Call of Duty Zombies Review (Xbox, PlayStation & PC)

When I think of Call of Duty: Zombies, I think of poor teamwork, ravenous onslaughts, crumbling buildings, and Elena Siegman’s 155. I think of Wonder Weapons, crummy patchwork, fatal screams and friends echoing their last wishes before being torn limb from limb in the wake of incompetence. I suppose, when I think about Zombies, I don’t necessarily associate it with buttery smooth gameplay and slick Blade-esque action; I link it with sloppy coordination and last-ditch efforts, wishful thinking and pure, undisciplined chaos. In no way is it a well-orchestrated love letter to the finesse of undead butchering; on the contrary, it’s a scribbled message on a bloodied piece of parchment that lacks all manner of detail. It’s messy, ballsy, and weirdly, a stupid amount of fun to read, even when it doesn’t make all that much sense.

Zombies has a proud history of being one of the most souped-up first-person extensions in Call of Duty, period. Of course, if it weren’t for its brash gimmicks and tower defense-like elements, then you wouldn’t necessarily refer to it as a unique experience as a clone of a bog-standard zombie game. But Zombies isn’t a cheap cash grab; it’s a solid alternative for those who would soon rather splurge bullets on the dead than the living. It’s still very much Call of Duty, but it’s also a standalone entity that operates on its own terms, with its own brand of gameplay and world-building acting as two triumphant pitons on a mountain of its own making. It’s a matter of debate, true, but there is one thing that can be agreed upon here: there’s no Call of Duty without zombies. Heck, it would be like a PB&J without the J — or something along those lines.

There’s a fine line here between Black Ops’ golden era of Zombies and the latter years of the series’ attempts to keep the same inferno alight. Although the series has kept to a vaguely familiar format since its initial debut, it has, in an effort to sway with the ascension of the times, also undergone a ton of changes, both in its gameplay and its overall performance departments. On the one hand, you have the original incarnation—a phase in which grittiness and frustration were often met with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, despite being plagued with chaos and blind combat. But on the other hand, you have the more recent iterations, which, in all fairness, build on the weaker aspects of the original, but at the expense of missing out on the old-school trappings and memorable level designs. It’s somewhere here, in the middle, that I find myself knocking back and forth between.

Suffice it to say that, as a series, Zombies has always been a tremendous amount of fun to play alongside a ragtag bunch of brain-pulverizing allies. Aside from its signature tower defense mechanics—a suite that, to give credit where it’s due, has come leaps and bounds since its original launch—each installment has also brought about plenty of fantastic maps, weapons, and enemies. The storylines have been, well, pulpy and forgettable, to say the least. But then, point me in the direction of a fan who sinks their teeth into Zombies for the plot, and I’ll happily point out a liar. Frankly, it’s the same situation with the mainline entries and the middle ground between the campaigns and the online multiplayer. But then, that’s a story for another time, and not to mention a can of worms that I’d soon rather put on the back burner than burst open.

Although the Zombies saga has spun a whole bunch of different webs over the past decade or two, there is still a lot of room for it to expand into deeper waters in future installments. And if there’s one thing the Call of Duty franchise is known for, it’s adding fresh layers to its existing core; new weapons, maps, and opportunities to tailor items and pre-game loadouts, for example. It’s also a series that doesn’t need a lot of revisions to be improved, nor is it one that needs an explanation in order to coerce new players to visit it for the first time. It’s self-contained, and thankfully, without any lofty plot points or character arcs — and that’s a boon in itself.

With all of the above said, Zombies makes for a great add-on for Call of Duty’s faithful series. Granted, it isn’t the perfect undead-centric saga on the block, but it is one that brings about a lot of entertainment value and evergreen content, with its frequent updates, weapon modifications, maps, and seasonal events adding to a sizable platform that fosters a ton of fun and exciting materials. Is it the best zombie game of all time? No. But it is, however, one of the most popular, and it’s pretty easy to see why, given the universal acclaim that it receives with each passing chapter.

Verdict

Call of Duty: Zombies is as ravenously entertaining as it is timeless, with its signature tower defense system and chaotic progression elements setting a formidable benchmark for fledgling first-person post-apocalyptic shooters to take a shot at. The question is, can Activision build on the existing formula, or will the studio remain contented with its natural ability to create predictable yet ridiculously enjoyable episodic experiences? Either way, there is one thing that’s as clear as day here: the zombies aren’t going anywhere. Because let’s face it, a Call of Duty game without a Zombies mode is like a skydiver without a parachute. We’ll leave you to interpret that one.

Of course, if you are unfamiliar with the Zombies saga and want to experience the frills and thrills of the apocalypse for yourself, then you ought to consider slipping into the self-contained Call of Duty Zombies: Chronicles DLC, which includes remastered versions of all major entries in the series, maps, weapons, and characters included, thankfully. Better yet, if you’re undecided on which to choose—Call of Duty or its Zombies subsidiary—then take it from me. If you have an undying love of fast-paced tower defense gameplay and tactical battles, then you ought to be able to find just about everything you want and crave in this flesh-deprived undead series.