As a fellow Call of Duty zombie slayer, I know you‘ll agree that few maps inspire as much passion and nostalgia as Kino der Toten. This legendary theater of the undead first shuffled onto our screens in 2010 as part of the First Strike DLC pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Over a decade later, Kino remains etched in our memories as one of the greatest Zombies maps ever conceived.
But how exactly did this Berlin horror show come to life? What made Kino der Toten so special compared to other undead battlegrounds? And which DLC do you need to secure a ticket to the show? Grab your Thundergun and let‘s explore the riveting history behind one of Call of Duty‘s living dead masterpieces.
Kino der Toten 101 – Welcome to the Theater of Death
For those who‘ve somehow missed the magic of Kino, here‘s a quick primer on this iconic arena of apocalyptic action:
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Release Date: February 1st, 2011 (as part of First Strike DLC)
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Setting: Abandoned Theater in 1960s Berlin, Germany
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Layout: Sprawling multi-level theater with lobby, main stage, dressing room, foyer, and alley access
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Characters: Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, Edward Richtofen
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Enemies: Zombies!! All your favorite shrieking undead like crawlers, nova gas zombies, Screecher sprinters, and the deadly Hellhounds
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Weapons: SMGs, assault rifles, LMGs, shotguns, pistols, wonder weapons like the Thundergun
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New Features: Teleporters, playable characters, Pack-A-Punch machine, Mystery Box
As a launch map for Call of Duty: Black Ops‘ Zombies mode, Kino der Toten delivered blockbuster thrills on an epic scale never before seen!
First Strike DLC – Kino‘s Original Black Ops Debut
While Kino has been remastered and re-released over the years, its first appearance was in Call of Duty: Black Ops as part of the First Strike Map Pack DLC. This first Black Ops DLC released on February 1st, 2011 on Xbox 360 and later on other platforms.
In addition to Kino der Toten, First Strike included:
- 4 new multiplayer maps: Stadium, Discovery, Berlin Wall, Kowloon
- 2 new Special Ops missions: Overwatch and Big Brother
Priced at 1200 Microsoft Points or $15, First Strike offered our first glimpse of Kino alongside fresh online combat arenas. For Zombies diehards, it was an instant must-buy solely for Kino!
Zombies Chronicles – Kino Returns Remastered
On May 16, 2017, Treyarch brought Kino back to life once more with the Zombies Chronicles DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. This collection compiled 8 iconic Zombies maps beautifully remastered on next-gen consoles.
Favorites granted a visual face-lift in Zombies Chronicles included:
- Kino der Toten
- Ascension
- Shangri-La
- Moon
- Origins
- Nacht der Untoten
- Verrückt
- Shi No Numa
With boosted graphics and visuals tuned for new systems, Zombies Chronicles offered veteran players a chance to re-experience these classic maps anew. And it opened the door for new generations of players to enjoy Kino der Toten for the first time.
Layout Breakdown – The Theater of Death
Now let‘s explore Kino‘s sprawling multi-level layout and the best areas to dominate the undead:
[Layout Map]-
Lobby – Starting area and important junction connecting all parts of the map. Features the teleporter and doors to the stage and alley.
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Main Stage – Wide open area perfect for mowing down hordes. Stairs lead up to the dressing room and projection room.
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Dressing Room – Tight quarters and location of the Mystery Box. Has access to the upper foyer.
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Alley – Exit to outside street. Good place to group up zombies coming from windows.
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Foyer – Elevated end area overlooking the lobby. Contains teleporter and another projector.
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Projector Room – Small side room with window access and projector trap.
Having room to maneuver is key in Kino. The stage, foyer, and alley provide enough breathing room when things get hairy. But beware of getting trapped in dead-ends like the dressing room once the cadavers start piling in!
Wonder Weapons – Kino‘s Prized Death-Dealers
No proper theater experience is complete without special effects, and Kino‘s rare wonder weapons add explosive magic to the madness.
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Thundergun – Signature weapon that blasts zombies with a violent air shockwave. Limited ammo but can clear rooms fast!
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Ray Gun – Classic sci-fi pistol shooting lasers that completely disintegrate zombies. High damage but burns through ammo quickly.
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Monkey Bombs – Wind-up explosive monkey toys that attract zombies before detonating. Great for creating distractions and breathing room!
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Winter‘s Fury – A later addition only in the Zombies Chronicles version. This weapon encases enemies in ice before shattering them.
Having a wonder weapon in your back pocket is essential when the hordes come crashing down in the higher rounds! They may be rare to unlock, but persist and you‘ll be rewarded with Kino‘s specialty tools of undead destruction.
The Music – Setting the Tone
No Call of Duty Zombies experience would be complete without kickass musical Easter eggs. Kino der Toten debuted two iconic tracks that long-time fans know and love:
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"115" – Hard rock gem by Elena Siegman that has become the unofficial anthem of Zombies. Errie lyrics recount the apocalyptic tone of the story.
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"Abracadavre" – Upbeat swing track by Ennio Morricone that evokes a sinister 1960s dance party. The perfect high-energy tune for blasting away zombies!
Both songs can be triggered by activating 3 meteor fragments hidden around the map. Kino‘s catchy soundtrack is perfect for both survival sessions and posting high round records!
The Story Continues – Kino Advances the Zombies Lore
While you‘re blasting limbs off the undead, don‘t forget to appreciate Kino‘s role in expanding Call of Duty Zombies‘ complex mythology!
Set after the events of World at War, we find our characters transported to a new Group 935 facility trying to survive the apocalypse they helped cause. The map introduced new plot details about Element 115 and the mysterious German organization.
Through hidden radios and character quotes, Kino deepened the twisted backstory. New Dimension 63 versions of our heroes formed the "Ultimis" crew that anchored Zombies Easter egg quests for years to come. Later maps would continue the saga, but Kino provided the critical second act in the Aether story.
High Round Tips – Surviving the Theater
Now for the nitty-gritty combat tactics to avoid becoming an entree in the theater of the dead! Here are crucial tips for pushing higher rounds:
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Utilize Traps – Kino has nova gas traps, turret traps, and the deadly fire pit. Use them strategically!
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Unlock Pack a Punch – Upgrading your guns is essential. Link the teleporters to gain access.
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Alley Defense – Fall back to the alley and stage when things get tough. Defend windows and group up zombies.
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Wonder Weapons – Getting a Ray Gun or Thundergun can save you. Persist through the Mystery Box!
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Perk Up – Quick Revive, Juggernog, Speed Cola, PhD Flopper. Equip your perk favorites to boost survivability!
With these pro-tips, you‘ll be staging an Oscar-worthy defense for the ages against Kino‘s legions of undead thespians!
Development History – Behind the Scenes
Kino der Toten‘s path to release had some surprising twists and turns during development. Early concepts pegged it as a World at War map before plans shifted gear:
"Kino der Toten was originally meant to be a DLC map for Call of Duty: World at War but it was deemed too close to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, so they saved the map and released it with Black Ops instead." – TXK Strategist, Treyarch Developer
This extra polish time helped Treyarch expand the map and gameplay features for its eventual Black Ops debut. As TXK Strategist elaborated:
"…we set out to make sure Kino was one of the most iconic Zombies maps ever. Everything from the layout to the Wonder Weapons was designed to take Zombies to the next level and further establish it as a franchise pillar."
It‘s exciting to imagine how Kino could have turned out if released for World at War instead. But the extra care and ambition applied clearly paid off given its smashing reception!
Remaster Reactions – Praise from Players
While Kino der Toten‘s original release earned acclaim, its return as an enhanced Zombies Chronicles remaster cemented its reputation as an all-time classic.
The gaming community shared effusive reactions to experiencing Kino revived for next-gen consoles:
"They‘ve absolutely nailed bringing back that intense Kino magic while also making it feel fresh again. Treyarch at their best!" – James Ferraro, Call of Duty YouTuber
"The Classiest map of all time just got classier. Five stars, would survive the zombie apocalypse here again." – @Jeff_Goldblum, Twitter User
"Everything from the sound design to the visuals complements the map perfectly. Feels like a theater of death I could get lost in for hours." – r/Zombies Reddit User
It‘s clear Kino der Toten will continue thrilling and chilling zombie hunters for years to come!
The Magic Lives On!
For many zombie slayers, surviving Kino der Toten‘s haunted theater corridors certified them as true veterans of the undead war. Whether first played in 2011 or just now discovered today, Kino remains a masterpiece that never fails to pull you back in for repeat viewings.
Now you can impress your squadmates by knowing all the history and details behind one of Call of Duty‘s most iconic Zombies theaters. So grab your popcorn, load your Thundergun, and prepare to battle the undead shining stars once more! We‘ll see you at the show.
