With two decades worth of beloved first-person shooters, it is not surprising that theCall of Dutyfranchise has delivered its share of memorable characters. Main characters like the tortured soul that is Alex Mason have proven memorable because of the twists they are involved with, while players loved seeing Reznov’s revenge play out.Captain Priceis a beloved leader that ranks high for many fans, and Soap was a fan favorite before he even spoke. If a recent rumor proves true, fans could get a chance to learn a lot more about some of these characters.
There have been numerous leaks about the future of theCall of Dutyfranchise, all with a different level of believability attached. Several sources have reported that a year two expansion forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is in the works, while anAdvanced Warfaresequel and even a standalone Zombies game have been mentioned. Intriguingly, some reports have even suggested that Infinity Ward is developing a campaign focused entirely on Ghost. With how popular certainCall of Dutycharacters are, and the gaps in their stories, this could be a brilliant format that everyCoDdeveloper starts to use.
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A Ghost-Focused Campaign Should Be The First of Many Character-Focused CoD Stories
Giventhe prevalence of Ghost memesonline, and the love for the character in general, telling Simon Riley’s backstory through a dedicated game could pique the interest of many fans. Gamers both new and old love Ghost, and based on the little bits of information that have been shared about the rebooted version of the character, a singleplayer mode built around him could absolutely work. Some of the guerrilla warfare tactics he taught Soap inModern Warfare 2’s “Alone” mission could be used to keep gameplay fresh, and the story could show players who Simon was before he donned the mask while also explaining its meaning to him.
Though a Ghost campaign would be a terrific starting point, Infinity Ward would not have to stop there. For instance, Task Force 141 leader Captain Price could easily hold up a campaign of his own, with his personality making him a memorable figure in everyModern Warfaregame. As a fixture of both the original and rebooted timelines, Price is iconic, and it could be worth looking into the past of the new version in particular.Price’s closeness with Laswellcan be fully explored through a prequel game, and players could watch his rise from a soldier to a proper legend.
Outside of Infinity Ward’s universe,Treyarch’sBlack Opsuniversetouched on a few eras that can be explored further with some character-focused stories. A Hudson-led game can focus entirely on CIA missions, delivering unique locations and gameplay sequences like the Kowloon level from the originalBlack Ops. Alternatively, a long overdue Vietnam War game could see players controlling Frank Woods, giving fans more time with Alex Mason’s gruff-but-entertaining comrade.
However, the best option for a character-focused campaign like the one Ghost may end up receiving isAlex Masonhimself. Treyarch could finally tell players what Mason was up to after Woods seemingly killed him duringBlack Ops 2’s flashback missions, filling in the biggest gap in theBlack Opsfranchise’s extensive timeline. Why he did not tell his son David he was alive could be explained, and Treyarch could take Mason anywhere it wants. Focus could be placed on his hunting and survival abilities, adding a new element toCall of Duty.
Obviously, it is important to keep in mind that astory mode focused entirely on Ghostis currently just a rumor. If it does happen, though, it will open up theCall of Dutyfranchise to a fresh type of storytelling, with developers adding a ton of depth to one character instead of spreading time across an entire cast. Instead ofCall of Duty’s action heroes being similar to one another apart from some minor differences, work could be done to add a lot more depth to the fan favorites.
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