![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Back to Square One: “Warzone 2.0”
The release of “Call of Duty: “Modern Warfare 2” brought the release of “Warzone 2.0” and fresh new features but stayed true to the core fanbase in ways that satisfy veterans and new players.
On release week, “Warzone 2.0” was played by 25 million people and grew exponentially compared to its competitors.
January 28, 2023
On Nov. 16, 2022, “Call of Duty” released “Warzone 2.0,” the supposed successor to its previous installment in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.” “Warzone 2.0” brings new changes to the table, adapting to the new mechanics of the newest installment of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.” The changes include a new gunsmith progression system, a new map, and different movement mechanics that give a new feel to gameplay and player-to-player interaction.
A game plagued with bugs and blatant code issues on the release date would usually hinder the amount of active players any game would have, but not for “Warzone 2.0.” With a consistent player amount kept over 300,000 on release month, the game blew any previous expectations out of the water. Compared to its predecessor, it hasn’t reached the same level of popularity, but does match up in game content and new features.
The core of “Warzone 2.0” is the new map Al Mazrah, which brings out the nostalgic feeling for veterans, but still gives a new experience to players who have only played 2019 “Warzone.” While the new map is innovative, it is very large and forces the use of cars, planes, and various other modes of transportation, which feels like it’s moving away from the original games.
Despite this, the addition of proximity chat, where a player can talk to an opponent when they are within a certain distance of them, received a positive response. This adds new dimensions and lets players communicate throughout the game. Proximity chat adds a new experience to Warzone, and the addition has seen great praise from casual players.
While “Warzone 2.0” deviates from the original “Call of Duty” games due to its battle royale nature, it gives new life to a faltering franchise. With active player rates dropping every year, a fresh game was much needed, causing Activision, the developers of “Call of Duty,” to revise the formula from a yearly release to every two years. What this means for players is that “Warzone” is here to stay for a while.
Overall, the prospect of “Warzone 2” looks promising. Players can now experience a new battle royale experience without the limitations of its predecessor. New mechanics and game modes make room for more improvement and additions in the future, which will help with the game’s longevity.
“Warzone 2” is free to play on all platforms and can be downloaded on Steam or Battle.net for PC players.
