Call of Duty Zombieshas evolved since its first rendition inWorld at War’s Nacht der Untoten. Whether it’s Perk-a-Colas, Pack-a-Punch, or a series of innovative mechanics that have changed the game for better or worse, it’s always worth appreciating the work of Treyarch as they try to innovate and bring forth new ideas to thebeloved round-based formula.
Call of Duty Zombieshas seen another impressive bout withBlack Ops6, and further innovative mechanics have been added to keep gameplay fresh and replayable. Yet, what are some of the most essential and innovative mechanics that have been accomplished over the years?
8Augments to Upgrade Perks, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades
Permanently Upgrade Equipment and Loadouts for Round-Based Progression
The newest mechanic toCall of Duty Zombiescomes fromBlack Ops6, and it’s by far one of the best and most innovative yet. Everyone loves the round-based gameplay, butCall of Duty Zombieslacked progression and reward for playing for the longest time untilBlack Ops6changed the game.
Black Ops6introduces Augments, which allows players to earn XP and research new upgrades for every Perk, Ammo Mod, and Field Upgrade. These Augments are incredible for how they truly change the game by providing more power and incentive to play for high rounds.
7Vaulting Over Obstacles
Avoid Getting Trapped Behind Small Obstacles By Jumping Over Them
One of the biggest casualties of earlierCOD Zombiestitles was the fact that players couldn’t jump over railings and other obstacles. Even something as simple as a small crate couldn’t be jumped on top of, which led to some frustrating instances where players could be backed into a corner and killed.
Thanks toBlack OpsCold Warand beyond, players can now vault over obstacles, meaning those low-guard railings that could’ve been a death sentence, can now be easily hopped over to keep a trained horde of zombies on the chasewithout being overrun.
6George A. Romero
Black Opstruly changed the game with Call of the Dead. Not only was it the first map that didn’t have re-used assets, but it’s the first map that features an innovative and challenging mechanic with George A. Romero. On top of being a zombie icon, George A. Romero takes his rightful place as the godfather of zombies by featuring on themap as a mini-boss.
George A. Romero certainlystirs up troublein the usual formula ofCOD Zombies, as he will constantly walk toward the player, meaning they always need to stay on the move. If George hits a player or is shot, he will enraged and begin chasing, to which he needs to be cooled down in the icy waters. Killing George is temporary, providing another free Perk-a-Cola, but he will always be back, and there’s truly no escape from his chase.
5Power-Up Stealing Monkeys
Monkeys Snatch Up Power-Ups to Force Players to React Fast
Shangri-La may not be the most beloved map inCall of Duty Zombies, but it does have some exciting features. The traps lead to exciting moments of escape from hordes, and the whole debate surrounding whether the map is on Mars or not continues to this day. However, a mechanic thatdoes deserve the most attentionis the zombie monkeys.
When a zombie drops a Power-Up, a zombie monkey will attempt to snatch it, and if it does, it will escape to the Pack-a-Punch temple. However, players can take their Power-Up back, although it changes randomly. This mechanic introduced the idea of protecting Power-Ups or manipulating monkeys into taking them so that players could try and get something like a Max Ammo or a Perk Bottle.
4Field Upgrades and Specialist Abilities
More Kills Means More Power
Starting off as Specialist Abilities, players could kill zombies and earn a separate weapon with the use of L1+R1 which would allow them to unleash true power in the form of a unique weapon. Activating this power in the right moment would provide them with a weapon that could temporarily insta-kill most enemies, whether it was the Ragnarok DG-4s or the Annihilator.
This continued intoBlack Ops4with some new variants, but inBlack OpsCold War, it was changed out for Field Upgrades. These have been a lifesaver and pair with loadouts perfectly for the way players can use them essentially as special abilities and power-ups that reward them for high kills and easily get them out of sticky situations.
3Main Quests
Easter Eggs That Feature Stories and Rewards
Fans have craved the story content fromCall of Duty Zombiesever since the first running undead came onto the screen in Nacht Der Untoten withWorld at War. With each new map, radio logs could be discovered to give further insight into the unraveling story. Yet, it wasn’t untilBlack Ops’ Ascension map that easter egg quests came into play to trulygive players an end goal.
Main quests were extremely exciting, and now they are the desired standard for every map. Featuring obscure and hidden steps that players must discover, the easter egg hunt for the main quest often features exciting story beats, Perk-a-Colas, and a riveting boss fight.
2The Bus Route
Navigate Through the Deadly Fog of TranZit
Only featuring in the controversial map of TranZit, players could hop on board a bus led by the malfunctioning and irritable driver T.E.D.D. The Bus route was a fascinating addition toBlack Ops2Zombies, and it’s something that never returned, even though it definitely should withmore modern refinements and hardware.
Having a large map that requires travel through vehicles is fun, and it has been seen with the likes ofBlack Ops6’s Terminus map featuring Tactical Rafts, but it’s not the same as T.E.D.D. threatening players who step on board to avoid the fog.
1Buildables for New Weapons and Shields
Craft New Items That Make for Essential Weaponry
AcrossBlack Ops2’s maps and beyond, players could often scrounge up a few supplies to use crafting benches to create some unique weapons and equipment. Players could create zombie shields, which were truly lifesavers from the way they would protect players’ backs. On top of that, they could also create unique weapons.
The fact that players could search for items across the map to craft into useful equipment really aided in the progression of things to do during the round-based gameplay. Everyone could scavenge together and search for the parts necessary to craft a Wonder Weapon, a shield, or other components that would aid their fight.
