Black Ops 6’s Reckoning Splits the CoD Zombies Community: Here’s My Take

So, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 5 is like the curtain call for Zombies, and yeah, Reckoning pretty much nails it. There’s all this lore stuff about the announcer, and Grey’s freakout over Samantha’s twist is… totally worth it. And don’t get me started on the map – it’s like, a breath of fresh air. But hey, not all sunshine, right? Panos’ story kind of feels like someone pressed fast forward. The Gorgofex Wonder Weapon? Meh, could hit harder. But the main quest? Multiple endings and boss battles? Count me in. The ending though? Mixed bag, honestly.

You pick a path, and it’s SAM or Richtofen who comes out on top. Like, if SAM wins, it’s this showdown with mech-Richtofen, and she gets her human form plus keeps her powers. Richtofen’s win? The crazy AI’s gone, and he gets his happy family moment. But, here’s where things go sideways – the debate isn’t about SAM vs. Richtofen. It’s those OG four characters creeping from the shadows, inviting the Terminus crew to “the party.” A cliffhanger, right? Yet, I wasn’t jazzed. Strange, ‘cause past endings like Origins left me hyped.

I practically grew up on Aether’s bonkers storyline. Can’t forget those days of deciphering radios, fan theories buzzing all over. Once Zombies Chronicles hit in Black Ops 3, they finally dropped the official timeline. In Black Ops 4, the Aether story got its final bow, though not how I’d have done it. No Great War, no showdown with Dr. Monty. It’s like they left their epic potential on the table. So now, bringing back the old crew? Feels like rewriting history, and not in a good way. Not stoked, to say the least.

Why Black Ops 4’s Ending Being Retconned is Such a Shame

Primis and Ultimis deserved more, but animated scenes were out by Black Ops 4. Still, Tag Der Toten left its mark. You learn Richtofen knew Dempsey, Takeo, and Nikolai couldn’t escape their loop. To crush the undead for good, both Primis and Ultimis had to go, and Nikolai made the call himself.

The emotional punch wasn’t just those conversations around the campfire. Samantha taking out Nikolai was heavy too, but not as much as Sam and Eddie’s stroll into a fresh universe – imagining what our characters might be doing out there hit like a truck. We thought we’d never see them, but now? Feels like all that emotion is cheapened.

Call of Duty thrives on nostalgia, always has. Maps like Shipment and Nuketown get recycled all the time, and don’t get me started on Wonder Weapons or Prestige rewards. But resurrecting the OG gang with no backstory feels like a slap after Nikolai’s sacrifice. The story was rough around the edges, but it was wrapped up. Now, Treyarch has the burden to connect this to BO7’s story and tie loose ends all around.

Black Ops 7 Zombies Playing the Greatest Hits Doesn’t Feel Necessary

Black Ops 6 Zombies did great, so why bring back Richtofen, Dempsey, Nikolai, and Takeo? Chaos story could’ve progressed, especially after Ancient Evil’s teaser. Even Terminus crew had potential for more depth. Now with the OGs back, they hog the spotlight, and guys like Weaver? Back to radio voice duties, not stealing scenes.

Sure, bringing the old team sparks nostalgia for some. And yeah, they’re my faves too. But I’d have left them be to explore new zones. It’s like RDJ as Doctor Doom in the MCU – doesn’t feel right. If we cling to these “new” Richtofen and co., only to swap them out again down the line, it all goes rinse and repeat. We’re caught in this loop, returning to square one, no matter what fresh takes Treyarch throws at us.

The new Dark Aether plot had guts – mining fresh ground with minimal callbacks. But Treyarch’s hitting rewind. Tom Henderson’s teasers on map locations intrigue, like a nuked NYC in BO7, but with this nostalgia trip? Skeptical vibes. Zombies’ story meant as much as the game itself to me, and honestly? I might just stick with gameplay if this keeps up.