[GameSpot] - Call Of Duty: Warzone's Nostalgic Operation Flashback Event Might Be One Of Its Best

[343iBot]

As Call of Duty: Warzone prepares for Vanguard's integration with the new Caldera map on December 8, players now have the option to relive moments from past seasons of Verdansk in Operation: Flashback. This limited-time mode brings back Warzone's armored trucks, juggernaut suits, crashing satellites caches, and much more for a surprisingly fun experience.

At its core, a match of Operation: Flashback plays similar to a standard match of battle royale in Warzone. This limited-time mode is played in quads, with the goal of dropping in and looting to survive all being the same as normal. The differences come from increased pacing and the addition of randomized in-game events at the start of each circle collapse.

The events for each circle can include current Warzone events like a Fire Sale for cheaper Buy Station prices or a Jailbreak for reviving all dead players still spectating the match. It also includes several seasonal events from both Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War. A circle collapse might trigger the Ground Fall event from Season 4 of Black Ops Cold War, where satellites crash to the ground and offer loot caches. Or it could drop a juggernaut suit on the map like the Juggernaut Royale mode from Season 4 of Modern Warfare.

This limited-time mode also brings a change of pace to matches in Verdansk. The circle collapses in Operation: Flashback happen at a quicker pace and in greater numbers, with nine circle collapses instead of eight, but each circle is slightly larger in radius compared to those from a standard match. It always feels like you're on the move and in the thick of battle, leaving very few boring moments.

The Buy Stations have new offerings, which include the armored trucks from Modern Warfare's Armored Royale mode. These armored cargo trucks can be a bit of an annoyance in the hands of opponents, but I didn't have any matches where the trucks overpowered the map. This is likely due to their high price of $75,000, so not many teams will have that kind of cash unless there is a Fire Sale event active.

Warzone supply drop

Overall, Operation: Flashback is a trip down memory lane that packs some of Verdansk's most chaotic features into one mode, and originally, I was skeptical about how well this mode would play. In the past, the limited-time modes with armored trucks have often been removed due to bugs and exploits, and the juggernaut suits can sometimes be overpowering. Not to mention, Operation: Flashback also includes a change of ground loot with some of Verdansk's most infamous guns like the shotgun with Dragon's Breath ammo, akimbo weapons, and some versatile marksman rifles.

However, Operation: Flashback serves all of these nostalgic features in portions, as only one event happens per circle collapse, spreading the chaos out over the match in a way that keeps the mode exciting but not too overwhelming. Plus, some of the returning weapons aren't as annoying and overpowered as they used to be. Mashing up so many seasonal events in one mode actually gives Verdansk one of its strongest and action-filled limited-time playlists.

A regular game of battle royale can often play slowly, especially near the end of the match, but having an in-game event with each circle collapse brings more hustle and bustle to Verdansk. This mode could be a good choice for those looking to experience a bit more action in Warzone, and players can jump in from now until the end of the preseason, which is presumably going to be December 7.

Additionally, two more events are coming to help players bid farewell to the Verdansk map. On November 24, the Secrets of the Pacific event will let players collect intel related to the new Caldera map by completing challenges in both Warzone and Vanguard multiplayer. November 30 will feature the Last Hours of Verdansk event, which is vaguely described as watching to "see what happens to Verdansk before Warzone goes dark to prepare for Caldera."

For more details on what to expect with the new Caldera map and Vanguard integration, here is everything we know about the Warzone Pacific and Season 1 update, which has been rescheduled from December 2 to December 8.

Call of Duty content continues as Activision Blizzard faces lawsuits and other investigations related to sexual harassment and discrimination against women. A Wall Street Journal report claims that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick knew of sexual misconduct at the company, including instances of sexual assault and rape. Most recently, Bobby Kotick reportedly said he will consider stepping down from Activision Blizzard if issues aren't fixed with speed.

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