Zombies in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War strikes a solid balance between appealing to the classic Zombies experience, as well as implementing new features that don’t overwhelm the overall experience. Although there’s only one map currently in the base game, future Zombies expansions will be free just like multiplayer maps and content will be. Even if Die Maschine’s remake of Nacht der Untoten doesn’t seem enough for players, the game does make up for it with all of the new additions to the mode. Die Maschine is a very strong start for Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies offering, and for the most part, everything that’s changed in Zombies has been for the better.
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Several Classic Zombies Perks are Back
One very welcome change is the return of Call of Duty’s iconic perks from previous Zombies modes. Rather than sticking with the less effective perk loadout system in Black Ops 4’s iteration of Zombies, Black Ops Cold War brings back Perk-a-Cola machines scattered throughout Die Maschine. So far, there’s Jugger-Nog, Quick Revive, Speed Cola, Stamin-Up, Deadshot Daiquiri, the new perk Elemental Pop, and several more planned for subsequent Seasons. Not only are the classic perks back, but Zombies’ Aetherium Crystal progression system also allows players to upgrade each perk to a higher tier, which applies new bonuses to these existing perks.
Zombies’ Loadouts: Weapons, Attachments, and Field Upgrades
Much like how Modern Warfare’s loadouts and progression carried through Coop and Warzone, Black Ops Cold War’s loadouts are also available in Zombies, though in a slightly modified manner. Rather than copying classes over, Zombies-specific classes have access to all multiplayer weapon and attachment unlocks, but have their own configuration settings. Each Zombies class utilizes a primary weapon and one Zombies-specific Field Upgrade, which acts as a sort-of bonus action for players in a pinch. Zombies’ Field Upgrades range from slowing and freezing Zombies with Frost Blast, to replenishing the squad’s health in a pinch with Healing Aura. There are also ammo mods for weapons, which add different types of elemental damage to bullets for increased damage over time.
Equipment Crafting, Weapon Rarities, and Pack-a-Punch
Weapons and equipment are acquired in a very different manner in Black Ops Cold War. Equipment like frag grenades, stun grenades, stim shot, and other lethal and special equipment can either be dropped as loot by Zombies, or crafted at various crafting tables using salvage dropped by Zombies. Weapons are also loot-based as well, with different randomized attachments and rarities from wall buys and the mystery box. Regardless of weapon rarity, all weapons can also be upgraded via Pack-a-Punch up to three times, which is a vast improvement over Black Ops 4’s system of five upgrades. Weapon rarity is a little bit concerning at first, but in practice it’s not game-altering.
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Quality-of-Life Improvements Like Pinging, Armor
There’s also a few quality-of-life changes that come with Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies as well. Even though players can acquire Jugger-Nog, armor also returns to Zombies as an available piece of equipment. Rather than having to jump through hoops to craft it, any salvage that players find can be cashed in for armor, just like equipment. The ping system from Modern Warfare/Warzone also returns in Black Ops Cold War, which can also be used in Zombies as well. This is especially useful for players who may not know Die Maschine that well yet, or if there’s a power-up behind a train of zombies that a player can’t get to at the moment.
Scorestreaks, To Some Extent, Come to Zombies
It may be surprising to some that Scorestreaks also somehow wiggled their way into Zombies. Obtainable via the mystery box, there are currently five available “support” scorestreaks: Combat Bow, Sentry Turret, War Machine, Chopper Gunner, and Self-Revive. Also, for the record, activating Chopper Gunner makes players on the map invulnerable and ignored by nearby Zombies, unlike in multiplayer. These are generally extremely rare to find throughout most playthroughs, but Scorestreaks in a pinch could certainly turn the tide of any round or exfiltration.
A Way to “Win” Zombies
For the first time ever, Zombies can technically “end” in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, for lack of a better phrasing. Normally, Zombies is an all out last stand effort that only ends when every player dies. Now, starting at round 10 and repeating every five rounds, squads are given the option to “Exfil.” Players vote yes/no, and if the majority vote yes, a new exfiltration round begins. Zombies respawn in huge groups as players attempt to reach a landing zone in the back of Die Maschine. If players can survive the onslaught of Zombies long enough, the option to escape via helicopter will become available. It’s an interesting risk/reward system that can reward Aetherium Crystals for upgrading perks upon a successful exfiltration.
So far, Black Ops Cold War’s version of Zombies starts off relatively strong with Die Maschine. Unfortunately it’s the only map available for the coop mode at the moment, but more maps are promised as part of the upcoming seasonal expansions throughout each Season.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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