r/CODZombies • u/Erratic_Swarm • 10h ago
Discussion How would you make a standalone zombies game?
I want to know you guys would make your own version of zombies, in a way that either you prefer, or a way you think the general player base would prefer. With it being a standalone zombies game, theres so cross progression from other games, or other modes. Purely just zombies. I will start with my idea.
I think having a menu similar to black ops 3 zombies (not the futuristic style but the layout) would be a good start, while making a few QOL changes. I personally didnt like the forest panning screen after every match, always made it feel like it took forever to be able to start another. I would also bring a feature from BO4, being that you can see what character you play as before you start the match. I know some people prefer the randomness and not knowing who they'll get, but I personally liked being able to simply back out of the lobby and starting it again until I got the character I wanted instead if completely ending a game as it started (I never did this but some people do).
I believe going back to just a pistol starting weapon is best as well, with certain maps having a specific starting pistol like origins, not like how bo4 or ww2 did it with the "loadouts" and definitely not like modern zombies. The point system is another obvious thing that would go back to the classic style from bo1-3.
I think the maps and story should be something new. I know this may sound bad for some people given what they tried in cold war and so on. But they were also strapped to whatever the campaign story was. With this being only zombies, they could really do something unique witb characters that people can like. IWZ did this best I think for a non treyarch zombies. Even though the maps werent all great or good, they had a unique story that was entertaining and awarding when completing the Super EE.
I think each map should have a unique hud as well like what bo2 did with the last few maps. Along with their minimalism, also bringing back more unique voiceless for each character, letting us get a better idea of who they are as a person. Like unique lines for almost every type of gun and actions.
Here's a more controversial idea though. I think the idea of upgrading perks is good. Like better than what we had in classic games. However I think they should be done in-maps rather than through the menu and it carrying over to every game. I think perks like juggernog should have quests or requirements the player can do to "upgrade it" maybe have the player start with a 3 hit system, then jug makes it 5, then an upgrade makes it 6 and gives the shield the ability to be repaired at the table. Or even a 3rd upgrade that makes the shield more durable or whatever other kind of upgrade ideas you have. Something not too overpowered but rewarding enough. Make it so every perk has a use whether its the base perk or upgrade. Maybe a perk isnt as good as another on base level, but its upgraded version is better than that perk on its upgraded version, giving players more variety with how they choose their perks. Speaking of, id make the perk limit 5, like it is in IWZ, with a way to refund perks as well.
I think every map should have a perk that only on that map, as well as a perk that isnt on the map. Or maybe one perk has a completely unique upgrade thats only doable on a specific map.
The movement system would also be similar to bo3. I would add back PHD flopper as well, with it granting the player the ability to also dolphin dive along with sliding like you can in bo7, however only when you have the perk. And no tac sprint either, it doesnt belong in cod at all.
Perma perks are another thing I would like to see added back, like how they were done in bo2, not bo7. But maybe some newer ones. Like make some abilities that were affiliated with gobblegums their own perma perks.
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u/yzydynasty5 7h ago
Tbh rather than that I would just add dlc to bo7 with remastered maps, and customizable rules, ( a choice between bo1-bo7 perk/points/health system)
And for a menu, I think redoing the bo2 earth menu would be the best, obv for off earth maps some adjustments would be needed
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u/moneymizzler 7h ago
I would love a Fallout style game with zombies characters. Maybe after the earth gets nuked and there’s pockets of survivors. I would love more story about the Flesh.
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u/RinnaVera 6h ago
Hard reboot, first map is Tranzit remade but also make it a multiplayer hub that's just super duper casual zombies that tracks progress as a way to test out guns, tools, and characters without actually playing the game.
Armor would be overshield that has 3 tiers, tier 1 is what you start with, tier two is either bought/built or jugg, and tier 3 is both. You gain it by maintaining 100% of health then zombie killstreak, 2 armor points every kill after 25 kills without taking damage, full three armor is 90, new cod rules where if you shoot a zombie and your friend kills it, it counts.
Cursed mode would be the first Alternate mode but with a bunch of other modes like rogue run, and grief, and the l4d2 pvp mode but with EEs
Rotate between new maps and remade maps but every remade map has +1 main Easter egg that has to be done with a separate crew other than the canon one so that when we finally reach the dark aether we can retcon 75% of it and do a the bo7 storyline but better with a coherent connection with the story, but also the old remade maps build upon storylines that werent told until remakes or later in the game like Veruckt or Five.
Every season introduces 8 operators and a new era of guns, bunch of goofy fun shit like kill fx, camos, and fun skins since it's PvE we don't really need to care about what goes on. Focus on nostalgia bait and mid maps first season so that the hype of the game gets the ball rolling, and immediately crash season 2 with a Primis season and origins. If the game succeeds enough and we get through the DA plot and people ask what's next we test the waters with a new spin off story about complete unrelated randoms who had what it takes to survive 2025 moon explosion zombie uprising and escaping the universe.
The game would be based on longetivity and in game purchases like a paid PvE version of Warzone so in my perfect world seasons would last half a year.
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u/Practical-Sock-4467 8h ago
STANDARD MODE
6 Medium to Large round-based maps with a focus on strategic survival, exploration and Easter Eggs.
Each map would have their own unique Wonder Weapons, Enemies, Special Equipment and Perk selection with a perk limit of 8.
Bring back some challenge to early rounds and balance gameplay progression.
Hit based point system and limited loadout weapons or let players retrieve their chosen loadout through an in-game quest or purchase.
Bring back augments but with even more options but players must upgrade their perks in-game (only once or twice).
I’d prefer no rarities or armour but would love unique shields to come back.
I also think some kind of Developers Commentary mode would also be fun, letting players free explore each Standard map, picking up power ups that give insight into the making of the map.
And some type of Super Easter Egg should also exist.
SURVIVAL MODE
6 Small round-based maps focused on casual zombies killing fun, allowing players to get overpowered faster than standard.
Instead of small areas from Standard maps, I’d like to see original maps for this mode that serve as “companion maps”.
Imagine the village below Der Eisendrache as a survival map or a sinking ship off the coast of Zetsubou.
No Easter Eggs or focus on story, just survival. Ammo Crates, Full Loadouts, the Wunderfizz and some kind of trial system would be unique to this mode.
No perk limit and perks would be automatically upgraded on initial purchase.
DAMNED MODE
Similar to Cursed but more of a fully World at War style classic mode with a 2 hit-down, a 4 perk limit and a very limited hud. A true challenge mode!!
Taking place on the Standard maps (maybe survival maps too), I’d love this mode to be a celebration of past zombies games with ways to unlock old features like the double PAP system from BO3, the weapon locker from BO2, a 5th perk slot that would be upgraded on purchase (mix of the IW and BO4 perk system).
I like the idea of relics returning but I’d love to have a “relic run” mode that gives you a random relic modifier every few rounds.
OPEN WORLD CAMPAIGN
In a standalone Zombies game, I’d love an apocalyptic war-torn open world with lots of side quests, contracts, Easter eggs and a linear single or co-op story.
Similar to Fallout, Destiny or Borderlands but with zombies and instead of buying perks as usual, players would have skills trees based on the 10 - 15 perks we now have.
Weapon rarities and the armour system would fit great exclusively to this mode too.
MULTIPLAYER
I don’t really play multiplayer that much but I think a Standalone Zombies game would need to have something.
This could be as simple as standard COD multiplayer taking place on more apocalyptic style maps.
But I think there should be a stronger focus on PVP game modes like Infection and Hordepoint.
EXTRAS
I don’t have an issue with directed mode returning but I think it needs tweaked.
I also think we should see a rotation of fun arcade modes like Grief, Zombiebattle, Rouge Run, Seasonal modes and more
If the game was received well enough or treated like a long-term live-service game, then I’d love to see Remasters of old maps gradually added.
Sorry for the long reply. Hope that all makes sense.
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u/Sarcastic_Rocket 10h ago
Make a "story mode" that has the aether, chaos, and dark aether maps on chronological order. Add cut scenes between each map to make them like levels. Add small eggs or tasks to the early maps without complete able eggs. Have the story mode have an easy, regular and hard mode. Easy guides you through the main easter eggs. I know this sub gets all offended about handholding and easy eggs but some of the maps are impossible for the average joe to figure out on their own without a YouTube video. Then after they do easy they can do regular mode if they want. Hard mode adds a few steps, lowers player health and makes the RNG less favorable.
Then have a free play mode with every map, gun, wonder weapon, boss, movement system, armor system, able to be added to each map or toggled on and off. Like an extended version of the Bo4 custom mutations.
Then have every map have every side game possible as well.