In recent weeks, Call of Duty Zombies fans have been given some good news from the reputable leaker Tom Henderson. Not only will Zombies supposedly be treated like more than a third game mode in the future, but Henderson has teased that big things are on the way via a standalone Zombies game. With fans wanting to see the mode become a larger focus for years, the hype around this unofficial tease is certainly understandable.
While a standalone Call of Duty Zombies title would undoubtedly do well, one thing can truly make it excel. Alongside other must-have features like map remasters and the return of original, fully voiced characters, seeing a bigger focus on custom maps than ever before could give the game an incredibly long life cycle. With skilled creators provided with the ability to constantly add fresh maps to the game, the Zombies community could keep this standalone game alive for years after its release.
Custom maps are not new to Call of Duty Zombies, as the feature was added for the PC version of 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War. It was also added to 2015’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and while it was PC exclusive once again, fresh tools were added that allowed modders to get more creative with their custom map creations. Further, the greatly enhanced engine of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 allowed players to make larger play spaces that were far more visually appealing. Over the years, a lively community of map makers has appeared, with some creations arguably being just as good as Treyarch’s.
With players only getting a few DLC maps in each Zombies Season, and rarely getting anything once a new Call of Duty game is released, custom maps give fans something to do while they wait for new content from Treyarch. Maps have only gotten more complex with time, as creative players have found ways to introduce new game modes. These include PvP content like Grief, modes where players need to choose between guns and perks as the rounds progress, and objective-based content like what is seen in Outbreak.
Another benefit of custom maps is that it allows for player-made remakes of old Zombies content. Shown with the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 custom maps, older content like Der Riese and TranZit could be given 1-to-1 remakes on a new engine. From there, players can spice up the maps in their own way, adding guns to the mystery box that never appeared in the original maps. Custom characters could be swapped in as well, with players assigning each map’s cast some special looks that really wow players.
Finally, one strength of custom maps is that they are not official, and as such can be goofy and ridiculous in ways that Treyarch’s content cannot. Throughout Call of Duty Zombies’ history, Treyarch has had to keep a certain tone with its maps so that they fit with the story being told. In custom maps, though, there are no limits, and fans have taken full advantage of this “anything goes” nature. From silly maps where players fight through SpongeBob SquarePants’ Bikini Bottom to only slightly more serious offerings where fans control Marvel superheroes, creators have not pulled any punches with custom maps. With options for serious maps and dumb fun with friends, this feature has been an integral part of making Call of Duty Zombies on PC so popular.
While a Call of Duty Zombies game should absolutely incorporate custom maps, it should also improve upon them in some key areas. First and foremost, Zombies’ next custom maps feature needs to be on consoles as well. While there may be some limitations placed on creating maps due to Sony and Microsoft’s stances on modding, all custom maps should be playable on console at the very least. This would allow the feature to truly thrive, as Call of Duty Zombies fans on all platforms could play and enjoy the content from the best map creators.
Next, the standalone Zombies game’s map creator should take notes from LittleBigPlanet and Dreams, allowing players to make maps together. This could be a huge benefit to creators, as two expert map designers could team up to build something truly incredible. At the same time, this could be used by inexperienced creators so that those familiar with map creation could teach them all the necessary tricks. Lastly, a co-operative create mode could simply be used to allow some friends to goof off, seeing what wacky things they could do with their Zombies content.
From there, things that are seemingly just minor features could allow players to really excel in map making. Players could be allowed to record their own sound clips and insert them into their maps, allowing for full stories to be told and original characters to be created. Every Zombie model from Nacht Der Untoten to Firebase Z could be made accessible to players, with the weapons from every Treyarch game included to provide some serious variety. Players could be allowed to create custom perks and design their own characters, adding to the depth of the creation tools. Textures from every map, be it barrier types or floor patterns, could be given to players to mess around with. With all the music accessible as well, players could create some spectacular custom maps.
With all these changes joining a new engine that allows for Outbreak-sized maps to be created, the standalone Zombies game could become an incredible success. Changing the way players see the mode forever, full-on easter egg quests and original concepts could be made by everyone — not just Treyarch. Further, if console players can access this content alongside the PC community, custom Zombies could reach a bigger audience than ever before. New additions could be made to the map creation tools after launch as well, with Treyarch adding the assets from whatever DLC maps are released to the game’s map creator. While there are many things that can be done to ensure that the Call of Duty Zombies game thrives, none would help more in the long-term than an in-depth custom map system.
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