Call of Duty Zombies has had a number of interesting features over the years, though not all have stuck with the mode as it has evolved. While Pack-A-Punch and Perk machines have become fixtures of the mode, concepts like Black Ops 2’s Persistent Perks and Black Ops 3’s Gobblegum have been left in the past.
One interesting but forgotten feature was seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies. Given how divisive the mode was for Call of Duty fans, as some could not get over the game’s buggy launch, ugly HUD, and changes to the perk system, it is not too surprising that said mechanic is rarely talked about today. However, the optional filter setting from Black Ops 4 Zombies is something that should absolutely make a comeback, as it adds some variety to a mode that many play for hours on end.
Treyarch’s Next CoD Zombies Mode Could Take Filters To The Next Level
Whether it is in Call of Duty 2024 or the standalone CoD Zombies game rumored to drop next year, it would be nice to see filters make a return. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, there was an option to toggle on Zombies Cartoon Mode. This filter reduced gore and swapped the game’s realistic art style for a cel shaded approach reminiscent of the Borderlands series. This filter allowed every map to be viewed in a new light, which was interesting.
Prior to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Treyarch had experimented with filters in Zombies. The classic Black Ops map Ascension, for example, started in black and white. Players then needed to hit the power switch to bring color back to the map. Further, in the beloved Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Shadows of Evil included an easter egg where players could trigger a Noir filter. This would make the game black and white, fitting with the map’s 1940’s aesthetic.
A future Zombies experience could not only bring back the Cartoon Mode filter from Black Ops 4 Zombies, but it could also add the Noir filter to the menu. Not being forced to carry out an easter egg to activate the filter could push more players to mess with the black and white color scheme, and being able to easily turn it off from the pause menu would be a great quality of life feature. However, more than just these two filters could be included.
A potential filter could actually be the result of a glitch in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Last year, someone stumbled upon a bug that made Die Maschine look like Madworld, with a black, white, and red color scheme creating a unique aesthetic. Another option could see Treyarch taking inspiration from Ratchet and Clank’s Pixelizer, a weapon that transforms enemies so that they look like they exited a 16-bit game. Seeing CoD Zombies’ characters, maps, and mini bosses in this blocky, old school style would be a treat, and many would likely mess with the filter if it were added.
At the end of the day, filters in Zombies are comparable to map-specific Zombies HUDs in the sense that they will never make or break an experience. Getting the core gameplay of the mode right is far more important, as is having plenty of meaningful content like maps and easter eggs. However, the filters that have appeared in past Zombies games were a lot of fun to play around with, and it would not hurt to see this form of content make a comeback in the next iteration of Call of Duty Zombies.