After The Tomb disappointed players due to a lack of fresh content, a short Easter egg, and an awkward end cutscene, Treyarch has fired on all cylinders with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s new Shattered Veil map. It manages to merge the strengths of every BO6 map released before it – Liberty Falls’ accessibility, Terminus’ memorable boss encounter, Citadelle Des Morts’ Wonder Weapon variants, and the Tomb’s gorgeous visuals – while also progressing the story in a meaningful way, Treyarch has created a map that has been a genuine hit with the community. In fact, more than any other Black Ops 6 map thus far (bar maybe Citadelle Des Morts), Shattered Veil has managed to unite old and new CoD Zombies fans alike.
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How Shattered Veil Offers the Best of Both Worlds
One thing that adds to the replayability of Shattered Veil is the randomness that was once associated with the mode’s quest steps. On each run of the main quest, and the Ray Gun Mark 2 variant-building, players will have to check a handful of locations for certain items. Minor changes include different locations for the bell, plants, and yellow portrait items, with codes also randomized and players needing to get good luck with certain drops like the barrier bomb and canisters. Even certain side Easter eggs are slightly randomized, such as the SAM laser and ghost jumpscare.
Speaking of side Easter eggs, Treyarch has managed to nail down the perfect number of side quests so that there is plenty to do within Shattered Veil without it feeling tedious or overwhelming. The objectives are simple enough, like spotting a ghostly apparition five times or collecting pieces of Mr. Peeks, but the rewards are worthwhile. In addition to the usual salvage, Aether tool, Crystal, and perk drops, players can unlock a special trap, an evolving companion, and quickly upgrade a specific shotgun via a Resident Evil homage. These quests can be completed without slowing down the gameplay, and are easy to memorize once they have been done a few times. There are some genuinely fresh tasks for players to complete, too, as the stealthy sleepwalking Easter egg is unlike anything else in the mode’s decade-plus history.
For Zombies fans who are not interested in completing quests, though, Shattered Veil is a terrific map for casual players. The base Ray Gun Mark 2 and the Wunderwaffe DG-2 can both be acquired from the Mystery Box, meaning that players who simply want to hop in and slay the undead without doing any puzzle-solving can do so and still acquire some classic Wonder Weapons. There are numerous open areas ideal for training the undead, as well as some viable camping spots. Shattered Veil is one of the only times camping has truly been viable in Black Ops 6, as unlike the Tomb, which was criticized for its mini-boss spam, players only need to worry about the new Elder Disciple Elite enemy. This foe’s Zombie-spawning and buffing makes for a fresh challenge, but the Disciple is far less tedious to deal with than the Amalgam, which players had grown tired of seeing.
While Shattered Veil does lack fully new Wonder Weapons, its three Ray Gun Mark 2 variants feel fresh, even for those who played Alpha Omega. Additionally, there is plenty of new content within the map, like the poisonous Zombie special rounds.
Why Shattered Veil’s Main Quest is Such a Hit
From a design standpoint, Shattered Veil’s main quest is basically a longer version of the Tomb, as half the quest requires building the three Mark 2 variants and the other half revolves around the completion of trials. However, it’s the way in which those objectives are approached that makes Shattered Veil’s quest so satisfying. Each of the Ray Gun upgrades has players doing different things, from plant defense to a mirror reflection puzzle. The upgrade questlines themselves are a bit longer and more involved than the brief ones for Citadelle Des Morts’ elemental swords, especially when factoring in the RNG mentioned above, which is a big plus. As for the trials, these come with the benefit of opening up fresh sections of the map, from the portrait interiors to the hidden cellar and Aether Worm statue tunnel.
Narratively, Shattered Veil brings some long-overdue resolution to plot threads fans have been desperate to see picked up. Players finally see the confrontation between Richtofen and Weaver in a pre-boss fight cinematic, and for those who have not been keeping up with the audio logs and documents in BO6 and Black Ops Cold War intel, this info will be shocking. The same goes for the S.A.M. AI’s master plan, which sets up an interesting DLC 4 for the game and essentially repeats history, creating a scenario where an evil version of Samantha Maxis is controlling the undead as Richtofen schemes in the background. The audio logs are particularly memorable on this map, too, detailing Eddie’s failed experiments and the history of the haunted mansion. On top of all this, the boss fight is a delight, serving as a wildly entertaining way to cap off a map that does just about everything right.
With even the Easter egg completion reward uniting the old and new eras of CoD Zombies, as it sees Carver donning an attire based on Five’s Pentagon Thief that also includes some nods to Shattered Veil, Black Ops 6’s latest map is the ideal model for Zombies going forward. Through a healthy mix of depth and accessibility, Treyarch has forged a play space that has something for CoD Zombies fans of all eras.
- Released
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October 25, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs