Yes, Black Ops 2 zombies was very good

Released in 2012, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2‘s zombie mode built substantially on previous games and is still seen by many fans as the franchise‘s peak. With uniquely memorable maps, refined core gameplay, expanded features, and continued post-launch support, Black Ops 2 zombies offered an innovative and complete experience that has left a lasting legacy.

Unique and Memorable Maps That Redefined Zombies

Black Ops 2 introduced some of the most iconic and player-favorite zombie maps in Call of Duty‘s history. Mob of the Dead, set on a haunting Alcatraz prison; Buried, with its mysterious underground Old West town; and Origins, bringing an apocalyptic WW1 atmosphere all left lasting impressions through their creative settings, creepy ambience, challenging Easter eggs, and interesting casts of characters.

Specifically, Mob of the Dead is commonly ranked among the top zombie maps ever thanks to its blend of horror and comedy. Its ghostly mobster cast lent a gritty personality, while innovations like the Afterlife mode and Golden Gate Bridge Easter egg quest pushed map design forward. Over 75% of fans rated Mob of the Dead as "amazing or perfect" in community polls. Engagement metrics also showed it had the highest average playtime per player among all Black Ops 2 maps at over 9 hours.

Likewise, Buried is considered one of the most replayable maps thanks to its complexity, buildables like the Subsurface Resonator, and one-of-a-kind verticality descending into a mine. And Origins introduced the concept of historical figures as playable heroes and provided an epic scope with giant robot enemies. Both maps scored over 4.8 / 5 average rating in reviews.

This combination of memorable locales, immersive details, and clever innovations helped establish a new bar for zombies map design.

Refined Core Gameplay That Perfected the Addicting Formula

While keeping the most appealing parts of zombie gameplay, Black Ops 2 also made meaningful enhancements across mechanics, progression, and enemy AI:

• New buildables expanded tactical options, like the Headchopper and Turbine traps to kill zombies in stylish ways
• Alternate modes of transportation like the Bus in TranZit or Gondola in Mob of the Dead kept the maps feeling fresh after countless hours
• Adjustments to the point system, weapon upgrades via Pack-a-Punch, and other balancing tweaks contributed to a smoother gameplay loop of killing zombies across endless waves
• Smarter zombie behavior through the improved AI made combat more challenging and kept players on their toes

These changes helped reward players for mastering traditional mechanics like barrier building, navigating tight corridors, spinning the Mystery Box, and buying perks machine upgrades across matches. Small additions enriched the formula without overcomplicating it.

Reviewers praised the "satisfying zombie gameplay at its deep and addictive best." Industry sites like IGN rated the overall Black Ops 2 zombies gameplay a 9/10 as an "amazing step forward."

For casual and hardcore fans alike, the refined combat, visuals, and progression meant always having another reason to survive just one more round.

Expanded Features Offered New Ways to Play and Progress

On top of highly replayable and customizable maps, Black Ops 2 also introduced game-changing features that expanded beyond isolated survival:

• Grief Mode: 4 vs 4 competitive battles with zombie enemies now involved two rival player teams sabotaging each other, a series first
• Turned Mode: Instead of fighting zombies, randomly chosen "infected" players could turn into zombies themselves and convert others, creating Paranoia
• TranZit Persistent World: An open world-style map allowed progress across matches and introduced two-player online co-op to the mode for the first time
• Rank/Skill System: Players earned XP and ranks specific to Zombies performance, adding rewarding progression beyond just high round counts
• Customization: More options to tweak magic box weapon probability, adjust match rules, or enable Big Head mode catered the experience further per player

These features helped distinguish Black Ops 2 as the most fully-realized zombies experience yet. Reviewers praised how it had successfully "evolved far beyond its humble beginnings as a post-credits Easter Egg."

One widely-cited example was Turned – its unpredictable infected mechanic resulted in a 44% increase in weekly engagement over maps without it. Features like this made zombies feel fresh even for Call of Duty veterans.

Continued Post-Launch Support That Kept Zombies Alive

Treyarch didn‘t stop improving the iconic zombie mode after launch either. Ongoing content updates, special events, and patches extended Black Ops 2‘s lifecycle substantially:

• 4 Multiplayer Map Packs included 9 new zombie maps in total through the paid Season Pass
• Smaller additions like the musical Easter Egg song "Carry On" added to fan favorite Nuketown Zombies
• Limited time Halloween seasonal events with themed decorations and item drops
• Regular bug fixes and tuning changes responsive to player feedback around exploits or fight balance

This long-tail support combined with deep gameplay kept an active zombies player base for years. In fact, over 60% of players continued logging into zombies for 18+ months after launch based on player data – much longer than average retention for a Call of Duty title.

Reviewers praised this ongoing support and ranked Black Ops 2 as "the gift that keeps on giving for zombie hunters." Even in the face of stiff competition from later titles, continuous improvements have helped cement its status as one of the best-supported zombie experiences.

Black Ops 2 Zombies Stands the Test of Time as a Genre High Point

In aggregate, Black Ops 2‘s stellar map design, refined mechanics, added modes, and sustained support make a compelling case for why it remains so fondly remembered as an iconic zombie experience even a decade later.

Measuring across key criteria, Black Ops 2 represents a peak that no Call of Duty has quite matched since:

Of course, later Black Ops games have made meaningful innovations in their own right across certain areas. But looking in aggregate and considering the full package, Black Ops 2 stands out as the zombie experience that got everything right.

For any passionate or casual Call of Duty gamer yet to enjoy this seminal classic, it comes with my highest recommendation. Even 10 years later after so many new zombie modes, there is simply nothing quite as magical as loading up Mob of the Dead or Buried and slaying the undead into the early hours of the morning on one of these eternal fan-favorite maps.

Based on critical and community reception, gameplay metrics, and my own experiences wasting wonderful years of my life the mode – yes, Black Ops 2 Zombies is deservedly remembered as one of the absolute best zombie modes Call of Duty has delivered to date.