CoD Zombies: TranZit vs. Ashes of the Damned — Which ‘Open-World’ Map is Better?

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The latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, introduces a new large-scale survival map, marking the second of its kind from Treyarch. While the studio has created even bigger open-world experiences like Outbreak and MWZ, this map is most directly comparable to the classic TranZit and the more recent Ashes of the Damned. Though TranZit initially received criticism for frustrating elements like fog and lava, many now see its potential and feel nostalgic for it, hoping for a refined version. This anticipation made Ashes of the Damned highly anticipated as a potential successor, and now that Black Ops 7 is available, it’s time to evaluate if Treyarch has finally delivered a truly improved map. A detailed comparison reveals a clear standout between these two options.

Easter Eggs — Ashes of the Damned

A key feature of any Call of Duty Zombies map, especially since the first Easter egg in Der Riese, is how engaging its quests are. In this area, Ashes of the Damned significantly improves upon TranZit. While TranZit’s dual-path quest system was innovative, both sides of the Easter egg were ultimately repetitive and unrewarding. The reward itself was largely forgettable; beyond an achievement, players only received infrequent item drops from a pylon in a dangerous and hard-to-reach cornfield – an area with little reason to revisit after completing the quest. Furthermore, the map lacked substantial side quests beyond building the Jet Gun and obtaining Persistent Perks, which limited its overall depth.

Ashes of the Damned excels at hidden Easter eggs. While some rewards aren’t particularly special, players can find them throughout the entire map. These include interacting with ghosts, discovering the history of a new character named Dempsey, finding items for Cursed mode, and completing challenges like one involving a combat axe. The main storyline might feel lengthy to some, but it features a diverse set of objectives, satisfying cutscenes for those interested in the story, and a memorable final boss battle. Compared to the previous map, TranZit, which had underwhelming features like the frustrating Nav Cards and the endlessly hoped-for Bus Route B, Ashes of the Damned is a clear improvement.

Survival Maps — TranZit (so far)

Right now, it’s hard to directly compare these games. Treyarch intends to regularly add new Survival maps from the Ashes of the Damned throughout the post-launch seasons of Black Ops 7, with two arriving in Season 1. While BO7 launched with only one Survival map, Black Ops 2 started with three, including the popular Town. Although future maps like Blackwater Lake might eventually feel as good as Town, most players will likely prefer how Black Ops 2 gave everyone all the map options right away, instead of releasing them gradually over time.

Moment-to-Moment Gameplay — Ashes of the Damned

If you’re not interested in hidden secrets, a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience is what matters most, and Ashes of the Damned really delivers. Unlike the older map TranZit, which had performance issues that led to frustrating elements like lava and fog, Ashes of the Damned focuses on fun. Getting around is much easier too – forget about slow, complicated systems involving strange characters and streetlights. This map uses simple jump pads, and the areas between locations are actually navigable and enjoyable because you can clearly see where you’re going without being constantly attacked. Ashes of the Damned is a large map that will take time to learn, but once you do, it feels fantastic. Players won’t get stuck in frustrating areas, and upgrading weapons is straightforward – no more running across the entire map to find a specific part. While Ashes of the Damned can be challenging due to its difficult enemies, TranZit’s challenges often came from unfair and annoying gameplay mechanics.

If you prefer a classic Zombies experience without features like the points system or complex loadouts found in recent Call of Duty Zombies, Cursed mode offers that. It’s designed for players who unlock its special relics and want a more traditional gameplay style.

Innovation — TranZit

A common complaint about the Zombies mode in Black Ops 7 is that it doesn’t feel much different from Black Ops 6, and it’s hard to disagree. While the game has been refined with improvements to things like the user interface and Gobblegums, these changes feel like tweaks rather than bold new ideas. Players hoping for a major shake-up might remember TranZit, which introduced completely new concepts like using vehicles – such as the bus – to get around, and building structures on the map. These features became central to every Zombies map released between Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 4. The core elements of survival gameplay, complex Easter egg quests, and persistent perks all originated with TranZit, as did features like weapon storage and the bank. While not everything TranZit tried was a success, its ambition was impressive, and it likely paved the way for maps like Ashes of the Damned.

Wonder Weapon — Ashes of the Damned

Okay, so everyone’s been arguing about whether the Necrofluid Gauntlet is one of the best Wonder Weapons in Call of Duty Zombies, and honestly, if you actually use it, the answer is obvious. It’s seriously powerful, you basically never run out of ammo, and it keeps doing good damage even in the late rounds. Plus, unlocking it is actually kinda fun. Remember the Jet Gun from TranZit? That was just running around picking up pieces and putting them together… which was cool when it was new, but it doesn’t really hold up now. And the worst part? It kept breaking and you had to rebuild it! Sure, you could use it in little bursts to avoid that, but what’s the point of a Wonder Weapon if you’re afraid to really use it? The Gauntlet takes a little getting used to with the recall thing, but even if you mess up, it’s way less frustrating than constantly fixing the Jet Gun.

The Liberty Falls Jet Gun was a significant improvement over the first Wonder Weapon. It fixed the durability issues – instead of breaking when using the alternate fire, it now simply needed to recharge. This updated version is excellent.

via Treyarch / Call of Duty

Aesthetic — TranZit

Choosing the best map is toughest of all, but TranZit really nails a bleak, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Everything feels broken and hopeless, and the fiery sky created by the 115 rockets from Moon is unique in Call of Duty Zombies. Ashes of the Damned, on the other hand, is visually stunning with beautiful skies and a blend of recognizable and new areas. However, its purple sky and glowing forests, as well as the mix of locations, feel somewhat familiar from past maps like Revelations. Ultimately, it comes down to personal taste, but TranZit deserves credit for taking risks and trying something different – even though it’s fun to explore a graveyard filled with Orda corpses.

Transportation — Ashes of the Damned

The bus holds a special place in the hearts of many Call of Duty players, even bringing back TEDD in Black Ops 7 to guide the new vehicle, Ol’ Tessie. However, Ol’ Tessie is a clear improvement. Players have complete control over where it goes and can easily pick up teammates, preventing anyone from being left behind. A teleporter in Ashwood ensures this, something the bus couldn’t offer. Plus, you still get the same funny quotes from TEDD when you reach new locations. Ol’ Tessie is also packed with exciting upgrades like a mobile Pack-a-Punch, turrets, and jet boosters—much more engaging than simply unlocking the bus’s battering ram. The vehicle’s inclusion in the boss fight is a creative touch, making it a more dynamic encounter than just dealing damage to a tough enemy. While keeping Ol’ Tessie unique to the Ashwood map is a good idea, it’s a fantastic addition that really defines the map’s identity.

Exploration — TranZit

What I loved most about TranZit was how genuinely surprising it was to explore. Finding things like the bunker from Nacht Der Untoten hidden in a cornfield, or stumbling across the shed with the Bowie knife, made the map feel huge. Plus, getting the ladder upgrade and choosing whether to open the Diner roof or get on top of the bus felt really cool – like I had some control over how the game played. Ashes of the Damned has some fun little side things to do in its danger zones, like following bear prints or racing the ARC-XD, but honestly, there’s not much to explore within those areas that you wouldn’t just see while driving around.

Characters — Ashes of the Damned

Okay, so Ashes of the Damned feels a little like an easy win, honestly. It would’ve been cool to see Requiem go head-to-head with Victis – both groups built up a fanbase over time. But honestly, having the original four – Richtofen, Dempsey, Takeo, and Nikolai – back is amazing. Seeing those guys interact with each other and the Requiem team is genuinely fresh and hilarious – the dialogue is unlike anything I’ve heard in a Zombies game before. Remember how great it was having eight main characters back in Alpha Omega? It’s the same vibe with Ashes of the Damned, and if the writers keep up this level of quality, I think this storyline could be really special for the rest of the Dark Aether saga, including Astro Malorum and beyond.

Mini-Bosses and Special Enemies — Ashes of the Damned

via Treyarch / Call of Duty

Longtime fans of Call of Duty Zombies often agree that Denizens and the Avogadro are among the most frustrating enemies in the game. The Denizens made getting around the map unnecessarily difficult without relying on the bus, which ideally should have been a choice, and the Avogadro, as a mini-boss, is simply not fun to fight because it requires either rare EMP grenades or close-range attacks. However, Zursa stands out as a unique and interesting threat. It’s different from other mini-bosses, and its bee swarms add a new ranged attack to watch out for alongside its direct charges. While a well-equipped Jager 45 pistol can quickly defeat Zursa, players need to be accurate and target its weak spots. Finally, Ravagers offer a fun challenge during vehicle sections, attaching to the vehicle instead of the player, and create exciting, fast-paced rounds when a Max Ammo power-up is at stake because they swarm in large numbers.

Features like the Easter egg song are really a matter of taste, but it’s tough to beat the original singer, Elena Siegman. She’s back to perform on Kevin Sherwood’s track, “Turn to Ashes,” for the game Ashes of the Damned.

The Winner: Ashes of the Damned

Ashes of the Damned performs better than TranZit in most key areas – specifically 6 out of 10 categories – and could even surpass it further if future map updates are as good as Vandorn Farm. While TranZit might hold up for some due to nostalgia, Ashes of the Damned is objectively a significant improvement. Treyarch clearly learned from their first attempt at an open-world survival map and delivered a refined experience. Even areas where TranZit is preferred are close calls. Cursed mode also addresses common complaints about newer Zombies mechanics. With stronger core gameplay and Easter egg quests, Ashes of the Damned is a clear step forward, even if it borrows elements from the beloved TranZit. If you enjoy the newer Zombies modes like those in Black Ops 6, you’ll likely love Black Ops 7, as Ashes of the Damned shows Treyarch has finally perfected their modern Zombies formula.

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2025-11-27 03:06