I’m someone who finds something to enjoy in most things, even projects I realize are deeply flawed. This outlook certainly applies toCall of DutyZombies, one of my favorite co-op experiences in gaming, as there’s no Treyarch-made survival map I truly hate playing. Even beyond Treyarch Zombies, I’ve found things to enjoy in everyCall of DutyZombies iteration. I loved the build-up to Exo Zombies’ surprise reveal, and its shake-up of the playable cast partway through.Infinite WarfareZombies’ Super Easter egg remains unmatched, while Zombies in Spaceland is a Treyarch-level creation.WW2Zombies' horror aesthetic was right up my alley as someone who adoresDead Space, which Sledgehammer developers played a part in creating. Even MWZ’s open-world experience had special moments like theAether Wormfight. However,VanguardZombies is harder to be positive on - though I actually think it has a redeeming quality.
To be clear,Call of Duty: VanguardZombies is the worst take on the mode in my eyes, just like it is for so many other fans. Having just two round-based maps - one of which was a remake and the other of which was a rework of an earlier release - was devastating. WhileVanguardZombies’ objective-focused experience could have worked as a secondary mode, it being the only form of Zombies inVanguardfor several months was inexcusable. The mode’s use of multiplayer assets was more extensive than in any other Zombies game, the demon-focused storyline jumped the shark, and there simply wasn’t a lot of depth to the experience. With all this in mind, I obviously wantBlack Ops 7Zombies to be more likeBO6and older Zombies modes than this one. However, I also thinkBO7could benefit from borrowing the one thingVanguardZombies nailed, and hasn’t gotten proper credit for because the mode itself was so heavily criticized: the Altar of Covenants.
Why Vanguard Zombies’ Altar of Covenants Was So Great
EssentiallyCoDZombies’ twist on the roguelike genre, the Altar of Covenants was a mechanic that saw players gaining sacrificial hearts for completing tasks within a match. Players could only have 3 Covenants equipped at a time, with their quality increasing from Rare to Epic to Legendary as the rounds progressed. Each tier provided significantly stronger abilities, with some of the potential buffs provided by these covenants being incredibly useful, such as:
Sure, not every Covenant was particularly unique - some were just versions of ammo mods likeDead Wire- but the ones that were fresh added variety to the gameplay. Brimstone was a great take on the classic thorns buff, for instance, while Death Blow rewarded accurate players. A match could play completely differently depending on whether the Altar offered Swift Vengeance or Unholy Ground, as gamers would have to switch between training or camping depending on what appeared. ThoughVanguardZombies itself was so limited on content that this system never got to shine to its fullest, it truly was a brilliant addition that I’m desperate to see featured in a better game.
While there were only 11 potential Covenants, at launch more were added as part ofCall of Duty’s post-launch seasons.
How Black Ops 7 Zombies Could Bring Back the Altar of Covenants
ThoughVanguardZombies shifting its focus back to round-based after launch meant a change in priorities that saw the Altar of Covenants fading into obscurity, it’s the perfect type of content for a seasonal system. Even in Seasons with no new Zombies map, fresh Covenants could be added alongsideGobblegums, Field Upgrades, and Ammo Mods.Black Ops 7Zombies is rumored to be exploring the Dark Aether, too, so narratively, Treyarch can just have the Terminus crew stumble upon abandoned Altars found within the dimension. Mechanically, Treyarch would need to make few changes, simply awarding sacrificial hearts for completing SAM Trials (or theBO7equivalent of that feature). IfBlack Ops 7lives up to expectations and bring backs this concept, the one feature I enjoyed fromVanguardcould finally get the love it deserves, as its only crime was being tied to a bad Zombies mode.
