In less than three weeks, Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies fans will be experiencing Der Anfang. The unique mode will be ditching the round-based style in favor of an objective-focused format that resembles a small-scale Outbreak mode, with classic locations like Shi No Numa also set to feature. Players will encounter demonic Dark Aether entities and fight a mini-boss that wields a massive machine gun, ensuring that this prequel story is an interesting one.
While those interested in Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies have a good idea of what to expect from new features like Sacrificial Hearts, there could still be some secrets that Treyarch has not yet revealed. While it is interesting to see so much innovation in this year’s Zombies nide, there are some great mechanics that fans have not had the chance to experience in a while. As such, Treyarch should consider pulling from the past to bring back some iconic features that were not seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
DLC Trophies For Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies
Perhaps the strangest omission in 2020’s version of Zombies was the lack of trophies and achievements for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s DLC maps. While some fans theorized that this was due to the switch to free post-launch maps, games like Overwatch have a similar model yet still provide new trophies once a hero is added. As such, there should be nothing stopping Treyarch from introducing new achievements whenever a Zombies map releases.
Obviously, not every gamer hunts after PlayStation’s trophies and Xbox’s achievements, but for those that do, such a gesture would surely be appreciated. Like in older Zombies maps, players could be rewarded for getting Wonder Weapon kills, completing side quests, and doing random objectives they would have never done otherwise. While calling cards still reward players for doing these kinds of things, some care more about their profiles outside of Call of Duty. As such, it would be great to see DLC trophies make a comeback.
Alongside being a nice incentive to see all that a map has to offer, trophies are a Zombies tradition. New achievements were added for Call of Duty: World at War maps like Der Riese all the way through Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. As such, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was the only Treyarch game to not have this feature, and it should be the last. Part of the fun that comes with the achievements is that they appear online shortly before a map’s release, giving fans a chance to theorize about some of the new play space’s features. Reviving that kind of community discussion would be a wise idea on the part of Treyarch, as it was odd to see this tradition broken with the latest Black Ops game.
A Gobblegum System For Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies
When Gobblegum was introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and then brought back as Elixirs in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies, fans automatically assumed that the feature would return in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. However, despite being a hit with the community and another avenue where COD Points could be spent, no such system was featured in the 2020 game. This was a genuine shame, as a major strategic element was removed from Zombies.
With Gobblegum, players could select five unique buffs that would randomly be rewarded from one of the machines scattered around each map. These buffs would provide brief invisibility and ammo regeneration, or instantly provide players with every single Zombies perk in the map. However, each spin was random and grew more expensive as the rounds progressed, meaning that Zombies players had to be smart about when they hit the machine and how many times they used it each round. Gobblegum could carry players into the high rounds if used correctly or be meaningless if used poorly, something that added tons of depth.
Players could spin for rare Gobblegum, and eventually, a cookbook system was added. This allowed players to combine their Gobblegum into something better, with recipes changing every day. As such, Zombies fans had a reason to log on daily and see what the new lineup was, even if they did not plan on playing an actual match. This made weaker Gobblegums useful, while the system as a whole added replaybility. While Sacrificial Hearts make a return of this feature less likely to happen in Call of Duty: Vanguard, it would still be nice to see Gobblegum included in some way - even if it is just the whimsical flavors that make the undead fly or force them to where rubber ducky floats.
A Zombies Chronicles Expansion For Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies
While Call of Duty Zombies’ new free DLC style makes a paid expansion less likely, a larger update that takes on the Zombies Chronicles name would be just as amazing to see. The original Zombies Chronicles made the already strong DLC season for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 even better, with the game going out on a high note. Players were given access to eight remakes, with all the fan favorite Zombies maps being given a fresh coat of paint. Playing and looking better than ever, the expansion was a huge success.
Given how well the first Zombies Chronicles performed, players felt Zombies Chronicles 2 was a no-brainer. Before long, rumors stated that it would becoming for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, but that never actually happened. Similar leaks appeared for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, but despite Treyarch making some nods to the potential maps, the DLC never came. Now, reputable insiders have claimed that the content is ready to go, with Call of Duty: Vanguard set to be the potential home of the long-rumored Zombies Chronicles 2.
With the Zombies Chronicles 2 map lineup likely to feature the beloved Western town of Buried and an improved version of the much-maligned TranZit, fans are hoping that the latest leaks are accurate. With hopeful players let down by the lack of Zombies Chronicles 2 in both Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Vanguard could finally deliver in a major way. With some already frustrated over the lack of round-based maps at launch, including these remasters could be a great way to win them over. While DLC trophies and Gobblegum would be great to see again, nothing could satisfy longtime players as much as Zombies Chronicles 2.
Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies launches November 5 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.