary
The Call of Duty Franchisehas had plenty of features introduced that eventually disappeared later on. These features have made each entry unique with its own combat elements, map hazards, and reward systems. Some even dictate how fast or how slow the gameplay will be during a match.
Some mechanics are a shoo-in to return, while others might have been underutilized in their prime, and were way ahead of their time. From fan-favorite loadout systems to secret playable characters with their own abilities, these are ten Call of Duty mechanics that need to come back.
10The Pick 10 System
A Fan Favorite Create A Class
Call of Duty Black Ops II came with many new features, such as new drone killstreaks and one of the largest zombie maps of the time. For multiplayer, however, there has been one feature that has been absent for quite a while. This is the pick-ten loadout system.
The pick-ten system allows players to alter their loadout to their liking by sacrificing other parts of it to enhance the ones they want. This could mean removing weapons or equipment to add more perks or going for a perkless, but weapon-focused loadout.
9Round Based Zombies
Back To Their Roots
One of the most popular gameplay mechanics is set to return. That’s round-based zombies. This simple element is a core part ofCall of Duty: Zombiesidentity, with players killing the undead with short breaks between rounds.
Rounds give the mode more hectic gameplay in smaller but more creatively distinct maps. Players would need to ration their points to open doors or buy better equipment as they open up more of the map. The mode is also iconic for having secrets hidden within the environmental storytelling, character quotes, and radios.
8Dolphin Diving
A Unique Diving Mechanic
Call of Duty has had plenty of movement options available for its players. From drop shots to sliding across the map, it always offered some sort of advantage. Dolphin diving seems to be an aesthetic choice, but it does have its own benefits.
For starters, its inclusion prevents players from getting drop-shotted suddenly, and it stops movement from becoming the only defining factor in a match. Dolphin Diving also allows fun perks in the Zombies' mode to work, such as PHD Flopper, creating an explosion that demolishes the surrounding dead.
7Exo Suits
Time For A Comeback?
There was a time in which one of the fan-favorite sayings was “Fave for no exo”. It came at a time when fans became tired of futuristic Call of Duty games. However, the franchise works in a cycle, and it is only inevitable that exo suits make a comeback.
Were exos that bad? In fact, they offered a movement system that hadn’t been seen in a title before. It also created a more fast-paced environment, allowing players to tackle their opponents from every angle. Certainly a feature well worth a return to the series.
6Destructible Maps
Changing The Map By Force
Call of Duty: Ghosts offered plenty of experimental features. One of the most groundbreaking was the addition of destructible maps. If players get enough kills, they can drop a bomb that will destroy most of the map.
This would shake up the overall layout of the map and give players a whole new terrain to work with. However, despite being added to the game, the feature was underutilized moving forward. It still deserves a second chance to add more dynamic changes during a match.
5Factions
Call Of Duty Before Operators
Unfortunately,Call of Duty Operatorssells, and while there’s money to be made, Factions won’t be coming back the way they used to be. However, that won’t stop fans from wanting them to come back. From soviet soldiers to CIA members, Factions added a sense of realism and immersion to previous Call of Duties.
These generic soldiers would change appearance depending on your loadouts and the map players were currently fighting on. This would also come with a specific announcer for each faction, such as Ice Cube as Bowman for the SOG.
4Field Orders
Secret Playable Characters
Call Of Duty Ghosts had many interesting elements that never came back. This includes Extinction, the American apocalyptic theme, and a fully destructible map. However, the DLC for the game was covertly ahead of its time with secret characters that you could play as.
Before Operators were a thing, Michael Meyers and the Predator made guest appearances as field orders. These characters would have their own unique abilities and appear on specific maps, adding to the chaos of the gameplay.
3Vehicles
Tanks And Mechs
Vehicles may have made a comeback in Warzone. However, they are rarely seen in multiplayer maps. Now, they are mostly found within killstreaks that let you temporarily pilot a ship. Call of Duty World At War featured tanks, while Call of Duty 3 had plenty of balanced moments for vehicular warfare.
Small Call of Duty maps are usually the most funand engaging, which means maps would need to get bigger to support more vehicles in the main multiplayer modes. It’s just a matter of finding the right balance between chaotic fun and competitive gameplay.
2Scorestreaks
A More Casual Reward System
One of the most interesting gameplay updates came with the arrival of Black Ops II — the change from killstreaks to scorestreaks. This allows players to earn their streak rewards through their cumulative scores rather than how many kills they get per life.
The mechanic is so good it has stuck around through Cold War, even letting you keep your streak between lives. The only downside is you’ll need a higher score to reach your rewards, but it’s a cost well worth the opportunities it provides.
1Emblem Editor
Be Responsible
Customizable emblems were introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops and lasted until Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. The emblem creator allows players to use various symbols and images to mix and match their own unique insignia.
This feature has not been around in a while due to the fact that it allows players a bit too much freedom with not enough control over what images could be created. However, it is still one that allows plenty of creativity when used right and a feature that deserves another chance to come back.
