Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies fans have been quick to point out all the features missing from the mode. The lack of a Wonder Weapon has proven controversial, as has the switch away from round-based gameplay. Fans are still waiting for server pause to be added, while Der Anfang is currently lacking side easter eggs for players to complete. Alongside these issues and many others, gamers are bothered about the lack of a Pack-A-Punch camo.
Given all the problems with Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies, it may seem a bit odd that players are so upset about a lack of camo for upgraded weaponry. However, while this may seem like a small issue, those who have spent a lot of time with the mode will understand the reason for the outrage. Further, the missing camo is a clear example of the biggest issue with the new mode: a lack of personality.
Pack-A-Punch Camos Make Call of Duty Zombies’ Guns Feel More Special
Ever since the Pack-A-Punch system made its debut in Call of Duty: World at War’s Der Riese map, players have received a special skin when upgrading their weapon. In Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops, all the maps had a special camo that gave upgraded guns a distinct look. Once Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 debuted, Treyarch began to experiment with unique camos for each map, like a fiery skin for Mob of the Dead and a blue 115 camo for Origins.
From that point on, players looked forward to seeing the Pack-A-Punch camo for each and every map. Whether it be the various colors of Der Eisendrache, the dragon scales of Gorod Krovi, or the regal gold accents of IX, Treyarch established the idea that each map would bring its own special camo to the table. While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reused the camo from Die Maschine in Firebase Z, both Mauer Der Toten and Forsaken introduced their own camo patterns, keeping the uniqueness alive.
Aside from making each map just a bit more special, Call of Duty Zombies fans love Pack-A-Punching their weapons because the new look makes them feel more powerful. Not only do the guns sound different when being fired, but they look far deadlier than the basic, un-upgraded guns. The blue weapons from Origins, for example, looked incredibly deadly. That feeling is lost in Call of Duty: Vanguard, as the lack of a visual change means that upgraded guns feel the exact same as regular ones despite the boost to damage.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Lack Of A Pack-A-Punch Camo Is Emblematic Of A Larger Problem
However, the biggest issue with the missing Pack-A-Punch camo is that it draws attention to everything else that Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies is lacking. When players may feel letdown when their triple-Packed weapon looks no different from what they started with, they might start to think about how there is no Wonder Weapon available to compensate for this problem. From there, they could think of how there is no hidden music or no main quest for Der Anfang, with things quickly spiraling out of control from there.
While it was easy to criticize Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies for its lack of personality due to the use of Operators, the reality is that the mode still felt like Call of Duty Zombies. It had all the features and mechanics fans had come to expect, with each map boasting unique easter eggs and special Wonder Weapons to strive for. The Zombies storyline was focused, too, with each map progressing the story in a significant way. Unfortunately, Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies is a big step down from its predecessor, and the Pack-A-Punch camo is proof that the small touches mean a lot.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.