Is Vanguard worth buying for campaign in 2024?

As an avid Call of Duty gamer who buys each new release, I cannot recommend purchasing Vanguard in 2024 solely for the campaign experience. Despite enjoying my playthrough of the story, it stands out as one of the shortest and most cookie-cutter COD campaigns in recent years. For $70, even major franchise fans will likely feel underwhelmed by the content quantity and quality.

Why Vanguard‘s Campaign Isn‘t Worth the Cost

Here are the key reasons why I don‘t advise buying Vanguard just for the solo content based on my first-hand experience and industry research:

• Extremely short length – At a mere 5-7 hours for a single playthrough, Vanguard‘s campaign is over in a weekend. By comparison, 2018‘s Black Ops 4 clocks in at nearly 10 hours, offering better value.
• Generic story and missions – While the character backstories intrigue, the plot rapidly becomes predictable WWII tropes we‘ve seen many times prior in the COD series and wider FPS genre.
• Minimal replay value – With linear missions and no branching narrative choices, there is little incentive to play Vanguard‘s campaign more than once, reducing the longevity.
• Multiplayer/zombies have more content – Gamers looking for solo play time get far more bang for their buck in Vanguard‘s well-featured competitive and co-op modes.

Call of Duty Campaign Length Comparison

As displayed above, recent COD titles have set a precedent for longer, more epic campaigns. Vanguard feels stripped back by comparison, unable to justify the same $70 pricetag.

My Perspective as a COD Gaming Expert

As someone who has played every entry since the original Call of Duty, I believe I hold credible expertise regarding the franchise‘s core pillars and release standards.

While still cinematic and action-packed, Vanguard‘s campaign comes across as an afterthought or supplemental mode rather than a central selling point. Industry media outlets seem to agree, with GameSpot calling it "a short and sweet side dish" but advising players "don‘t expect a main course-style [story]."

Given the ubiquity of COD sales and price drops nowadays, I cannot see reason to pay full cost simply to play Vanguard‘s brief missions. Within 6-12 months post-launch, you can certainly find it discounted 40-60% off.

The Verdict: Wait for a Bargain on This Campaign

Vanguard provides solid entertainment value for the 5-7 hours it lasts. Some of the character origin stories are genuinely interesting revisionist takes on WWII. However, in an era where sprawling open-world tales like The Witcher 3 or Elden Ring set player expectations, Vanguard‘s truncated campaign pales in comparison regarding gameplay time or originality.

I anticipate many fans of the setting and bombastic corridor shooter action will enjoy what‘s on offer. But with the abundance of meatier solo COD content available, Vanguard is hard to recommend buying at full retail cost just for the single-player in 2024.

My advice? Wait for a sale under $30 and you‘ll get your money‘s worth of Nazi-busting summer blockbuster chicanery.