Revive the Thrill: A Call of Duty: Black Ops Reboot Resurrects a Legendary Classic!

Highlights

Rumors suggest that the upcoming installment of Call of Duty, set to release in 2024, will be based on the Gulf War. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether it will be a continuation of the Black Ops series or a fresh start.

In the original Black Ops game, players were amazed by the impressive Easter egg found in the menu. This unique feature allowed players to break free from a chair and venture into a hidden room.

Reviving this type of Easter egg for a potential reboot would be thrilling, although its effectiveness might be diminished if the 2024 game is a sequel.

While indications strongly indicate that Call of Duty 2023 will be a Sledgehammer-led installment in the Modern Warfare franchise, rumors surrounding the series' 2024 release have been all over the place. Initial leaks suggested that the game would feature a partially futuristic setting, akin to 2012's Black Ops 2. A Gulf War backdrop has also been heavily speculated, along with the possibility of a game set in the current timeline or even a reboot. If a reboot does come to fruition, it would be highly recommended to bring back the menu Easter egg from the original Black Ops game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops’ Menu Escape Sequence Deserves a Comeback

The original Black Ops game didn't disappoint when it came to entertaining gamers with its multitude of exciting Easter eggs. On the multiplayer side, the first ever hidden RC-XD track in Nuketown was uncovered, while the Zombies mode introduced players to the captivating main quest Easter eggs. Not to mention, the campaign held its fair share of secrets, such as the concealed Thundergun that allowed players to launch bodies through the air in Kowloon. But the ultimate surprise was the main menu revelation, seamlessly connecting with the game's narrative and leading to a series of clever surprises. A reboot of the game simply wouldn't be complete without resurrecting this fantastic secret.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops, the narrative centers around Alex Mason and the CIA's relentless efforts to undo his brainwashing. Jason Hudson plays a crucial role in this pursuit, as he communicates with Mason through disguised voices and concealed appearances. These secretive exchanges take place throughout the game's campaign, while Mason is physically restrained in a chair. Notably, the game's menu system cleverly encompasses Mason's captivity, presenting players with TV screens to select various game modes and granting them the ability to manipulate Mason's character within the confines of the room.

Treyarch not only designed a main menu that perfectly suits the game's Cold War aesthetic and gritty narrative but also included a fascinating surprise for curious players. By rapidly pressing the triggers on their controller, gamers could witness Mason breaking free from the chair and explore the room where he was held captive. Venturing towards the back of the location, they could interact with a terminal, assuming the roles of various characters and entering codes to discover additional Easter eggs.

These codes served different purposes, all of which added to the entertainment value. One code granted access to the cult classic Dead Ops Arcade mini-game, while another instantly unlocked all campaign missions, regardless of whether players had completed the story. A separate code disabled Trophies and achievements but provided access to all the intel, a useful feature for lore enthusiasts who preferred not to search for videos or collect documents themselves. Arguably the most exciting code allowed players to play the game Zork within the Call of Duty universe, creating a delightful homage to retro gaming through the terminal's functionality.

Just like the Reznov detail in the game, Treyarch was aware that not everyone would notice this clever chair escape secret. However, they still made the effort to incorporate the Easter egg into the game. This gamble paid off, as many fans discovered the secret either through word of mouth or while browsing the internet. Replicating this kind of Easter egg in 2024 would undoubtedly be successful, considering the influence of social media and how quickly information spreads. Nonetheless, it would be challenging to execute without a reboot.

Black Ops has already focused on protagonists who are mentally unstable, such as the tormented Alex Mason and the player-created Bell, both of whom were victims of brainwashing. With that in mind, reintroducing this twist for a third time in the existing Black Ops storyline would feel repetitive, making it unlikely for a character to find themselves tied to a chair in a sequel's main menu. However, a proper reboot that follows the key elements of the original Black Ops could easily bring back this Easter egg, with Treyarch recreating the iconic main menu in a modern Call of Duty engine.