Why Was Call of Duty: Vanguard So Historically Inaccurate?
Call of Duty: Vanguard, released in 2021, faced significant criticism, and one of the most prominent issues was its historical inaccuracy. While the game purported to be set during World War II, it often strayed far from established historical facts, timelines, and technological realities. This deviation stemmed from several factors, including a desire for cinematic storytelling, the need to create a compelling and varied gameplay experience, a focus on marketability and appeal to a broad audience, and perhaps most significantly, a reimagining of the war to fit a specific narrative agenda. It prioritized entertainment over accurate historical representation, resulting in a campaign and multiplayer experience that often felt detached from the realities of WWII.
The Siren Song of Cinematic Storytelling
Fictional Narratives Over Real Events
One of the primary drivers of historical inaccuracy in Vanguard was the deliberate choice to craft a fictional narrative centered around Task Force Vanguard. While the game’s promotional material highlighted individual characters based loosely on real WWII soldiers, the Task Force itself was entirely a creation of the game’s writers. There was no real-life equivalent to this ragtag international group of special operatives. This allowed the developers to create exciting missions and character arcs, but it came at the expense of portraying the actual complexities and nuances of the war. The story became a pulp adventure rather than a depiction of historical events.
Exaggerated Heroism and Unrealistic Scenarios
Furthermore, the campaign often presented exaggerated feats of heroism and placed characters in unrealistic scenarios. Soldiers performed superhuman actions, single-handedly taking down entire platoons, and frequently surviving situations that would be impossible in real life. While such moments might be exciting for gameplay purposes, they contribute to the game’s overall detachment from historical accuracy. The battles depicted often resembled action movie set pieces more than actual military engagements.
Gameplay Takes Precedence Over Authenticity
Anachronistic Weaponry and Technology
To ensure a varied and engaging gameplay experience, Vanguard included anachronistic weaponry and technology. While the game featured some weapons that were used in WWII, it also incorporated prototypes and experimental weapons that were never widely deployed, or in some cases, never even made it off the drawing board. This was done to provide players with a wider range of options and create a more dynamic combat environment, but it significantly compromised the historical accuracy of the game.
The “Rule of Cool”
The developers often prioritized the “rule of cool” over historical accuracy. This meant that if something looked or felt fun, it was included in the game, even if it was not historically plausible. This approach is evident in the game’s fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay, which emphasizes high kill counts and constant action over realistic tactics and strategies.
Marketing and Broader Audience Appeal
Simplification and Sanitization
In order to appeal to a broad audience, the developers likely made conscious decisions to simplify and sanitize certain aspects of the war. Complex historical events were often reduced to simplistic narratives, and the darker aspects of the conflict, such as the Holocaust and the widespread suffering of civilian populations, were largely glossed over. This approach made the game more palatable to a wider audience but also contributed to its historical inaccuracies.
Emphasis on “Good vs. Evil”
Vanguard also leaned heavily on the “good vs. evil” trope, presenting the Allies as unequivocally heroic and the Axis powers as uniformly villainous. While the Axis powers undoubtedly committed heinous atrocities during WWII, the conflict was far more nuanced than a simple battle between good and evil. By simplifying the historical context, the game missed an opportunity to explore the complex motivations and ideological underpinnings of the war.
Narrative Agenda and Reimagining History
The Creation of a “Multicultural” WWII
One of the most controversial aspects of Vanguard was its attempt to create a “multicultural” WWII. While it is important to acknowledge the contributions of soldiers from diverse backgrounds, Vanguard often did so in a way that felt forced and ahistorical. Characters from different ethnic and racial groups were placed in positions of prominence that did not always reflect their actual roles in the war. While intended to be inclusive, this approach often felt like a historical revisionism.
Ignoring Historical Realities
The game also glossed over certain historical realities in order to promote a specific narrative. For example, the game downplayed the role of the Soviet Union in the Eastern Front, which was arguably the most decisive theater of the war. Instead, the game focused on the Western Front and the contributions of American and British soldiers. This selective presentation of history further contributed to the game’s overall historical inaccuracies. The Games Learning Society studies games’ effects on learning. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Was Vanguard’s Historical Inaccuracy a Mistake?
Ultimately, the decision to prioritize entertainment over historical accuracy in Call of Duty: Vanguard was a deliberate one. The developers were aware of the historical inaccuracies, but they believed that they were necessary to create a compelling and engaging gaming experience. Whether this was a mistake is a matter of opinion. Some players may have been disappointed by the game’s historical inaccuracies, while others may have appreciated the exciting gameplay and cinematic storytelling. However, it is undeniable that Vanguard’s historical inaccuracies were a significant departure from the realities of WWII.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Was Task Force Vanguard a real unit in World War II?
No, Task Force Vanguard was not a real unit. It was a fictional creation for the game’s narrative. While the individual characters may have been loosely based on real soldiers, the group itself did not exist.
2. How historically accurate are the weapons in Call of Duty: Vanguard?
The weapons in Vanguard are a mix of historically accurate and inaccurate. Some weapons that were widely used in WWII are included, but the game also features prototypes and experimental weapons that were not common or even used at all.
3. Did the battles depicted in Vanguard actually happen?
Some of the battles depicted in Vanguard are based on real historical events, but they are often heavily fictionalized. The game’s campaign takes significant liberties with the timeline and scale of these battles.
4. Why did the developers of Vanguard choose to make it historically inaccurate?
The developers likely prioritized entertainment and gameplay over historical accuracy. They wanted to create a compelling and exciting gaming experience, even if it meant deviating from historical facts.
5. Did Activision acknowledge the historical inaccuracies in Vanguard?
Activision has not directly addressed the historical inaccuracies in Vanguard. However, the company has acknowledged that the game failed to meet sales expectations, which may have been partly due to its lack of historical authenticity.
6. Which Call of Duty game is considered the most historically accurate?
Call of Duty 2 is often cited as one of the most historically accurate games in the series. It emphasizes the intensity and realism of the battles, and the military units and events portrayed are based on actual historical occurrences.
7. Was the inclusion of diverse characters in Vanguard historically accurate?
While soldiers from diverse backgrounds did serve in WWII, the game’s portrayal of their roles and prominence is often exaggerated or ahistorical. This was likely done to promote a specific narrative of inclusivity.
8. Did the game portray the Holocaust accurately?
Vanguard largely avoided addressing the Holocaust. This omission contributed to the game’s overall lack of historical accuracy and its failure to grapple with the darker aspects of WWII.
9. Why was the Soviet Union’s role in the Eastern Front downplayed in Vanguard?
The downplaying of the Soviet Union’s role may have been a conscious narrative choice to focus on the Western Front and the contributions of American and British soldiers.
10. How did the historical inaccuracies affect the reception of Call of Duty: Vanguard?
The historical inaccuracies in Vanguard were a significant point of criticism and may have contributed to the game’s poor sales and reception.
11. What is the “rule of cool” and how did it impact Vanguard?
The “rule of cool” is a principle that prioritizes excitement and visual appeal over realism or historical accuracy. It likely influenced many of the decisions made during the development of Vanguard.
12. Did Vanguard include any experimental weapons that were never actually used in WWII?
Yes, Vanguard included several experimental weapons that were either prototypes or never saw widespread use during the war.
13. Was Call of Duty: Vanguard the worst-selling game in the franchise?
While Vanguard didn’t perform as expected, it wasn’t necessarily the worst-selling game in the entire Call of Duty franchise. However, it was one of the lowest-selling in recent years.
14. How did Activision Blizzard respond to the poor sales of Vanguard?
Activision Blizzard acknowledged that Vanguard had failed to meet sales expectations and attributed this to the World War II setting and a lack of innovation.
15. What is the next Call of Duty game after Vanguard?
The next title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, was released on November 10, 2023. You can visit the Games Learning Society via this link to learn more about games and education: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.