Review: Mob of the Dead
If you’re anyone like me, then you would have been more than exhausted by Call of Duty well before Black Ops 2 was released. However, making it’s much loved return was the “Zombies” game mode which, unfortunately, got off to a poor start in Black Ops 2. The maps felt empty and while very intuitive they lacked the backbone of its predecessors…
Since then, the launch of DLC’s vastly improved the experience with the first being “Die Rise” which took place in a number of toppled Skyscrapers in China. This was a massive change of pace as, while it brought back the similar style of the maps seen in World at War and the original Black Ops, it also added really tight chaotic gameplay with elements of strategy as you had to plan your jumps from building to building and choose what elevators you took. One wrong move and you’d fall hundreds of feet to your inevitable death or being trapped in a room with a horde of blood thirsty zombies which would lead to a faith worse than death.
While “Die Rise” returned Zombies to its glory it didn’t validate the purchase of the full game, not to mention the €15 DLC! There were many fears of what the next DLC would add, and would it be as good? Well, after hours of stabbing, shooting, teleporting, electrocuting, dissolving and swearing at my T.V all the while being horrifically mauled by the turned inmates of Alcatraz Island, I can safely say “Mob of the Dead” goes above and beyond what you would expect in a zombies map!
Let’s take a step back and actually look at what “Mob of the Dead” is. Included in the latest (2nd) DLC release “Uprising”, “Mob of the Dead” pitches you as one of four 1920’s gangsters incarcerated in Alcatraz Island Played by Chazz Palminteri, Joe Palminteri, MIcheal Madsen and Ray Loitta whose voice acting, one liners and general reactions are EPIC!
The premise is simple:
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Island is over-run with zombies
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Find plane parts scattered across the Island
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Build plane
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Freedom?
The problem is, the prison is more or less a maze (with added zombies), you need keys and codes for the parts of the “escape plan” and well, it’s not much of a walk in the park to get them. Did I forgot to mention that there’s an eight foot tall warden who gets so angry to see you out of your cells that he bursts into flames and relentlessly chases you until either you our him have been dealt with. It’s easy to say that it’s absolutely chaotic for the most part!
Added is the new “afterlife” mode which, upon death, releases your spirit which allows you to teleport zombies and to solve certain puzzles to get key parts for the plane. This adds a totally new gameplay experience as your friends try to hold off a horde of zombies while you (in afterlife) try to open the gate behind them or to get certain keys. Needless to say things get pretty emotional when you are playing with friends and they have one magazine left and you have one switch left to pull, when it works out it’s the best feeling as you all escape with the skin of your teeth! When it doesn’t, you all go down, crying, screaming and cursing the game only to start all over again!
For me, this is exactly what Zombies should be, clever and chaotic fun! It works a charm either solo or with friends. If you bought Black Ops 2 and are holding out on what DLC you should get or waiting to pick it up, now is the time! As we head into the summer holidays this is the perfect thing to pass those rainy, dreary days.
If you are still not impressed I have two words for you “Tommy Guns”, that is all.
Good Points
Finally brings Zombies back to its prime.
Clever and challenging gameplay
Allows you to enjoy Black Ops 2 again
Tommy Guns
Bad Points
The Warden
Running out of time in “Afterlife” and watching your friends die grizzly deaths (this point really depends on your level of sadism though! [Editor])
Getting lost
Rating: 8.5/10
[Words, Alan Horgan]
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
