The Call of Duty series has always been known for its intriguing collaborations, and over the years, it’s partnered with an impressive array of iconic franchises. During their annual Halloween events, players have seen characters like Jigsaw, Leatherface, and Ghostface storm into the first-person shooter arena. Activision has also brilliantly intertwined Microsoft-owned properties such as Fallout, Doom, and Diablo into the mix. Not to forget, action legends like Rambo, John McClane from Die Hard, and even colossal figures like Godzilla and King Kong have all played a part in its legacy. With a trail of thrilling partnerships, it’s no wonder Call of Duty teamed up with Squid Game to honor its second season, and this collaboration pulls out all the stops.
This particular Squid Game event is packed with a dedicated battle pass, brimming with themed goodies such as weapon blueprints and a sleek Front Man skin. On top of that, fans are treated to an array of new game modes across the series’ current titles. Even with a few glitches in movement detection, Red Light, Green Light offers an enjoyable nod to Squid Game’s most memorable challenge. A standout, however, is the Call of Duty: Warzone’s Squid Game mode. Despite a few bugs introduced with the latest patch, it remains a fan favorite as players cycle through various games to outlast competitors. Yet, the real star of the show is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Pentathalon mode, and it’s so much fun that its absence after the event wraps up on January 24 would be a huge loss.
The real charm of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Pentathalon lies in its diverse gameplay, and how these different elements influence the core game mechanics. Featuring several rotating objectives, players can dive into:
- Roulette: Players scramble to control an explosive Hand Cannon, which, while marking its user on the map, grants an enormous point boost for each kill.
- Piggy Bank Team Deathmatch: As players score kills, they boost the point count in the massive Squid Game Piggy Bank, which can be grabbed at the end of a two-minute timer, typically granting its owner all equipped streaks.
- Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint: These classic objective modes make an appearance but with a twist, replacing letters with shapes for zones and envelopes for dog tags.
For gamers who love Domination, Hardpoint, and the occasional deathmatch, Pentathalon delivers all their favorites in a single, exhilarating package. It demands agility and quick thinking, urging players to swiftly shift strategies as game modes change. This constant variation prevents typical spawn-trapping issues found in straightforward matches, and it heavily rewards objective-based play, motivating players to strive for victory — a refreshing twist given how often winning takes a back seat in normal matches. Notably, if the opposing team grabs the Piggy Bank, the tides can turn rapidly, activating numerous streaks at once.
In addition, the event offers a unique killstreak: the Young-hee doll, which forces opponents into a Red Light, Green Light game. Moving even slightly results in instant elimination.
Maintaining a version of Pentathalon in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 should be quite feasible. Though we might miss Squid Game’s unique shapes, envelopes, and mesmerizing soundtrack, the thrilling mechanics can remain intact with some tweaks. Treyarch could replace these elements with standard Black Ops 6 themes, swapping shapes for letters and returning to dog tags. Instead of a piggy bank, they could opt for a vault or weapon cases. Considering Treyarch’s past successes with reskinning modes, like the Ran-snack LTM’s festive makeover, there’s every reason to believe a superb mode like Pentathalon can endure.
