Call of Duty’s Black Ops 7 has arrived with an unprecedented amount of toxicity within the fan base. In truth, players have known that the quality of the games has been decreasing for a long time at this point. Even so, every year, a new Call of Duty title is released. Yet, things really do feel different this time. So, what does that mean for the new Zombies map: Ashes of the Damned? Is it doomed from the start? Or is there a glimmer of hope among the rising darkness?
Have Black Ops 7 Zombies Learned from Black Ops 6?
I loaded up the game with high hopes that some lessons would have been learned. Before I’d even encountered my first zombie, though, I was disappointed. There was the same Loadout system from Black Ops 6, where you get to choose your own gun and any attachments you want on it. As I flicked through the options, I found that you can modify and upgrade almost everything. From perks to ammo to equipment, anything can be improved if you complete the right challenges. You can unlock Scorestreaks, and there are even multiple Pack-a-Punch cammos!
There is some great news, however. The original characters are back! It almost feels like a new level of laziness that the same characters feature from last year’s Black Ops game in Black Ops 7, too. Nobody in their right mind can surely pick to play as those nobodies when the option of playing as the legendary Richtofen, Takeo, and Dempsey exists. Or my personal favourite, Nikolai.
I decided to stick with my pistol, and with Nikolai as my companion, I loaded up the Cursed mode for a more authentic experience. It was time to see what Ashes of the Damned was all about.
Why does Ashes of the Damned feel Strangely Familiar?
The year is 2025, right? Then why do I feel like I’m playing Tranzit? Ashes of the Damned seems to be an ode to the legendary Tranzit map. The locations of the Farm and the Diner feel eerily familiar, and you travel from one destination to the other, not in a bus, but in a battered old car called Ol’ Tessie.
The first item that caught my eye was the Rampage Inducer, which makes the zombies terrifyingly aggressive. Deciding that I’m no longer the young, talented zombie killer that I used to be, I didn’t initiate the change in difficulty.
Killing zombies in the early rounds isn’t difficult, but your weapon quickly becomes insufficient. You can still buy ammunition from the Ammo Crates, which have had an interesting visual upgrade. Unfortunately, you will need a new gun as quickly as possible. So, after finding T.E.D.D’s Head and upgrading Ol’ Tessie, I bought Quick Revive and jumped in the car to explore the map in its entirety. Looking up into the sky, I noticed the blue light in the distance. This signals where the elusive Mystery Box is hiding, and I set off for the Farm.
In travelling between destinations, I’ve found that the best tactic is to run over as many zombies as you can to avoid them jumping onto your car. The orange-looking balls on the ground damage Ol’ Tessie, but the gold ones heal the car.
This knowledge doesn’t really make the journey any less perilous, though.
Turning on the Power Isn’t Easy if you’re a Complete Idiot
I arrived at the Farm with no points, a small amount of ammo, and a dream. To turn the power on, you have to remove all of the gunk from the machine within a certain amount of time. This isn’t so easy when a horde of zombies is chasing you. Once the machine is clear, you must remember to switch on the power with the lever. If you don’t, the whole process will have been a waste of time, and you’ll feel like a complete idiot when you try to buy a perk. Yes, I’m speaking from experience.
My time at the farm was very eventful, but eventually the power was on, and I approached the Mystery Box with a hint of optimism. I shouldn’t have.
After receiving some standard weaponry, I was greeted by the toy rabbit, which signifies that the Mystery Box will be moving to another location. Frustration.
Armour is available on the wall, and you can upgrade it each time you purchase it. There are some horrific scenes in Ashes of the Damned, with most of them featuring in the Farm area. I gained everything I could before setting off in Ol’ Tessie towards the next destination of Ashwood.
There was Only One Way to Take Down the Dreaded Bear
Ol’ Tessie only just survived the journey to Ashwood, and when I arrived, I had to scarper. I was in such a state of panic that I missed the zipline and plunged to a humiliating death. My weapons were starting to feel incredibly weak, but the Mystery Box was nowhere in sight. After some near misses, I knew I wouldn’t survive much longer without upgrading my guns. With the added bonus of finally finding Juggernog, I managed to upgrade Ol’ Tessie again. Pack-a-Punch was attached to the back of the car, and all I needed were some guns worthy of upgrading.
That pretty much sums up the rest of my journey. I travelled everywhere. From the Diner to the area with the rocket, and beyond in search of the Mystery Box. Throughout the entire game, the box remained unbearably stingy. No Ray Gun for me! I had no option but to Pack-a-Punch my XM325, but it still felt like a water pistol.
As soon as I was confronted by the terrifying Bear Zombie, I knew my time was running out. My weapons just couldn’t generate the damage required to beat the creature, and I found myself down.
Thankfully, you can Pack-a-Punch guns multiple times. After I had acquired as many points as I could, I used the Jump Pads to travel across locations until I had bought every upgrade possible. It was just me versus the beast.
My guns could finally match the Bear Zombie’s tenacity. I specifically targeted the bear’s growths, which were oddly filled with bees that attacked you if you were within reach. My aim had to be perfect, which it so often is, and I managed to exfil comfortably on round 26.
Does Ashes of the Damned Offer Hope for Black Ops Zombies?
Graphically, Ashes of the Damned is a massive upgrade on any Zombies map we’ve seen before. All of the colourings, textures and movements look sublime. As does the gameplay. The new movement makes it even easier to evade the hordes of zombies. With how smooth most of the weapons and equipment feel to use, it’s easy to see how players will get to ridiculously high rounds.
That’s if they don’t get bored and exfil. In a way, it’s unfortunate that Ashes of the Damned still feels like a more enjoyable experience of levelling up your guns than the fiasco of the Multiplayer mode. I did find myself asking whether any of the locations are worth staying in for too long. It definitely feels as though constantly travelling, whether with Ol’ Tessie or through the Jump Pads, is a better way to enjoy your experience.
All in all, Ashes of the Damned does feel like a step in the right direction for Black Ops Zombies. The iconic characters of our childhood have returned. Some of the locations are iconic (good old nostalgia), and the game looks and feels better than ever.
Verdict
My overall rating for the Ashes of the Damned Black Ops 7 Zombies map is 7/10.
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