Unleashing Chaos: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies' Extraction Gameplay Revealed!

Highlights

Modern Warfare 3 introduces changes to the Zombies mode, including a shift to an open-world PvE map inspired by Black Ops Cold War's Outbreak.

The larger scale and higher number of players in the Zombies mode may offset the shorter matches, but there is a potential for it to be seen as too simplistic.

The inclusion of the exfil mechanism in Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode introduces a new mission-based objective, providing players with specific targets to accomplish within a set time frame. However, this alteration could have both positive and negative implications for the upcoming game.

Zombies have become a beloved theme in media, captivating fans who can't seem to get enough. The Game of Thrones' Nightwalkers and The Last of Us TV series have garnered praise for their compelling performances, showcasing the continued support for this genre. Notably, zombies are a common fixture in gaming as well. The Resident Evil 4 Remake, for instance, has received excellent reviews, while the Call of Duty franchise has explored different aspects of these mythical creatures since its World at War installment, particularly with the popular Nazi Zombies mode. Building upon this legacy, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 aims to take up the mantle once again with its Zombie Extraction gameplay, following the highly anticipated Black Ops Cold War.

Modern Warfare 3 has generated excitement within the first-person shooter (FPS) community, as it seeks to revolutionize the traditional Call of Duty experience through various feature tweaks. One such change can be seen in the Zombies mode, which draws inspiration from Black Ops Cold War's Outbreak. In a departure from the usual round-based survival format, MW3 introduces an expansive open-world player versus environment (PvE) map, touted as the largest ever featured in a Call of Duty Zombies game. While the inclusion of missions and a free play area holds promise, the length of matches in MW3 could potentially hinder the overall Zombies experience.

Modern Warfare 3's Operation Deadbolt Mechanics Put it in a Hard Place

After receiving mixed reviews for Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty is not holding back in making significant changes to its successor, MW3. The size of the Zombies map has been expanded, providing new opportunities, and the number of players in a single match has increased from four to reportedly 24. This has raised concerns about the playability dynamics. The maximum of 24 players is divided into four squads of six, and Operation Deadbolt is described as an open-world PvE combination of previous modes, Outbreak and DMZ. Rumor has it that each match lasts around an hour.

While the limited duration of Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode may relieve some expected pressure, it may not be a good thing. Zombies are usually easy to defeat individually, but the challenge arises when they become more numerous in later rounds. The reported duration doesn't allow enough time for the mode to become challenging, and this runs the risk of the Zombies mode in MW3 being perceived as too easy to be worth playing.

On the other hand, the introduction of the exfil mechanism in Black Ops Cold War as a replacement for traditional round-based challenges in Zombies mode can be viewed as a positive aspect. Previous Call of Duty games involved multiple rounds of Zombie killing, akin to something out of Terminator. However, Modern Warfare 3's Operation Deadbolt focuses more on mission objectives and reaching exfils in order to progress. This means that players are not just surviving mindless zombie attacks, but instead completing tasks in different areas of the map within a time limit.

The size of the map and the number of players also indicate a shift in the zombie horde dynamic. The increased enemy population can compensate for the reported time limit in MW3's Zombies. The sight of masses of undead mindlessly charging towards a hail of bullets has its own appeal that few can resist. While the gradual increase in difficulty in previous Call of Duty games was beloved by fans, Activision and Treyarch are taking a risk by incorporating extraction gameplay in Modern Warfare 3 to bring a fresh perspective to the franchise. However, without the usual player versus player elements and the traditional round-based Zombies experience, Operation Deadbolt could be a double-edged sword for the upcoming title.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.