Does Zombies Chronicles Include Every Zombies Map?
No, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3‘s Zombies Chronicles does not contain every single Zombies map ever released across the various Call of Duty games. While it brings back eight of the most beloved maps from the early Black Ops Zombies storyline, there are still several iconic maps that are not included.
History and Development
Zombies Chronicles was released in May 2017 as premium DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. It was developed by Treyarch to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their first Zombies map, Nacht der Untoten.
The goal was to bring back the most iconic maps from the early Zombies storyline that veterans fondly remember and allow newer players to experience them on current generation consoles. The maps were visually remastered and optimized to take advantage of the Black Ops 3 engine and gameplay systems like GobbleGum.
While the team did an admirable job choosing eight of the most memorable maps spanning World at War to Black Ops 2, they unfortunately could not include every fan favorite due to development constraints.
The 8 Maps Included
Zombies Chronicles contains the following maps from Zombies‘ storied history:
Nacht der Untoten
The one that started it all. This simple two story building perfectly encapsulated the tense and chaotic gameplay that would define Zombies for years to come. While the remaster adds color and expands certain rooms, it retains the dark, creepy atmosphere that makes Nacht so special. The random weapon box spit out classic guns like the BAR and MP40 on days when ammo was scarce.
High round attempts often ended at the front stairs where the undead refused to stop climbing over each other. Turning on the power remains optional to this day – a true testament to how fun Nacht is in its simplicity. New visual details like an abandoned radio hint at a larger story that would soon unfold.
The first map that started the Zombies phenomenon
Verrückt
Verrückt cranked up the insanity from Nacht‘s debut. Set in a grim German asylum, its tight corridors crammed with barricades and perk machines forced frantic adaptability. The iconic electroshock and Wind tunnel traps made their debut here as vital tools for gaining breathing room.
Sadistic surprises like the random Perk-a-cola power switch often decided games on a whim. Verrückt also birthed many Zombies traditions such as the classic 4 player team and the quest for the musical Easter egg song. Few who fought to survive Verrüct‘s bloody halls will ever forget that demonic German laughter echoing through the Asylum.
The return to zombie chaos
| Map | Game | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nacht der Untoten | World at War | First ever Zombies map, introduced core survival mechanics |
| Verrückt | World at War | Signature Zombies perks and traps debuted here |
| Shi No Numa | World at War | First non-linear style map with expanded environments |
| Kino der Toten | Black Ops | Iconic map that refined the Zombies formula |
| Ascension | Black Ops | Introduced monkey rounds and iconic space setting |
| Shangri-La | Black Ops | Exotic temples contained innovative new traps |
| Moon | Black Ops | Space setting with low gravity and space suit gameplay |
| Origins | Black Ops 2 | Early storyline details. Innovative giant robot enemies |
Table: Summary of the 8 maps included in Zombies Chronicles
Based on my experience across all these maps, I would rank Kino der Toten as the most replayable map due to its balanced layout and varied tactics using traps. Ascension is a close 2nd thanks to the exciting monkey rounds breaking up the frantic action.
Noticeable Omissions
While the eight maps included capture many of the most memorable early Zombies experiences, there are still several player favorites that were left out of Zombies Chronicles:
Call of the Dead: This Antarctic island chain was a fan favorite for its star-studded cast fighting Romero style zombies. The George Romero boss battle and cool Wonder Weapons like the Scavenger made this map incredibly unique. Licensing issues surrounding its celebrity cast likely played a part in its omission.
Mob of the Dead: Set in a haunted Alcatraz prison, Mob pushed Zombies into intriguing new territory with its darker, morbid tones and introductions of the Hell‘s Retriever and Blundergat. The tight corridors teeming with the undead made it a heart-racing favorite. Again, legal issues likely benched this one.
Buried: Another unexpectedly innovative map allowing players to build maze-like passages to channel zombies. Introduced the paralyzing Time Bomb equipment and giant animatronic Ghost boss. Likely cut due to its more convoluted layout not translating well to Chronicles‘ round-based survival focus.
Die Rise: This Sinese skyscraper was loved and hated for its inverted gravity gameplay allowing players to explore the inverted floors above and below. It brought genuine thrills but was clearly cut for having less universal appeal.
Their omission is unfortunate, but likely due to a combination of legal constraints, design considerations, and scope limitations. Zombies Chronicles clearly focused on bringing back the maps centered on classic survival gunplay rather than complex storylines or gameplay gimmicks.
Verdict – Great Remasters but Not Complete
Zombies Chronicles succeeds in nostalgically repackaging much of what made the early Black Ops Zombies maps so groundbreaking and entertaining. The visual and mechanical overhauls allow a new generation of players on PS4 and Xbox One to experience these classic maps while introducing quality of life enhancements veterans will appreciate.
However it is missing several fan favorite experiences, especially from the later Black Ops titles. So while Zombies Chronicles is a gift that keeps on giving for die-hard Zombies fans, it does not include every iconic map in the 12+ year catalog. Players seeking the complete Zombies story and map roster will need to revisit the classic games or hope for an even more comprehensive remaster package down the road.
