What is the Difficulty in BO2 Zombies? A Deep Dive
The difficulty in Call of Duty: Black Ops II (BO2) Zombies is a multifaceted concept, not simply a matter of harder enemies or increased damage. It stems from a combination of game mechanics, map design, and the player’s chosen approach. While BO2 offers a seemingly simple “Easy” and “Original” difficulty selection for its Zombies mode, the actual challenge players face is much more nuanced than this binary choice suggests. The core of the challenge in BO2 Zombies lies in its increased spawn rate, tighter map layouts, and strategic decision-making, all contributing to a significantly more intense experience than its predecessors.
Understanding the Difficulty Mechanics
Spawn Rate and Enemy Density
One of the primary reasons players find BO2 Zombies challenging is the significantly higher spawn rate of zombies compared to earlier iterations. This means that players are constantly facing a dense horde, requiring precise movement, strategic weapon usage, and quick reflexes. The article highlights that zombies haven’t necessarily become faster, but their increased numbers are what truly amp up the difficulty. This constant pressure leaves little room for error and forces players to always be on their guard.
Map Design and Movement Restrictions
The maps in BO2 Zombies, while diverse and engaging, often feature tighter corridors and smaller spaces, which restrict player movement significantly. This design element prevents players from simply running around in circles to avoid zombies, forcing more tactical approaches and deliberate pathing. Maps like Die Rise and TranZit, for instance, offer limited maneuverability, especially in early rounds, leading to claustrophobic and intense gameplay scenarios.
Strategic Resource Management
BO2 Zombies difficulty is also rooted in the necessity for strategic resource management. Players must balance spending points on weapons, perks, and opening new areas of the map. Choosing the right weapons at the right time, knowing when to repair barriers, and deciding which perks to acquire can mean the difference between survival and defeat. The game’s design encourages players to think beyond simply shooting zombies; it requires careful consideration of every decision.
Difficulty Settings Explained
While there are only two difficulty selections, “Easy” and “Original”, their differences directly impact the game experience. On Easy, fewer zombies will sprint at full speed (with some exceptions like those chasing the bus in TranZit and the tank in Origins). Importantly, Easter Eggs cannot be completed on Easy, limiting the content and objectives players can access. The “Original” difficulty provides the intended experience, which is meant to challenge players with the full intensity of the Zombie mode, allowing for full gameplay, Easter egg completions, and more challenging scenarios.
Difficulty is Subjective
Ultimately, the perceived difficulty in BO2 Zombies is subjective. While mechanics and design make the game harder than some earlier versions, experienced players can master these systems, making the game feel manageable. This game demands precision, strategy, and a willingness to learn from mistakes to be successful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some FAQs related to the difficulty of BO2 Zombies, to provide further insight into this mode’s challenge:
1. Why do people say Black Ops 2 Zombies is so hard?
The difficulty stems from a higher zombie spawn rate and more restrictive map designs, requiring more strategic play compared to some previous Zombies experiences. It’s not that zombies are necessarily faster but that there are more of them and maps restrict movement.
2. What are the difficulty levels in BO2 Zombies?
There are two difficulty options: “Easy” and “Original”. Easy features fewer sprinting zombies and disables Easter Eggs. Original difficulty provides the full intended experience with no restrictions.
3. Is Black Ops 2 Zombies considered the best in the series?
Many consider BO2 Zombies to be among the best, thanks to its diverse maps like Mob of the Dead and Origins, engaging gameplay, and memorable experiences. It is a popular choice in the community, with many people wanting it to be remastered.
4. What game modes are available in BO2 Zombies?
BO2 Zombies features TranZit, Survival, and Grief modes. Grief mode involves players competing against each other, while Survival is the classic horde mode and TranZit adds a dynamic element by allowing players to travel across multiple areas.
5. Which is considered the hardest map in BO2 Zombies?
While subjective, maps like Die Rise and TranZit are often cited as some of the most challenging in BO2, due to their restrictive environments and unique challenges. Origins is also quite difficult, especially in later rounds.
6. Why can’t Easter Eggs be completed on Easy difficulty?
This is likely a design choice to encourage players to engage with the intended experience and difficulty level of the mode. Easter Eggs are designed to be challenging and part of the overall experience, so by disabling them on Easy, they stay true to their hard design.
7. What does Juggernog do, and why is it important?
Juggernog is a crucial perk that multiplies a player’s health by three, allowing them to survive six hits instead of two. It is considered the most useful perk and is a must-have for most players in BO2 zombies.
8. Is there an end to BO2 Zombies?
At its core, Zombies mode is an endless horde mode. There is no specific “end” in the traditional sense. Players continue surviving rounds until they are overwhelmed.
9. What happens to doors when difficulty is hard?
In BO2 Zombies, door breaking is not directly tied to difficulty. However, zombies will attempt to break down barriers in any difficulty, and hard gameplay means more zombies, so it will feel like the doors are constantly being attacked.
10. What is a good strategy for getting good at Zombies in BO2?
A popular strategy is to train zombies, by running in a circular pattern to bunch them up, then dispatching them with high-damage weapons, using powerful weapons like the Ray Gun and Thundergun to clear hordes. Practice and learning the maps are also critical.
11. What’s the best perk in BO2 Zombies?
Juggernog is widely regarded as the best perk due to its massive increase in player health, allowing for more mistakes to be made.
12. What map in BO2 Zombies does not include Easter Eggs?
The maps in Town, Farm, and Bus Depot do not feature an Easter Egg. There are also maps like Nuketown Zombies that do not have an Easter Egg, as that is a special map.
13. How does the spawn rate contribute to the difficulty?
The higher spawn rate of zombies creates constant pressure on players, requiring them to be more alert and strategic. There’s a greater chance that a player will be swarmed by zombies, as they spawn in greater numbers.
14. Why is the map design a contributing factor to the difficulty?
Tighter maps in BO2 restrict player movement and offer fewer escape routes, increasing the chances of being surrounded, unlike previous maps which had larger areas for kiting.
15. Is resource management important in BO2 Zombies?
Yes, effective resource management is vital. Players must strategically spend points on weapons, perks, and opening new map areas, creating an added level of challenge.
By understanding these mechanics, players can better navigate the challenges of BO2 Zombies and appreciate its nuanced design. While it’s a difficult experience, the reward is a unique and memorable challenge, making it one of the most popular Zombies experiences in the Call of Duty franchise.