Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies – First Impressions
▼ Summary
– The reviewer finds Black Ops 6’s Zombies mode absurd, campy, and amazing, with features like a sniper rifle that shoots grenades and round-based gameplay returning after last year’s detour.
– Zombies mode includes two new maps, Ashes of the Damned and Vandorn Farm, with the farm being preferred for its old-school design and the former requiring more teamwork to uncover secrets.
– Early gameplay is hindered by bugs and unclear objectives, such as an infection that failed to reappear on Vandorn Farm, leading to confusion and player dropouts.
– The mode retains core mechanics like earning currency to open paths, upgrading guns with Pack-a-Punch, and using items like Gobblegums, while introducing new elements like an Arsenal for weapon customization.
– Success and full enjoyment of Zombies will depend on the community working out map details and Easter eggs over time, as the reviewer is still exploring and remains interested in discovering more.
Exploring the undead chaos of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies mode reveals a familiar yet wildly entertaining experience packed with secrets, challenges, and that signature blend of horror and humor fans adore. This year’s installment brings back the round-based survival gameplay many missed, along with fresh maps and mechanics that promise depth for those willing to dig. While early impressions highlight some rough edges and unsolved mysteries, the core fun of mowing down hordes with outrageous weapons remains thoroughly intact.
Zombies has always stood out as Call of Duty’s most delightfully bizarre creation, a mode that somehow balances campy dialogue, supernatural threats, and over-the-top action. Remember when this series centered on gritty wartime realism, complete with solemn quotes after each death? These days, you’re more likely to hear your character joke about a disembodied announcer sounding like their old gym teacher while you spin a mystery box hoping for a legendary ray gun. It’s hard not to marvel at how far the tone has shifted, though the sheer absurdity continues to charm.
Reflecting on last year’s Zombies offering, one moment perfectly captures the spirit. A teammate once remarked, “I don’t think I have the right sniper rifle, because enemies aren’t exploding.” He meant it literally, certain upgraded rifles actually fire grenade rounds. That’s the kind of glorious nonsense you can expect, complete with spider-like creatures bursting from zombie corpses and swarms so dense they can wipe a squad in seconds. The return of round-based maps feels like a welcome homecoming, and having two distinct locations to explore from the start adds immediate variety. Bugs and progression quirks persist, but they haven’t dampened the urge to keep playing. Honestly, I’ll probably jump back into Terminus later, there are still a few Easter eggs I’m determined to uncover.
A loose narrative ties everything together, involving the return of Raul Menendez, somehow still alive and scheming after all these years, plus a shady corporation and, naturally, global undead carnage. The production values are sky-high, yet the story leans so hard into its own silliness that it’s impossible to take seriously. Watching the intro cinematic, I could only stare in bewildered amusement before diving into the action.
Right now, fully grasping this year’s Zombies mode feels just out of reach. So much depends on the community unraveling map secrets and strategies in the days ahead. At the moment, everyone is fumbling through the unknown, which brings a mix of excitement and irritation. Lingering issues from previous entries remain, like being unable to customize your loadout until you reach level four. If Zombies is your main focus, you’ll spend early rounds with a basic pistol, slowly earning enough points to buy better gear off the walls. It makes you nostalgic for the days when games let you jump straight into the fun.
Fundamentally, the Zombies loop hasn’t changed much. You explore, unlock new areas with earned currency, and hunt for Pack-a-Punch machines to upgrade your arsenal. You’ll find armor stations, an Arsenal for fine-tuning weapons, and Gobblegums offering temporary buffs, all while fending off relentless undead attacks. The moment-to-moment combat remains satisfying, especially sliding into a crowd and blasting them with a shotgun until nothing remains.
What’s new are the maps themselves. I’ve tried both round-based options, Ashes of the Damned and Vandorn Farm, and the Farm stands out as my early favorite. Ashes of the Damned appears tailored for players who enjoy complex Easter egg hunts, while Vandorn Farm offers a more straightforward survival gauntlet. My first run on Ashes ended comically when a silent teammate commandeered a truck, initially heading for the objective before opting to ram zombies until the vehicle blew up. The rest of us spent the match either chasing the truck or waiting for revives that never came. Let’s just say coordination is key.
Vandorn Farm delivers a classic horror atmosphere. Zombies dangle from barn rafters, the Mystery Box sits temptingly in a smaller shed, and a dilapidated farmhouse hosts a skeletal family frozen at the dinner table. Navigating its layered layout and discovering each hidden corner proved far more engaging than my time on Ashes. Still, we hit a wall when a mysterious infection growth we destroyed failed to respawn as expected. After reaching round eight with no new objectives, my teammates eventually quit, unable to decipher the next step. It’s a reminder that, while the setting is compelling, unclear progression can frustrate even the most determined players.
Ultimately, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies leaves me with mixed but hopeful feelings. The action is polished, the production lavish, and the potential for depth is clearly there, buried under layers of unanswered questions. Long-term success will hinge on how these maps unfold as players uncover their secrets. I’m eager to slice through the outer layers and discover the pulsating heart of this mode, hopefully without too much mess along the way.
(Source: IGN)
