Call of Duty Zombies has evolved plenty over the years, and one way to look at this progress is by looking at how attachments have been incorporated. In the first two Black Ops titles, weapon attachments were limited to the Pack-A-Punch machine. From Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 on, gamers have had far more control, with weapon kits and loadouts letting fans assign attachments to their weapon of choice.
While this was a major step in the right direction for Call of Duty Zombies, Treyarch can still take the system a step further. One thing that the weapon customization system has lacked since it was introduced is customizable Wonder Weapons, and this is something that the next Zombies experience should strive to introduce. With a balanced approach, gamers could have more control over their matches without being too overpowered.
The Potential of Customizable Wonder Weapons in Call of Duty Zombies
When considering the potential of customizable Wonder Weapons in Call of Duty Zombies, the first thing that should jump out at players is the Ray Gun. The iconic weapon has been with the mode from the very beginning, and over the years it has evolved in a number of ways. The next Call of Duty Zombies mode can show appreciation for that history, allowing players to pick any version of the Ray Gun.
Through the main menu, players could modify their Ray Gun with a number of attachments. A three round burst option could make it function like a Ray Gun Mark 2, while any of the effects from Alpha Omega could also serve as possible alternatives. Even the Ray Gun Mark 3’s single, sniper like shot could be selectable, giving Gorod Krovi fans access to a fun throwback. For the first time ever, players could add camos to Wonder Weapons as well, customizing their gun so it looks unique before it is even upgraded.
The Ray Gun would just be the tip of the iceberg, as fans have seen countless Wonder Weapon variants over the years. The Blundergat’s Acidgat and Magmagat forms could be selectable through weapon kits, as could the Thundergun’s Tundra Gun style or the Wunderaffe DG-2’s DG-Funkenschutze variant. Even the Chaos Story boasted versions of its Wonder Weapons, with all the elemental Krakens being possible loadout choices if that storyline ever made a return.
This could extend to equipment as well. The classic Monkey Bomb’s have been upgradable in the past, with a powerful dubstep version able to be unlocked. This could be a loadout option, with other upgrades including a longer countdown before the Monkey Bomb detonates or a deadlier explosion once it goes off. Even the Time Bomb from Buried could be customized through something like a second charge, with the Matryoshka Doll’s able to take on the form of different crews if a certain camo is chosen.
From a Jet Gun that does not break to a Paralyzer that swaps out infinite ammo for a higher damage output, the sky is the limit for Wonder Weapon customization. While there is no telling which of the aforementioned guns will return, new Wonder Weapons would benefit just as much from customization options. If players could level up Wonder Weapons and unlock new attachments just like with normal guns, there would be more depth than ever before. As long as Treyarch gives each attachment a downside of some kind through the Gunsmith and does not allow players to spawn in with these custom Wonder Weapons, they would remain balanced. The only difference would be more gameplay variety, which is something that will always be crucial to the success of Call of Duty Zombies.