Nazi Zombies Map 3 – Shi No Numa Speculation/Release date/Map (Updated June 12th)

Shi No Numa is out for download now!

 Need a strategy to get started? Check out this post.

UPDATE: Check out the trailer for Shi No Numa

So, we’ve all been searching the net like crazy to find out whats up with the new Nazi Zombies map. So far, we have the following basic concepts for the new map:

There are four branches of swamp to explore. Look out for radios, find them and turn them on by targeting them at close range and holding down the action button (Reload/Activate/Repair).

1. Shi No Numa takes place in a swampy Japanese area. The enemies are now the Japanese Imperials, who i imagine will be just as creepy as good old fashioned Nazis. The enemies will no doubt be more varied, have some new tricks, and will now also include item #2 on this list. (UPDATE: The zombies look different, to match the Japanese theme. Headless zombies (post headshot) will continue to walk much longer than before. Apparently, they also sound different)

2. Hell hounds. Fast, low to the ground, (UPDATE: Exploding!) and demonically growling in surround sound. Excellent.  When we first heard that there would be flaming dogs, folks wondered if they would be on your side as a perk or on their side as an enemy. The word on the street is that they will indeed be enemies, not friends. (UPDATE: The dogs spawn from a purple orb from hell. They don’t come in the way zombies do, they may come in right next to you. You can expect them on level 5 or 6, and then its a 5 level or so chance of dogs after that.)

3. This will be an open map. Instead of defending a large installation, you will be defending a patch of swamp studded with shacks (UPDATE: Notice in the trailer some multi-level structures and a bridge as well.). These shacks will provide cover, weapons, and perks. (UPDATE: The shacks do have the cola machine, and traps. They also have the typical defendable windows.)

4. The nature of perks is still hazy, some believe they will be dropped by enemies, some still have faith in the Mystery Box. (UPDATE: Perksacola machines will be randomized right before your very eyes in all of the shacks. The mystery box still exists as well, behind locked doors. You’ll get to it quick.)

5.There is a new weapon in the game, the Wunderwaffe DG-2. Speculation around the net suggests that the weapon will have a spotlight attached which may or may not incinerate enemies. Some have even suggested that this weapon has Vampire Vision, which allows the player to see through walls for zombie-tracking purposes. (UPDATE: The WW-DG2 is a lightning gun which shocks multiple zombies. I once heard a friend mention lightning in old Nazi-Zombies promos. Perhaps it got saved until now? Or maybe my friend sees the zap-traps and assumes its lightning…)

6. There will be at least three different types of traps. Speculation on this topic is all over the place so far, but i think we can agree that the Bouncing Betty will be one of them. Others? Perhaps a bear trap, or some sort of tension trap. I for one would love to see a weapon-rig trap, which would allow you to rig your weapon to a tree or solid surface, and then add a tripwire to the trigger. Or perhaps a super-trap, something akin to the nuke. (UPDATE: A stationary mega-trap called the Flogger is confirmed. It is basically a log windmill of doom. You can expect to find the traditional zap-traps as well.)

Besides these things, we know what our achievements and trophies are this time around.

Hammer Time
Repair 200 window boards in a single game. (Map Pack 2 only)

Its a Trap!
Kill at least one zombie with three different traps in a single round. (Map Pack 2 only)

Weapon of Minor Destruction
Kill no more than one zombie with a nuke. (Map Pack 2 only)

Perk-a-Holic
Have all four perks simultaneously active in a game of Nazi Zombies. (Map Pack 2 only)

Fertilizer Man
Kill 200 zombies in a single game. (Map Pack 2 only)

Deadhead
Get 150 zombie headshots in a single game. (Map Pack 2 only)

Big Baller
Earn 75,000 points in a single Nazi Zombies game. (Map Pack 2 only)

Big Brawler
Get 10 consecutive zombie melee kills before Insta-Kill expires. (Map Pack 2)

Soul Survivor
Reach round 15 in Nazi Zombies without getting revived. (Map Pack 2 only)

Plus a secret Trophy/Achievement.

So what is the gameplay going to be like? Well, i can tell you now that its going to be harder than the last map.  With open space, and a fast, low enemy like the hell hounds, you’ll be hard pressed to live into the 20s (UPDATE: This map is definitely more difficult. And, i’m happy to note that my estimated difficulty is almost spot on; the creators of the game got excited when they hit level 23.).  The zombie spawning will be interesting to observe this time around. Open space means they could potentially spawn in right next to you, at any moment. (UPDATE: confirmed.) I highly recommend players on this map remember to turn the hell around now and again, watch your back. I also see this map as being a fast-paced, frantic experience. There are places to stand your ground, however they will be over-run quickly.  The gameplay created with this new map could force teams to play at each others backs, watching quadrants. (UPDATE: confirmed. Hellhounds will destroy a group who is hunkered down and is too densely packed. A loose group who watches one another will survive longer.)

 Need a strategy to get started? Check out this post.

Remember, this game mode was modeled after one of my favorite games of all time, Geometry Wars. The developers wanted to recreate the fast-paced action of Geowars in a 3d first person environment. In keeping with that model, the new Shi No Numa map could be a purer form of that idea. No matter how this map ends up, i imagine its going to be just as impressive as the first two.

The carnage resumes on release date June 11th. (UPDATE: Its past June 11th. heh)

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