Long Q&A published with developers by Treyarch, to reveal the details of the Zombies mode from Call of Duty: Vanguard, called Der Anfang. Talking to us are Lead Writer Craig Houston, Senior Writer Tony Bedard, and Associate Director of Design Gavin Locke.
The questions touch on practically all the possible themes related to this beloved mode and give information on what we can expect on November 5, 2021, the day in which we will be able to get our hands on Call of Duty: Vanguard.
How will Vanguard Zombies continue the saga of the Dark Aether?
Vanguard Zombies reveals that entities from the Dark Aether dimension have been in contact with humans for several centuries. We will better understand the state of the Dark Aether before the events of Projekt Endstation changed everything.
In fact, the Endstation cyclotron crash is the trigger for the events in Vanguard Zombi. The active dimensional breach of the dormant artifacts collected by Nazis, giving the SS commander, Wolfram Von List, the chance to make a pact with a lord of the Dark Aether and thus give the Third Reich victory in World War II.
Only a small group of Allied Special Forces soldiers who have formed such an alliance with Dark Aether entities will be able to oppose their rule. So, we find new characters in a different setting from that of Black Ops Cold War Zombies, but the same at stake.
Who’s the new villain?
The main villain is Oberführer Von List, commander of the SS Die Wahrheit battalion. His soldiers scoured the globe in search of mystical objects, and their search paid off, uncovering an artifact that formed a symbiotic bond between Von List and an ancient Dark Aether lord, Kortifex the Immortal. . Kortifex shared his power to raise the dead and now the world is in danger of being overrun by an army of Nazi zombies.
Who are the other entities of the Dark Aether?
Norticus The Conqueror was at the head of Kortifex’s armies in the dark ether, but now they are sworn enemies. Saraxis the Dark One is shrewd, mischievous and mischievous, and sees humans as mere toys. Inviktor the Destroyer is the perfect fighter, at ease in the heart of battle and always thirsty for blood. Bellekar the Arcanist is a master of the use of Dark Aether runic magic, and is interested in humans and their belligerent natures. Players will learn more about these entities and their revolt against Kortifex as they progress through the game.
How will the interaction of the human characters with these entities be?
When a human interacts with one of the artifacts, they form a connection with the corresponding Dark Aether entity. Each of them confers a different skill. Wield the Sword of Inviktor and gain the Ring of Fire attack. Bellekar’s Mask grants Aether Shielding its power, Norticus’s Horn grants Cryo-Blast, and the Dragon of Saraxis grants Mina energy
In addition to sharing their very useful combat skills, these entities will guide players by encouraging them during battles and assisting them in various challenges set in iconic scenarios.
What role will Special Forces operators play in all of this?
Vanguard’s Special Forces arrived in Stalingrad in response to a request for help sent by Professor Krafft, a demonologist under blackmail by Von List. In fact, discerning gamers may have already discovered pages from Krafft’s diary in Black Ops Cold War Zombies!
The soldiers find themselves trapped inside a containment spell conjured by Kortifex. Separated from their superiors, they will have to fight against the overwhelming undead forces, led by Krafft via radio as their “comrades” from the Dark Aether communicate with them telepathically. The setting remains the Second World War, but with a distinctly fantasy / horror atmosphere.
How will it affect the setting of Vanguard Zombies?
The story is set in the iconic World War II, including the ruins of Stalingrad, the war-torn farms in Merville, the rooftops of Nazi-occupied Paris, and the Japanese military camps in Shi No Numa. All of these places, trapped within the magical barrier of Kortifex, have dark and twisted visual details. There are piles of corpses in Stalingrad, shrines and sacrifices atop the Royal Hotel, with skulls and runes as far as the eye can see.
Game mechanics and game rhythm.
Typical start of a game.
The match begins in the center of Stalingrad. There is a small starting area where you can fight zombies, access a variety of power-up machines, see the portals of the three starting objectives, and a handful of other surprises. The first important decision will be choosing which goal portal to interact with.
On the first day, there will be three objectives available: Blitz, Broadcast and Collect. Players looking for shorter games will have to choose objectives and locations where they feel they have the highest chances of winning, or will have to focus on opening the portion of the map containing the Specialties they prefer. For longer play sessions, players will need to plan carefully, try to open even more parts of the map, and aim to break their personal bests.
What types of enemies will it be possible to encounter?
The first enemies players will encounter will be the basic zombies, reanimated by Kortifex and Von List. These zombies will seem like a no-brainer at first, but their health, speed, and attack power will increase over time.
After a few objectives, the Howlers will start popping up, a sort of highly lethal snapping mine. Then you will begin to face the Sturmkrieger, a monstrous beast of two and a half meters armed with a machine gun. You will need to find shelter when you find them in front of you … they will not hesitate to tear apart the horde themselves in order to reach their target.
What happens when players complete a goal?
Completing objectives is the foundation of the game system, rewarding players with Essence and Materials, which make their comeback as crucial game currencies. In addition, the player will be rewarded with the all-important Sacrificial Heart, which can be used to obtain upgrades to the new Altar of Covenants.
The Mystery Chest will also increase in power over time, giving players a random chance to seriously increase their power. New Specialty Fountains will become available as new parts of the map are opened. Once the fourth objective is completed, players will gain the ability to participate in the optional Extraction event, allowing them to decide to end the game at will.
How does the Altar of Covenants work?
The Altar of Covenants is the primary method by which the player can determine their style of play in a given round. After each achievement, players receive a Sacrificial Heart to spend at the Altar of Covenants, allowing them to choose from a variety of random upgrades, such as Ammo Sprite, Brainbreaking, or Nasty Presence. The Altar of Covenants of Covenants also offers Covenants of rarity and increasing power over time, so don’t forget to check for legendary Covenants.
How will core gameplay be affected?
The Pact system allows players to choose their own style of play. For example, some skills allow the player to specialize in Equipment and Melee Weapons, penalizing firearms. This customization would use Bloodthirst (melee attacks do more damage and heal the attacker), Main Phile (ability to keep Equipment even after using it), and Blood Splatter (enemies killed by explosions are likely to explode at them. time). Also, since the player can only use a few Pacts at a time, they may decide to change their play style over the course of the game following the appearance of a Legendary Pact!
What types of weapons will be available in Vanguard Zombies?
Players will have access to virtually all of their favorite WWII weapons and gear. Players come into play with their Primary Weapon and Artifact of their choice. This time around, however, players will need to earn extra weapons by looting crates, killing zombies, and trying their luck with the Mystery Chest instead of traditional Wall Purchases. You’ll also see the return of the much-loved Bomb Monkey!
How long does each match last?
Games can generally finish with a successful Draw in about 20 minutes. This involves completing four objectives and surviving the Extraction event. Only a portion of Stalingrad will be open at this time though. For players who want to push their limits … we’ll see how long their games last.
What will make each game different?
Each time the players enter a new match, the objectives, the places to find the objectives and the Agreements will be different from the previous game. It is precisely here that players will have to adapt their style of play according to the tools they have, creating a great variety of possibilities.
Furthermore, playing cooperatively with other players also adds variety. Will you set the roles so that each player uses a Pact slot in Undercut? Or will each player choose to maximize their power and who has seen seen?
What can a novice Zombie player expect in “Der Anfang”?
“Der Anfang” combines elements of classic round-the-clock Zombies maps with objective-based game mechanics introduced in Black Ops Cold War, all combined with new features never before seen in Zombies. The result is a fast-paced experience that throws players right in the middle of the action.
Novices will be able to start shooting zombies within seconds of starting the match. Completing objectives, earning rewards, upgrading weapons and skills, everything is within reach of the players. And if you are a quiet player and prefer short games, or just want to finish the game while you are winning, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the Extraction and leave the fight with XP Bonus and knowing that you have won.
What can hardcore fans expect from “Der Anfang”?
Many elements of “Der Anfang” will be familiar to Zombies veterans … and many more will be totally new. The greater the number of objectives completed, the more upgrades available for weapons, armor, abilities and much more. Aiming to make the game last as long as possible will create new challenges, and give players the classic adrenaline rush of this beloved mode.
Stalingrad, Paris, Merville and Shi No Numa also contain radios to interact with and Dark Aether runestones containing important recordings that will give depth to characters, places, and continue the story of this chapter of the Dark Aether. The story will continue to evolve after the launch of Vanguard, taking players to new places with new goals and new characters. This new Zombies experience has plenty of surprises in store for veterans of the series.