Summary
When looking atCall of DutyZombies, it is always surprising that a military FPS spawned such a mode. Treyarch’s co-op survival experience is filled with unique features like perk-a-colas andWonder Weaponsto match unique locations like a medieval castle and an alternate version of Stalingrad overrun by dragons.CoDZombies offers a strong story to boot, and that narrative is extended through its Easter egg songs - a trick that is also used byAlan Wake 2.
Call of DutyZombies’ hidden songs got their start in Verruckt, the second ever Zombies map from Treyarch. Though “Lullaby of a Deadman” was just a cool-sounding track that was written before the Zombies narrative truly began, once Treyarch started to tell a story within the mode, the music began to acknowledge that story. The verses within each song reflected the themes of the maps as a whole or the viewpoint of a specific character, and while artists like Kevin Sherwood ensured that they all sounded great, the way that the lyrics suited each experience was especially cool. For Zombies fans seeking a game that uses music in a similar way,Alan Wake 2is worth a shot.
Alan Wake 2 and Call of Duty Zombies’ Music Do Similar Things
Call of Duty Zombies’ Music Has Always Been a High Point
While there have occasionally been different ways of triggeringCall of DutyZombies’ hidden songs, like shooting coins, dying in strange ways, and so on, the most common way to activateCoDZombies’ music is to find three hidden items. Once players have done so, they’ll be met with a tremendous bit of music that correlates to either the story or the Zombies map that they are playing on. General story tracks like “115” and “Beauty of Annihilation” are iconic, while the introduction of the Shadow Man later in the story gave the first riddle in “Abracadavre” new meaning, making it fun to return to.
“Coming Home” from Moon correlates closely to Samantha Maxis’ journey at that point in the story, while “We All Fall Down” is a nod to the skyscraper gameplay ofDie Rise- and happens to be something that many players will be doing throughout the match. “Where Are We Going?” suits the fears of the mobsters at the heart of Mob of the Dead, while “Archangel” being a big collaboration of allCoDZombies’ singers is perfect for what Origins meant to the story. “Dead Again,” “Dead Flowers,” and “Dead Ended” representing each member of Ultimis that died inBlack Ops 3’s DLC maps was brilliant, and the great music continued throughoutBlack Ops 4andBlack Ops Cold War. For example, “Lost” featuring Samantha’s actor Julie Nathanson singing about her experience while trapped in the Dark Aether felt like an essential part of Firebase Z’s storytelling.
Alan Wake 2’s Music Suits The Game’s Mood and Themes
Much likeCall of DutyZombies would not feel the same without its Easter egg songs,Alan Wake 2would be a bit less special without its own music. While players do not need to do anything special to acquire these songs, as they simply play at the end of each chapter, likeCall of DutyZombies their lyrics have deeper meanings. Tracks like “Superhero” can easily be listened to outside the game and without having anyknowledge aboutAlan Wake 2, but with the added context about Saga as a character and when considering where the song appears in the story, it becomes a bit more special.
While Alan Wake 2’s end of chapter songs are phenomenal, a standout music sequence with music from the Old Gods of Asgard is also worth noting. Like Zombies’ music shines when players are fighting the undead while listen, some of Alan Wake 2’s music also hits hard when accompanied by gameplay.
Whether it is nods to Remedy Connected Universe figures like Trench or “Follow You Into The Dark” having lyrics that reference Saga’s search for Alan, it is worth it for players to pay close attention to the music at the end ofAlan Wake 2’s chaptersand episodes. Just likeCall of DutyZombies’ music, these tracks greatly enhance the experience for those looking to further immerse themselves in the story. While players could skip by them, just like they do not have to activate Zombies’ hidden songs, those that do so are missing out on music that both sounds great and adds value to the experience.
Alan Wake 2
WHERE TO PLAY
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?
