Summary
There’s nothing wrong with falling in love with a generic zombie co-op game. It can be a blast defeating the undead coming from all angles, and avoiding getting overwhelmed is part of the fun. Several games take this, with the olderCall of DutyZombies modes being just one example.
However, this doesn’t have to be the way zombie games unfold. There are so many other structures available besides what titles likeCall of Dutyoffer, and most of them rely on emergent gameplay. With the right amount of emergent gameplay, the zombie genre can deliver an experience that feels truly new.
What is Emegernt Gameplay?
Emergent gameplayis the product of complex situations being produced by simple user interactions. Some emergent gameplay by developers is intentional, as devs expect players to use simple inputs to create more complex situations. Other times, the emergent gameplay is unforeseen.
A great example of emergent gameplay isMinecraft,which allows players to unleash their imagination in a sandbox game where complex creations can be crafted using the surrounding materials. There is no predicting what one players' playthrough is going to look like compared to someone else’s. Another great example isTears of the Kingdom,where players can useLink’s Ultrahandto craft creative contraptions and defeat enemies in ways the developers probably never expected.
Unexpected Emergent Gameplay Can Be a Blast
There are several examples of emergent gameplay in gaming, with some of them being the product of glitches. A famousexample is inProject Gotham Racing,where players would pick the slowest car of the bunch and try to ensure it wins by pushing it along and bumping other cars off track. This meta-game became very popular, and is just one of many examples of emergent gameplay helping a game stand out..
Emergent Gameplay in Zombie Games
Zombie games are great, especially in co-op mode, but they have arguably become monotonous and too much like each other. This doesn’t mean the genre as a whole is worth abandoning -The Last of Usfeatures the Infectedwhich are essentially zombies, and the franchise is beloved. Instead, there simply needs to be a better angle taken when dealing with the undead in future games.
The Last of Usfeatures some of the emergent gameplay that is needed. For example, the ability to lay down traps and turn the surrounding area into a minefield while hiding in the shadows turns the game into something more than a shoot ‘em up against rotting bodies. Especially on the harder difficulties, emergent gameplay is the only way to outsmart opponents instead of trying to overpower them with massive amounts of ammo. This should be something future zombie games use as a springboard, as giving players simple tools to create diverse situations instead of just pulling them into a position to mow down foes with guns will be key to a game feeling different.
The Emergent Gameplay of Days Gone Should Be an Inspiration
Even thoughDays Gonecould be described as a classic zombie shoot ‘em up, it stands out due to some unique mechanics. Yes, the hordes are massive, but players aren’t left with just their guns to defend themselves. Instead, they can collapse structures over foes or shoot at explosive items to incinerate their enemies. They can also funnel them into certain areas, using the environment to make fighting the large groups of enemies more manageable.
The zombie genre will always have its clichés, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity and imagination. This inclusion of more emergent gameplay in the next big zombies game, a path which some franchises have already started walking down, could be hugely beneficial.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
