Call of Duty Zombies: In-Depth Look at Gameplay, Maps, and Story
Origins of Call of Duty Zombies
Call of Duty Zombies, initially known as Nazi Zombies, began as a bonus mode in Call of Duty: World at War, developed by Treyarch. This game mode gained immense popularity, leading to its return in subsequent titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops series, Call of Duty: Vanguard, and more. The mode features players battling against waves of zombies across various maps, each with unique settings and challenges.
Gameplay Mechanics
Round-Based Format
The original format of Zombies, known as "Round-Based," involves up to four players (or eight in Grief mode) surviving endless waves of zombies. Players earn points by killing zombies, repairing barriers, and unlocking new areas. These points can be used to purchase weapons, Perk-a-Colas, and activate special objects. Zombies enter the play area through windows, wall holes, or by climbing out of the ground, initially barricaded but quickly demolished.
Objective-Based Modes
Newer formats like the Outbreak mode in Black Ops Cold War introduce a different style where players complete objectives to progress. Players teleport to new maps as they advance rounds, facing increased difficulty and free to pursue side objectives. Similarly, Vanguard’s Der Anfang and Terra Maledicta maps employ a hub-and-portal system where players complete objectives in different submaps.
In Modern Warfare III, Zombies mode adopts a gameplay system similar to DMZ, with up to twenty-four players gathering loot, completing contracts, and engaging in story missions within a time limit, adding a fresh twist to the traditional format.
Health and Difficulty Scaling
Zombie health and numbers increase with each round. Initially, zombies have 150 health, which increases by 100 each round until round 9, after which it grows by 10% each round. By round 100, zombies can have up to 5.5 million health. To balance this, Wonder Weapons and other high-damage tools become essential at higher rounds. In Black Ops 4, a health cap was introduced, stabilizing zombie health at a certain point to keep regular weapons effective.
The number of zombies also scales with the number of players and the round number. Formulas determine the exact number of zombies per round, resulting in a steady increase in enemies as the game progresses.
Point System
The point system rewards players for various actions, such as non-lethal hits, lethal shots, and repairing barriers. Points are used to buy weapons, open doors, and purchase perks. Different games have refined this system, with Black Ops 4 introducing fixed point awards for kills and Black Ops Cold War simplifying the points further for melee and headshot kills.
Maps and Environments
Classic Maps
The first map, Nacht der Untoten, appeared in World at War, featuring a small, simple layout. Verrückt, Shi No Numa, and Der Riese followed, each introducing new elements like traps, Perk-a-Colas, and the Pack-a-Punch Machine. Der Riese, for instance, is known for its teleporters and the Monkey Bomb, enhancing the strategic depth of the game.
Expanding the Universe
Black Ops series expanded the Zombies universe with diverse settings. Kino der Toten, set in an abandoned theater, introduced Gas Zombies and the Thundergun. Call of the Dead featured real-life celebrities like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Danny Trejo battling zombies in a Siberian outpost. Maps like Shangri-La and Moon brought unique challenges, including Napalm Zombies and low-gravity environments.
Character Roster
Zombies mode features a wide array of characters, from unnamed US Marines in Nacht der Untoten to famous figures like John F. Kennedy in "Five." Iconic characters like Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, and Edward Richtofen appear across multiple maps, each contributing to the overarching storyline. Newer games introduced Operators, who are customizable characters from multiplayer modes, adding flexibility to the character selection.
Storylines and Easter Eggs
Aether Story
The Aether Story, beginning in World at War and spanning multiple games, revolves around secret Nazi technology and an ancient conflict between the Keepers and Apothicons. Players follow dimension-hopping soldiers trying to repair the fabric of time and space, encountering complex storylines and major Easter Eggs that advance the narrative.
Dark Aether Saga
Introduced in Black Ops Cold War, the Dark Aether Saga continues the story in a new universe, focusing on Nazi experiments with a dark dimension filled with hellish creatures and ancient gods. Vanguard and Modern Warfare III expand on this storyline, exploring the consequences of breaching the dimensional membrane.
Varied Gameplay Experiences
Call of Duty Zombies has grown from a simple survival mode to a complex and diverse gameplay experience. The early round-based format, starting with Nacht der Untoten in World at War, set the foundation. Players defended against waves of zombies, earning points to unlock weapons and new areas. This format continued to evolve, incorporating new elements such as traps, Perk-a-Colas, and unique zombie types like Hellhounds and Napalm Zombies.
Black Ops Cold War introduced the Outbreak mode, offering a different style where players complete objectives to progress through various maps. Unlike the traditional round-based mode, Outbreak allows players to explore large areas, complete side missions, and tackle increasingly difficult challenges as they teleport to new maps.
Modern Warfare III's Zombies mode added another layer of complexity with a gameplay system similar to DMZ. Up to twenty-four players, divided into squads, gather loot, complete contracts, and engage in story missions. This large-scale approach introduces new strategic elements and cooperation, pushing players to adapt to different scenarios.
Complex Storylines
The narrative depth of Call of Duty Zombies is another hallmark of its evolution. The Aether Story, beginning in World at War and continuing through multiple titles, involves secret Nazi experiments, ancient conflicts, and dimension-hopping soldiers. Players unravel the intricate plot through Easter Eggs and hidden quests, adding a layer of mystery and excitement to the gameplay.
The Dark Aether Saga, starting in Black Ops Cold War and expanding in Vanguard and Modern Warfare III, explores the consequences of Nazi experiments with an alternate dimension. This storyline introduces new characters, settings, and enemies, enriching the overall lore. Each map in this saga, from Die Maschine to Forsaken, builds upon the previous one, creating a cohesive and engaging narrative.
Diverse Maps and Characters
Call of Duty Zombies features a wide array of maps, each offering unique challenges and environments. From the eerie, confined spaces of Nacht der Untoten to the expansive and interactive landscapes of Outbreak, the variety keeps players engaged. Maps like Der Riese introduced the Pack-a-Punch Machine and teleporters, adding new strategic elements to the gameplay. Kino der Toten brought the cinematic horror of an abandoned theater, while Moon took the fight to a low-gravity lunar base.
Characters in Zombies mode are just as diverse. Early maps featured unnamed soldiers, but later titles introduced iconic figures like Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, and Edward Richtofen. These characters, each with their own backstory and personality, became central to the Zombies narrative. Black Ops II’s Mob of the Dead introduced mobsters trapped in Alcatraz, while Black Ops Cold War allowed players to use customizable Operators from multiplayer modes, adding flexibility and personalization.
Engaging Easter Eggs and Quests
Easter Eggs have always been a staple of Call of Duty Zombies, providing players with hidden challenges and rewards. These quests range from simple tasks to elaborate puzzles that reveal new parts of the story. For instance, the "Original Characters Trapped" Easter Egg in Call of the Dead tasks players with helping the original crew escape, rewarding them with the powerful Wunderwaffe DG-2.
In maps like Moon, players can undertake Richtofen's Grand Scheme, a multi-step quest that changes the game's ending and provides significant in-game benefits. These Easter Eggs not only enhance the gameplay but also deepen the connection to the story, encouraging players to explore every corner of the map.
Lasting Appeal
The lasting appeal of Call of Duty Zombies lies in its ability to innovate and expand. Each new title brings fresh ideas and mechanics, keeping the mode exciting and challenging. Whether it's the nostalgic thrill of classic maps or the strategic depth of new game modes, Zombies continues to captivate players.
The combination of varied gameplay experiences, complex storylines, diverse maps and characters, and engaging Easter Eggs has cemented Call of Duty Zombies as a beloved part of the franchise. As the mode evolves, it promises to offer even more thrilling adventures and undead challenges for players to enjoy.
Conclusion
Call of Duty Zombies has evolved significantly since its inception, offering varied gameplay experiences, complex storylines, and a vast array of maps and characters. Whether facing waves of undead in classic round-based maps or completing objectives in expansive new modes, the Zombies game mode remains a beloved part of the Call of Duty franchise.