A Hidden Gem in Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty: Black Ops fans have made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering a long-lost Zombies mode in the game, over 15 years after its initial release. This hidden gem was unearthed by a YouTuber known as JTAG, who found the mode in the recent PS4 port of Black Ops 1.

The newly discovered Zombies mode is a tower defense game, where players can place down turrets to stop hordes of undead from advancing through a maze-like map. This mode is reminiscent of Bloons Tower Defense, with players able to look down at the action from a bird’s-eye view. However, unlike the typical Call of Duty experience, players would also have been able to get on the ground and shoot enemies just like regular Call of Duty.

A Scrapped Experiment or a Lost Opportunity?

It’s possible that this mode was scrapped in favor of Dead Ops Arcade, a hidden Zombies mode in the original Black Ops game. Dead Ops Arcade was a twin-stick arcade shooter that players could access by using a secret computer terminal in the main menu of Black Ops. This mode became a cult classic and has returned in various Black Ops titles over the years.

Treyarch, the developers of the Call of Duty series, have experimented with the Zombies formula a lot over the years. It’s not exactly a surprise to see something like this turn up, given the studio’s history of pushing the boundaries of what Zombies can be.

The Origins of Zombies

The original Zombies mode in Call of Duty: World at War was made by a small team of passionate developers who were working on the project in secret. This team wasn’t officially sanctioned by Activision, and they used recycled assets from Call of Duty: World at War. There was zero guarantee that their creation would even make it into the final game, but once the team presented it to executives, they realized it was special and worth including.

The original Zombies mode has since become one of the most beloved pieces of the Call of Duty franchise. Its success can be attributed to its unique blend of action, puzzle-solving, and horror elements. The mode’s popularity has led to its return in various Call of Duty titles, including Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4.

What Could Have Been?

It’s likely that the tower defense mode was one of many experiments done to try and find more unique ways to expand the Zombies mode. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that this mode will ever return, but it’s cool to have a peek behind the curtain, especially when it’s remained a secret for such a long time.

This discovery is a fascinating look at the development process of Call of Duty: Black Ops and the creative decisions made by Treyarch. It’s a reminder that even the most successful games have abandoned features and ideas that never saw the light of day.