Did Nova 6 Cause the Zombies in Call of Duty? Unraveling the Undead Mystery
The question of whether Nova 6 caused the zombie outbreak in the Call of Duty franchise is a complex one, often debated amongst fans. The short answer is: No, Nova 6 did not directly cause the main zombie outbreaks that feature in most Call of Duty Zombies maps. While Nova 6 is a terrifying chemical weapon in the Call of Duty universe and is linked to some zombie-like creatures, it is Element 115, introduced in World at War, that is the primary culprit behind the undead hordes.
The True Origin: Element 115
The core narrative of Call of Duty Zombies, primarily in the Treyarch developed games, centers around Element 115. This fictional element, derived from a meteorite discovered in Japan by Doctor Ludvig Maxis’s Group 935, is the catalyst for the resurrection of the dead. Group 935’s research into Element 115, intended to “improve the human condition,” took a dark turn when they discovered its ability to reanimate corpses. This discovery was the start of the zombie apocalypse as we know it in the Call of Duty Zombies storyline.
How Element 115 Works
Element 115, in the Call of Duty lore, possesses unique properties including the ability to affect temporal and spatial dimensions, but its most prominent effect is its power to reanimate dead tissue. This reanimation is what gives rise to the classic, shuffling zombies that players face in countless maps across the franchise. The initial outbreak, usually a result of experiments by Group 935, spreads via the reanimated corpses attacking and infecting living people.
Nova 6’s Role: A Secondary, Albeit Deadly, Factor
While Nova 6 isn’t the prime mover behind the general zombie outbreaks, it does have a crucial connection to a different type of undead. Specifically, Nova 6 is responsible for creating the “Creepy Crawlers,” also known as crawling zombies or mustard gas zombies. These are the small, fast, quadrupedal creatures that burst into a cloud of Nova 6 gas upon death.
Nova 6 Crawlers Explained
These crawlers are different from the shambling, reanimated corpses created by Element 115. Nova 6 crawlers are not reanimated by 115 but rather mutated by the exposure to the chemical agent. The dark green gas that Nova 6 manifests as has been shown to cause physical mutations in the infected, leading to these aggressive, explosion prone creatures.
The Chemical Weapon Itself
Developed by the Nazis during World War II, Nova 6 is a highly toxic nerve agent intended for deployment in V-2 rockets. Its effects on humans, as shown in the Call of Duty: Black Ops campaign, are gruesome. Upon inhalation, Nova 6 causes violent coughing, convulsions, bleeding from the eyes, skin necrosis, and a swift, agonizing death. The primary components of the gas are listed in game lore to be neodymium, rhenium, and sulfur.
The Interplay and Confusion
The confusion around Nova 6 and the wider zombie outbreaks arises because both are present in the lore, and both create different kinds of reanimated beings. The general zombies are a result of Element 115 exposure, while Nova 6 creates distinct crawlers with different behaviors and origins. These two elements, although not directly related in a cause and effect manner, often appear in the same areas within the same games, further creating potential confusion among fans.
No Direct Link To Element 115 Zombies
It’s important to emphasize that Nova 6 does not transform regular people into the main zombies of the game. The Element 115 mutation is what creates the main zombies, with Nova 6’s role being relegated to creating a subset of crawlers. Players will often encounter both types of undead in a single game, reinforcing the idea that two separate, if connected, causes are behind the total undead threat.
Conclusion: Two Separate Causes, One Undead Universe
In conclusion, while both are dangerous and terrifying, Nova 6 is not the direct cause of the zombie outbreak. It is Element 115 that holds that primary responsibility. Nova 6 plays a role in creating the crawling zombies, an equally dangerous but distinct threat within the Call of Duty Zombies universe. Understanding this distinction helps clear up one of the biggest confusions within the Call of Duty Zombies lore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Element 115 in Call of Duty?
Element 115 is a fictional element discovered from a meteorite, central to the Call of Duty Zombies storyline. It is the primary cause of the main zombie outbreaks.
2. What are Nova 6 Crawlers?
Nova 6 crawlers are small, fast zombies that crawl on all fours. They explode into a cloud of Nova 6 gas when killed, and are not reanimated by Element 115.
3. Where did Nova 6 originate?
Nova 6 was developed by the Nazis during World War II, intended as a chemical weapon.
4. What are the symptoms of Nova 6 exposure?
Exposure to Nova 6 causes violent coughing, convulsions, bleeding from the eyes, skin necrosis, and rapid death.
5. What is Nova 6 made of?
Lore documents state that Nova 6 contains at least neodymium, rhenium, and sulfur.
6. Does Nova 6 exist in real life?
There is a natural gas field named Nova, but the Nova 6 chemical in Call of Duty is fictional. It is based on known nerve agents and is not a real chemical.
7. Is Nova 6 a nerve agent?
Yes, Nova 6 functions as a nerve agent, similar to sarin or other real-world nerve agents.
8. Who created the zombies in Call of Duty?
The initial zombie outbreak was primarily caused by experiments with Element 115 by Group 935, led by Doctor Ludvig Maxis.
9. What are the main differences between Nova 6 zombies and the main zombies?
Nova 6 zombies are crawling, explosion-prone creatures, while the main zombies are slow, shambling reanimated corpses due to Element 115 exposure.
10. Which Call of Duty games feature Nova 6?
Nova 6 is primarily featured in Call of Duty: Black Ops, along with related zombies. It has not been seen in the Modern Warfare series.
11. Is Element 115 also a real-life element?
No, Element 115 as portrayed in the Call of Duty franchise is entirely fictional.
12. Is Nova 6 used as a chemical weapon in real life?
No, Nova 6 is a fictional chemical weapon and not based on a real substance used in warfare. However, it is based on the properties of real nerve agents.
13. Which is more dangerous in the game lore, Nova 6 or Element 115?
Element 115 is arguably more dangerous due to its large scale impact on causing zombie outbreaks. Nova 6 is extremely deadly in concentrated forms, but it is more contained and less likely to cause global outbreaks.
14. What Call of Duty games have the best zombies mode?
Many consider Black Ops 3 to have the best zombie mode, but others have favorites in games like Black Ops, World at War, Black Ops Cold War and Black Ops 2.
15. Are zombies in Call of Duty similar to other zombie media?
While they share similarities, the Call of Duty zombies have a unique origin story rooted in the fictional Element 115 and Nazi experimentation, giving them a distinct narrative within the zombie genre.