ThroughoutCall of Duty Zombieshistory, there have been some maps that aren’t always considered a banger. Whether it’s a map that was released to great acclaim and opinions have soured over time, or the inverse, someCOD Zombiesmaps belong in a category of their own for how polarizing they are to the community, providing divisive rankings for every fan.
While every veteran ofCOD Zombieshas their own tier system when it comes to some maps, the ones listed below are those that are often seen in a mixture of different rankings. Whether it’s near the top or near the bottom, it seems the world can’t agree completely on what makes these makes good or bad.
6Five
Tight Corridors and a Lacking Wonder Weapon Make This Atmospheric Map a Challenge
A cast of political figures like Castro, Nixon, and JFK take the stage in Five, a map set deep within the Pentagon. Despite the deeper intrigue and political mysteries present in Five, the map itself has always been seen as a tad divisive due to its tight corridors and lack of fluid spots to train zombies without quickly being overrun.
Five’s Wonder Weapon, the Winter’s Howl, also holds strong as one of the weakest guns, and as players attempt to get to high rounds, they eventually will find themselves cornered and overwhelmed, or with a lack of weapons due to the Pentagon Thief. There’sa lot to love about Five’s atmosphere, but a desire for something more in its layout.
5Shangri-La
Traps and Unique Zombie Types Create a Hardened Experience
Entering into the tropical jungles of Shangri-La, players havea new playground to enjoy. A map brimming with atmosphere and attention to detail, Shangri-La cannot be faulted for its creativity, but it can be faulted for its mechanics which can get a tad too annoying in the long run, especially when playing with randoms.
Shangri-La is one of the few maps that requires all players to work together to open Pack-a-Punch. Not once, but every time someone wants to use it. Monkeys can steal power-ups, which is interesting, but obnoxious in high rounds, and the traps set about the map deter already tight training spots, as well as being constantly interrupted by napalm and banshee zombies.
4TranZit
A Map Divided With Lava and Fog Which Makes Accessibility Difficult
Arguably the most divisive map inCOD Zombieshistory, TranZit has its avid supporters and its avid haters alike. The map itself was daring and ambitious but was clearly held back by theBlack Ops 2engine on PS3 and Xbox 360. The large areas were dense in fog and had Denizens slow players down who dared to run outside the bus. Those who wouldn’t dare venture through the map without being on the bus could be left for dead if they miss their ride,leading to a long wait timebefore it returns.
TranZit did have some innovative systems, like buildable workstations, but it also lacked desirable content, like the Jet Gun that could be crafted but was always a waste of time and effort. Outside of the cool hellscape of TranZit, there is much that could be improved on modern hardware, but it’s still a map with layers of nostalgia for many, even if it can be stressful.
3Die Rise
A Vertical Map Where a Wrong Turn Ensures Death
Call of Duty Zombiesgoes vertical with Die Rise, a real Towers of Doom-type map where players must combat deadly hordes along dizzying heights that may just cost them their lives. An unrelenting horde of zombies and the necessity to watch where you step or else you fall to your death is quite the lethal combination and one that can get pretty tiresome after an easy game over.
Die Rise was a stressful time for theCOD Zombiescommunity, and many feared that the mode that they had fallen in love with was running out of steam due to too many creative ideas in the wrong direction, literally. Interesting systems and an incredible Wonder Weapon with the Sliquifier aside, Die Rise was just too difficult for the casual player and too frustrating for hardcore fans who missed thebenefits of PhD Flopperand grew tired of falling to their deaths.
2Alpha Omega
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4featured a list of polarizing maps on their own, but Alpha Omega most likely leads the charge. The first map to combine the Ultimis and Primis crews together, Alpha Omega would take players to Camp Edward, which was justan expanded remakeof Nuketown Zombies. A disappointment to some, but a fun challenge to others.
Alpha Omega’s upgraded Ray Gun MK2 variants were a lot of fun to use, and the story is great for those invested. However, the map layout is tight and hard to control, and the Nova Crawlers have new upgrades that can easily ruin games, to the point where it’s not worth venturing down below the map’s sub-levels in fear of running into one type that buffs zombies.
1Revelations
A Celebration of COD Zombies in One Giant Map, But Perhaps With Too Much to Do
Thefinale to the Primis storylineunfolds at the House, and players must defeat the ancient threat that has forsaken them throughout this saga. Revelations had an incredible build-up, and the potential within was high. What players received was a celebration ofCOD Zombies, fromWorld at WartoBlack Ops 3, with almost every map in attendance in some way, shape, or form.
Some love the fact that Revelations is a mash-up of allZombies maps from the past, whereas others aren’t the biggest fan of that fact. The mix of Wonder Weapons, locations, and lore, makes for a great map, but one without a lot of replayability due to its overwhelming size and lengthy set-ups for easter eggs and bonuses.
