Highlights

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is bringing back round-based Zombies, promising a return to the mode's roots with its October launch.
  • The new Zombies map 'Terminus' is drawing comparisons to beloved past maps like Mob of the Dead and Zetsubou No Shima, as it is taking place in a prison like the former and on an island like the latter.
  • Expectations are high for Terminus to stand out with unique features like the Omnimovement system and interactive elements, but its similarities to these classic maps means that Treyarch has to deliver a truly special experience.

Call of Duty's Zombies mode has been one of the most consistent highlights of the franchise since its introduction all the way back in 2008's World at War. With an incredibly simple premise and general gameplay loop, but plenty of in-game upgrades, weapons, and strategies, Call of Duty's Zombies mode has managed to remain both accessible and replayable. That being said, the last few Call of Duty Zombies modes haven't offered the type of experience that fans originally fell in love with, and while it's nice to see developers try to experiment with the mode, it's much nicer to see Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 return Zombies to its roots.

Confirmed in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Xbox Showcase Direct, round-based Zombies is back, and it already sounds very promising. Two maps are already confirmed to be coming to Zombies upon its launch in October, those being named 'Terminus' and 'Liberty Falls.' Not much is known about these maps at the time of writing, but Terminus is already drawing some interesting comparisons to past Zombies maps, which could be both a blessing and a curse.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Terminus Map Has a Lot to Live Up To

Black Ops 6's Terminus Bears a Striking Resemblance to Some Beloved Past Zombies Maps

There's been no official description or breakdown of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Terminus Zombies map just yet, but fans did get a few brief glimpses of it during the recent Black Ops 6 Direct. The focal point of an exceptionally short montage of gameplay snippets, Terminus is throwing Black Ops Cold War's Dark Aether crew into some kind of large-scale prison placed atop an island in the middle of the sea.

Already, this minimal description of the map is enough for many long-time Call of Duty players to start drawing comparisons between it and Mob of the Dead, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC Zombies map set on Alcatraz. Mob of the Dead has gone down as one of the most beloved Call of Duty Zombies maps of all time, boasting an electrifying gothic horror atmosphere, some satisfying map-exclusive weapons, and a genuinely rewarding story Easter egg. It'll be impossible for fans not to draw comparisons between Mob of the Dead and Terminus, and that puts some very high expectations on Black Ops 6's new Zombies map.

But the comparisons don't end there. Based on the reveal trailer, it also seems like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Terminus island map will be set somewhere in the Pacific, with palm trees adorning the map's borders. There have already been a few Call of Duty Zombies maps set in the Pacific, such as Shi No Numa and Zetsubou No Shima, both of which are also pretty tough acts to follow. Zetsubou's island setting makes it a particularly apt comparison, too, and though it was outclassed by BO3's other maps, Zetsubou is still a fairly popular experience overall.

Fans will find out more about Terminus and the other Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies map during the Call of Duty NEXT event on August 28, 2024.

How Black Ops 6's Terminus Can Stand Out From Past Zombies Maps

With some pretty lofty expectations already present for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Terminus map, it's vital that Treyarch finds some way to make the map stand out on its own. One of the best ways to do this would be honing in on Black Ops 6's new Omnimovement system. This new movement system allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction, and Terminus' level design should have been built from the ground up with this in mind.

It's important to also ensure that Terminus has plenty of unique features and mechanics such as special Perks, Wonder Weapons, and elements of the map that can be interacted with. For instance, it seems as though Terminus' large island cannon will be able to suck enemies into its line of fire, which is a good start.