Summary
Introduced all the way back in 2008 with the release ofCall of Duty: World at War,Call of Duty: Zombieshas remained a highlight of the franchise for well over a decade now. An addictive blend of highly accessible gameplay and a sprinkling of complex mechanics,Call of Duty’s Zombies modehas continued to appeal to both veteran players and newcomers alike. And though recent entries have somewhat forgotten what made the mode so beloved in the first place,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6seems to understand exactly what it needs to do to get fans on board from the jump.
Even before its campaign or multiplayer mode is given the spotlight,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6is deciding to highlight its Zombies mode, with a full gameplay reveal slated for August 8. Treyarch’s eagerness to show off its new Zombies iteration bodes very well for the mode, especially after a lackluster showing fromModern Warfare 3’s Zombies. And while it’s surely tempting for Treyarch to rest on its laurels, it seems as though the developer is still trying to bring something new to the table, with its newly announced Melee Macchiato Perk being a great example of that. But there’s a lot of history this newBlack Ops 6Perk needs to overcome.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Melee Macchiato Perk Needs to Be a Worthwhile Addition
Introduced withCall of Duty: World at War’s Shi No Numa map,Call of Duty: Zombies' Perk-a-Cola machines quickly became a staple of the mode, with each one granting the player a special ability or buff. Treyarch pretty much nailed Perks right off the bat, with those initial Shi No Numa Perks still being regarded as some of the most valuable even over a decade later. Perks like Juggernog, Speed Cola, and Quick Revive are all still must-have Perks for mostCall of Duty: Zombiesplay-sessions.
Call of Duty: Black Opsintroduced a slew of new Perks to the mode, some of which proved their worth instantly,like Mule Kick, which allowed players to wield a third weapon, and some of which ended up fading into obscurity, like Deadshot Daiquiri. This began an unfortunate trend forCall of Duty: Zombies. With each new iteration of the mode, a new set of Perks would be added to the roster, and all too often, these Perks would be dismissed in favor of the classic selection that had been present since day one.
Though there have been some solid additions over the years, many ofCall of Duty: Zombies' new Perkshave all shared a common problem. Even at their very best, most new Zombies Perks are simply not as valuable as staples like Juggernog, Speed, and Quick Revive, and when players have a limited number of slots to fill, these less worthwhile Perks are quickly forgotten about.
How Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Melee Macchiato Can Be Better
The firstnew Perk announced forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, it’s vital that Melee Macchiato doesn’t fall into the same trap as past Zombies Perks. Melee Macchiato needs to prove its worth right away, and the best way to do that is by offering players a truly valuable buff. The most obvious buff would be for Melee Macchiato to simply increase the player’s melee damage, though that isn’t too interesting. A much more intriguing buff would be granting the player the ability to melee multiple enemies at once, perhaps sending out a shockwave with each punch. Without a genuinely powerful buff,Black Ops 6’s Melee Macchiato runs the risk of becoming another forgotten Perk.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
