Call of Duty: ZOMBIES (originally known as Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies) is a spin-off game of the Call of Duty series based on the widely popular Nazi Zombies mode of Call of Duty: World at War. Developed by Ideaworks Game Studio and published by Activision for the iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad). It was released worldwide on November 16, 2009. The game allows for multiplayer cooperative gameplay locally via an ad hoc Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network, or globally through the internet. Originally, the game supported downloadable content, in the form of Verrückt and Shi No Numa. However, a future update made the two maps free.
Overview[ | ]
On February 11, 2010, Verrückt became available for in-app purchase for US$4.99/£2.99. On June 2, Shi No Numa was released for the same price.
On June 3, 2010, Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies II came out for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is the same app as the original, but instead comes with Shi No Numa instead of Nacht der Untoten, saving the user US$4.99/£2.99 if they were only going to play Shi No Numa. Nacht Der Untoten is downloadable through Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies II for the price of US$4.99/£2.99, but buying this map would make the two apps the same.
On September 30, 2010, an update included Der Riese for free, and made all previous maps free as well (no refunds were given for previous downloads). The app also changed its name to its current name: Call of Duty: ZOMBIES. Also the price of the app dropped from US $9.99 to US $4.99 (In Europe €3,99).
Call of Duty: ZOMBIES HD, available only on the iPad, only contains the maps Nacht der Untoten and Verrückt upon purchase.
Gameplay[ | ]
The goal of the game is the same as the console version, to survive the unending hordes of zombies for as many rounds as possible. Unlike the console version, player can change the difficulty to either Recruit, giving the player more health, or Regular, just like the console version. Zombies will walk, run, or crawl toward players and try to attack and kill them. Zombies can be killed in the same ways the player does in the console version:
- Shooting them
- Melee attack them with the knife
- Throw grenades
- Bouncing Betties
- Traps (not available on Nacht Der Untoten)
The zombies will knock down barriers from windows or from walls to get to players. These barricades can be easily repaired by players. There are also points, which can be used to buy weapons from chalk outlines on walls and using the Mystery Box. Points can also be used to buy new areas in the map, power-ups and trap usage, however the perks and traps are not available in Nacht der Untoten. The maps are almost completely the same as the console versions. The layout is exactly the same, but there are some differences in appearances. For example, the console version of Nacht Der Untoten has several shrubs and other foliage outside the building. In the iPod version, there is a forest of dead trees with no bushes in sight. Also, Der Riese has noticeably dense fog throughout the map, making it difficult to see very far. On the iPhone, some weapons reload faster and some reload slower due to certain weapons like the Thompson and Gewehr 43 not needing to be cocked back after the magazine is emptied. However, on the downside, the STG-44 and MP40 will always have to be cocked back even when the magazine is not emptied.
Controls[ | ]
There are three control schemes included with Call of Duty: Zombies. All three involve using a virtual control stick to move the character around and a button on the right for aiming down the sights. The default touch screen, aims by using the right thumb to manipulate the screen. The dual stick method is similar, but in this mode the player uses a second virtual stick to aim. The tilt method takes advantage of the iPhone/iPod Touch's built-in accelerometer. To switch the player's view, simply tilt the device left or right. Because of the stiffness of the controls, all weapons have received a damage boost.