WithCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warofficially announced, fans are now looking towards Treyarch to see what will come of Zombies. Although the developers have confirmed a Zombies based mode, there is not much information available, butCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warhas a chance to craft an authentic zombie experience.
Black OpsandBlack Ops 2set the foundations for the Zombies franchise. As other games tried to reproduce the game there have been several successes and failures scattered throughout theCall of Dutyfranchise. WithCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waron the horizon, the developers have a unique opportunity to place Zombies back in historical context and drive it back to its origins.
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TheCall of DutyZombies game mode has a long history. With timelines that interconnect with sub-realities, it can be a complete headache to navigate for new players. No matter the timeline, map, mission, or Easter Egg, there is a core experience that is found in each of the Zombie game modes in all the games. This core is the Origin of the zombie experience, andCall of Duty: Cold Warnow has a unique opportunityto bring players back into that original state.
Zombies, Cold War, and Historical Relevance
The historical potential ofCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris large. With the distrust between the U.S. and Soviet Russia fueling innovation, the entire Zombies experience has a chance to evolve its Origin narrative. Originally, the Zombies mode was based on the idea of Nazi zombies with the release of Nacht der Untoten. This map debuted in the midst ofWorld at Warwhich was set in 1942.
The year 1942, andWorld at War,was in the middle of World War IIputting the focus of Zombies on a Nazi origin. The release of Nact der Untoten is the first time fans were given the option inCall of Dutyto take down the undead, and it was a massive success. Track forward into the second map released, Verruckt, and players now have a date set for the Zombie timeline. Dempsey, John, and Paxton all work together in 1945 to survive as long as they can.
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The following maps follow the adventures of several Zombies icons and Group 935’s various research projects. Most of theZombies encounters in the originalBlack Opsgamesare set in the 1940s, which opens up the potential thatCall of Duty: Cold Warhas.
By being set in the 1960s,Call of Duty: Cold Warcan push the zombie narrative forward expanding above the original Zombies narrative.Call of Duty: WWIItried to reinventthe series, but it did not have the same level of momentum thatCold Warpossesses. Expanding the technology and moving Group 935 forward several years could result in a different timeline and help reimagine the entire Zombies narrative, while redirecting the Origin of Zombies creates an opportunity to reach a new conclusion.
To further this thought, the existence of the map FIVE shows the persistence of the zombie apocalypse. This map serves a directfocal point that the Zombies campaigncan revolve around remixing the core ideas with the themes of FIVE. Although fans would love the return of the original Zombies cast, there are several political figures that could fit the bill and make an appearance in a brand new take on the Zombies franchise.
The Core of Zombies
One of the key things that Treyarch and Raven Software need to ensure is that the core of the Zombie experience remains untouched. There are several factors that fans consider vital to the overall experience that previous reimaginings have disturbed, and if these factors are left embraced rather then replaced, thentheCold WarZombies game modewill have one step forward towards a satisfied Zombies audience.
One of the core features that fans have grown to love is the unbelievable nature of the zombies themselves. From the magical Perk-O-Colas to the Pack-A-Punch machine, there is a level of magic and fanciful design built into the game. This fun and almost outrageous nature is one of the mostbeloved features inCall of DutyZombies, which is why fans respond poorly when the game designers take the mode too seriously. This design element is as subtle as the Spork in Alcatraz to as blatant as the Amusement park inBlack Ops3.
Zombies started as a wave-survival game mode, but since then, it has evolved into a puzzle-filled experience with secrets hidden around every corner. One of the features that make Zombies so loved by fans is the difficulty in each challenge. While some can be completed easily, the challenges worth finishing require timing, work, and coordination.Call of Duty: WWIIused the Easter Egg system to progress a story throughout the game mode. Although this was an interesting use of the puzzle-solving mechanics, a large portion of fans seemed toprefer the Easter Eggs inBlack Ops 4.In both instances, the story was progressed, but inBlack Ops 4the progression had a slightly different curve.
It is balancing the narrative and the gunplay of Zombies that created this unique curve. While completing the objectives to progress makes sense,Black Ops 4did not forget the wave survival core of the game itself. Fans do not expect the match to end and fully intend on spending hours running around and killing the undead. Optional endings are vital to the zombie progression andCold Warwould prosper if they stayed true to the optional nature of the story itself. At some point, fans just want toblast apart some Nazi Zombies.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warhas a ton of Zombie potential. Fans await answers as to what the developer plan to do with the game mode with all eyes on the perk system, maps, and characters. One thing is for sure, as long as Zombies maintains to its core audience expectations, then there is nothing they could do wrong that fans have not seen before.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warlaunches November 13 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
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