Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was one of the most interesting entries in the entire franchise no matter which part of the game players look at. The campaign told a strong story that was only held back by its weak ending and Kevin Spacey’s involvement, which makes it difficult to return to. The multiplayer was instantly controversial due to the use of exosuits, as this led to large maps to accommodate the advanced movement. However, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s customizable killstreaks and character customization were terrific. As expected, Exo Zombies continued the trend of hit or miss content.
As fans of Treyarch’s classic Zombies mode waited for answers following Origins’ ending, Sledgehammer surprised the community by revealing that it would be delivering its own spin on the Zombies formula during Advanced Warfare’s DLC season. Though nearly everyone would agree that Exo Zombies was a significant step-down from the original Zombies mode, it did have its fans. As such, there is a case to be made for and against the mode’s return.
The Pros of Exo Zombies in Advanced Warfare 2
The actual reveal of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s Exo Zombies mode was very memorable, as players discovered a playable teaser for the content in the game’s Survival mode. This instantly led to excitement, as seeing hordes of Zombies attacking out of nowhere was something players did not expect to see in a non-Treyarch game. A star-studded celebrity cast including Jon Bernthal, Bruce Campbell, and John Malkovich got some interested in the story, even if most of the characters themselves were not incredibly interesting.
Exo Zombies’ maps were a mixed bag, as were its Wonder Weapons. Though players had a lot of fun with Descent, and the Easter eggs on Carrier were enjoyable, Outbreak was forgettable and Infection is widely considered to be the worst Zombies map in any version of the mode. The Pack-a-Punch system asking players to upgrade their guns 20 times (25 after the main quest was complete) was very tedious, and EMP Zombies were too annoying to justify their role as a tool to keep things balanced. Despite the flaws, there is a chance that a new Exo Zombies could fix all the problems while keeping what worked.
Pack-a-Punch being changed to resemble the traditional format, EMP Zombies being made less punishing, and more ambitious maps on par with Descent could all help a new version of the mode work. Though the infection and survivor assisting mechanics hindered the gameplay more than they helped, Sledgehammer attempting to innovate was a positive. A new Exo Zombies could continue to go in bold new directions that are usually not taken with Treyarch-made maps, while still keeping the round-based formula intact to avoid another Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies fiasco. An Exo Zombies map at launch could also help a new version thrive, as the original mode being exclusive to DLC owners limited its audience.
The Cons of Exo Zombies in Advanced Warfare 2
Though another installment of Exo Zombies could be a marked improvement over the original, it might not be worth the effort. While the character of Oz and the map Descent were bright spots, a majority of the mode was forgettable, and few would be interested in something similar. When players think of Call of Duty Zombies, they will likely always think of Treyarch’s maps and modes, as the studio has perfected the co-op gameplay it created. Sledgehammer, on the other hand, has delivered two extremely average Zombies modes during its tenure as a Call of Duty developer.
Though the third time could be the charm, Exo Zombies’ story is over, and telling a new one within the Advanced Warfare world is not a necessity. Sledgehammer may be better off putting its resources elsewhere, delivering more multiplayer content instead of focusing on a third game mode. Alternatively, if it does want to include co-op content, it could take after Infinity Ward and Call of Duty: Ghosts’ Extinction mode, crafting something that is entirely unique to Sledgehammer releases. Another shot at Zombies could end up feeling different in the wrong ways like the first Exo Zombies, or overly similar to Treyarch’s style like WW2 Zombies. With this in mind, doing something brand-new feels like the best route to take.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.