Name of Obligation: Warzone lastly received a brand new map in the present day. No, not one other Nineteen Eighties remix of an outdated map or one other tiny Rebirth Island—Caldera is a brand new, sprawling map that is across the similar measurement as Verdansk (however possibly a bit smaller). Early screenshots of Caldera shared by Activision tempted me again to Warzone after an extended break. The island’s vivid inexperienced palm bushes and saturated blue sky regarded like a serious departure from Verdansk ’84’s drab skyscrapers and pukey inexperienced skybox. Activision calls it a “paradise.” Besides, after just a few hours spent operating and flying throughout Caldera, I am questioning the place the heck all that colour went.
Like significantly, am I lacking one thing, or does Caldera look as washed out and bland as Warzone all the time has? Both Activision performed with some enticing post-processing filters when it took these promotional screenshots, or one thing may be very fallacious with my settings.
So far as I can inform from watching different individuals’s streams, that is simply what Caldera appears like, and that is fairly disappointing. I am glad Raven Software program swung for a map fashion that is considerably totally different from what got here earlier than, however why does Warzone proceed to be so afraid of colour?
To be honest, I believed Warzone’s washed-out look labored when it launched in 2020 with the primary model of Verdansk. Its lack of colour truly stood out when in comparison with Fortnite’s saturated barrage. The fashion additionally labored very effectively in Trendy Warfare (the sport that also serves as Warzone’s framework) as a result of that recreation solely ever strived to render concrete and glossy steel, not a tropical island within the Pacific ocean.
Warzone’s artwork fashion did not actually trouble me till the arrival of Verdansk ’84 earlier this 12 months, which had some deeper greens and however nonetheless regarded like a world that every one the vibrancy had been sucked out of.
A lot of gamers did not like Verdansk’s visible replace both, going so far as to make the most of Nvidia’s built-in colour filters to extend the saturation and brighten up darkish corners for a bonus in firefights. The filters are widespread sufficient that among the greatest Name of Obligation influencers promote their official filter settings. The settings that I’ve tried nonetheless find yourself trying fairly ugly (particularly if you happen to’re primarily in it to overexpose darkish corners).
i_really_like_caldera_but_it_looks_so_washed_out from r/CODWarzone
Sadly, it looks as if we’re in the same boat with Caldera that we have been with Verdansk ’84. The ‘lush’ island paradise is a bit bland, and that is unlikely to alter.
Possibly the Trendy Warfare engine is already displaying its age a bit—it was constructed with last-gen {hardware} in thoughts, in any case. It additionally would not assist that I have been taking part in lots of Battlefield 2042. That is a really fairly recreation with its personal map issues, however colour is not certainly one of them. I can not run Battlefield almost in addition to Warzone, however I do recognize how cool it feels to get sucked up in a dry desert twister and spat again out on a patch of deep inexperienced grass.
I did handle to saturate Warzone’s colours a bit by cranking the brightness manner decrease than suggested. Caldera regarded higher than ever as I hopped out of the aircraft! Then I stepped right into a constructing and noticed… effectively, nothing.
I nonetheless take into account Caldera a step up from Verdansk. Its factors of curiosity are much more distinct and, to this point, enjoyable to take a look at. There’s additionally a giant volcano within the center that may be seen from wherever on the map, which is all the time a pleasant contact.
I’ve had a good time flying the brand new fighter planes, however it’s a disgrace these will solely be obtainable within the Vanguard Royale mode that locks you to WW2 weapons. I’ve additionally encountered some annoying bugs, worst of all being uneven audio that cuts out every time one thing loud occurs (so on a regular basis). We have recognized the most important Warzone Pacific bugs at launch and famous just a few doable options if you happen to’re operating into related hassle.
