Hello and welcome to the Nuketown map we all love, zombified. A version of Nuketown has appeared in every Black Ops game since the original in 2010, and every one of them has been adored by fans. There is just something about the small area, with a few houses and large vehicles in the middle, that we just can’t get enough of. On Black Ops II, we were gifted a special map: Nuketown Zombies.
The bright blue sky was replaced by darkness, and blood was smeared all over the walls and vehicles. It’s the map we always cherished, but with zombies chasing you. It had all the makings of being a success, but was Nuketown Zombies as good as it should have been?
How Many Rounds Would You Last in the Ring with a Pro Boxer?
I doubt many people remember this map, but if you do, you’ll remember how difficult it was.
If you wanted a quick zombie experience where everything is easily accessible, then Nuketown Zombies is the map for you. That’s if you make it that far. Quick doesn’t mean easy. Due to the map being so small, it doesn’t take many zombies to trap you in the corner. For some reason, one strike from the dead is the equivalent of taking a jab to the face by Tyson Fury. The movement hit you get when struck by a zombie is lethal, so your concentration has to be perfect for you to avoid being touched.
The only guarantee you have is that a nuclear bomb will destroy the map at the end of every game. Everything else is unlikely. Due to certain areas of the map being so tight, you have to make every point count in the early rounds. That way, you can open up as many doors as possible to expand your safe areas. Accidentally picking up a Nuke doesn’t help with point accumulation, though! My first game lasted just three rounds. Then I witnessed the inevitable nuclear bomb falling from the sky. It was time to lean forward.
Let’s Try that Again
There was no way I was disrespecting the game like that again. I decided to pick up the M14 for extra firepower early on. The iconic Nuketown sign counts down from one hundred. Every time it reaches zero, something happens.
A machine fell from the sky, and I was relieved to find that it was Quick Revive. The song is a banger! As a safety precaution, I collected the perk and was ready to fight the dead.
After a few uneventful rounds of tactically opening doors, I found myself spending my hard-earned points at the Mystery Box. Unfortunately, it wasn’t kind to me. There were only so many times I could reject the knife before I had to give in and accept it. With no strong weapons, I became surrounded by the dead. Through some miraculous movement, I managed to escape the horde. One more hit, and I would’ve been down. With my screen pulsing red, I ran for my life!
All I Need is a Ray Gun in Nuketown Zombies
Frustrated, I was forced to spend thousands of points on the Mystery Box, dodging snipers and all, until I was finally given two satisfactory guns. The HAMR is probably the best weapon you can hope for in Nuketown Zombies, and when I Pack-a-Punched it, the undead didn’t stand a chance. Juggernog and Double Tap had fallen from the sky. All I needed was Speed Cola to complete the set, but it never appeared. I even had time to open the lorry doors and purchase the Bowie Knife. This was a decision I came to regret, as now the zombies had a shortcut, a direct route to the flesh they so desired.
At long last, I finally acquired the Ray Gun from the mystery box.
Mesmerised, I pulled it out and began shooting at my enemies. Strangely, it was useless. I needed a gun that would clear the way while the rest of the zombies joined the horde chasing me, but it kept missing its target. I changed back to my trusty HAMR, but it was too late. An army of zombies had smothered me, and even Quick Revive couldn’t save me. Round seventeen was all I could manage.
So, was Nuketown Zombies as Good as it Should Have Been?
Seeing the iconic Nuketown map, which is usually pristine in colour and texture, all apocalyptic and swarmed with zombies, is a wild experience. If you think of the major aspects that everyone loves about Zombies: gaining the perks, acquiring the best guns and upgrading them, being able to kill hordes of zombies easily, then it has it all.
Everything you’ve ever wanted is within the opening of only a few doors.
Being so simplistic, what the map lacks is personality. The difficulty doesn’t help. Surviving to a high round feels almost impossible. Yet, even if you do manage to set yourself up with everything you need, and you’re a zombie expert who never dies, you’ll probably just end up bored. Once you have everything you need, there is nothing else to do. There are no other objectives to complete, like turning the power on or completing meaningful ‘Easter Eggs’. It’s just you and hordes after hordes of zombies, until the inevitable nuclear bomb falls from the sky. For an idea with so much promise, unfortunately, it just doesn’t work.
Verdict
My overall rating of Nuketown Zombies is 6/10.
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