The following text has been copy and pasted from a massive rant in which I went over why I love Takeo a lot. This has been dumbed down because I wrote it to Facebook. For my family and their friends.
A lot of elderly people will tell you that violent games cause violence, that fictional games are a root of hatred. But I think that this close-minded thought has really prevented a lot of people from truly understanding the beauty in fiction, and I think that it's sort of lead to a shut down in myself, sabotaging what peopld know about me to stay "out of trouble".
When I tried to talk about my loves and likes, I was ultimately shut down.
"Well, you're too young. Can't you just like something else?"
"That's too boyish. You're a girl, go pick some dolls out."
"Why should you care? It's fiction. You will move on."
It's these statements that create resentment in a child, showing them that it's not okay to like what they want just because of some predetermined fate that we are supposed to follow.
And as the young adult that saw that self-resentment build up in myself, I want to talk about why I love Takeo Masaki from Call of Duty Zombies. I want to explore the beauty of his story and why it is incredibly difficult for me to accept it if people cannot even grasp it and respect my interests.
Let me start with my experience, why this is a special case in my story.
For me, Call of Duty is a childhood series for generations. In the age of digital entertainment, it was a best-seller that young children and adults came together to enjoy. Even the XBOX 360 lives. Of course, I was one of those kids. My older sibling gave me the controller for a Black Ops 2 match, and I picked up everything. I was freshly 4.
While multiplayer with bots was a good hobby I had, I specifically found my passion in zombies. Of course, I was a child and got scared so I played with randoms.
In the years I spent, I found myself passionate for this series. While I had found myself absorbed within other series like Splatoon heavily and Smash Bros, Call of Duty never left me. From around 2016-2021, I would come back here and there, picking up the game to check in on what I remember. It was just reliving my nostalgia. I recognized character names since I played Origins and Tranzit, but I know I use to be really into Misty, the female character for the Victis crew in Tranzit. I suppose from here, I had a big obsession with girl characters.
Though, maturity and development would sort of take a turnaround.
In 2023, I would finally pick up on learning about characters in Call of Duty Zombies. I had searched for Misty at first since that was my childhood crush. Though, I eventually stumbled onto the other 4 that I remembered the names we know them as. Richtofen, Nikolai, Dempsey and Takeo.
At this time, I actually had a character of my own named Takeo, so I naturally began to resonate with him. I would end up drawing the two of them together. Though, I would not realize the amount of love I would hold for this guy 3 years later.
With the understanding of this background context, I will now transition into Takeo's story.
As of writing this, 3 versions of Takeo currently exist.
Ultimis Takeo is a WW2 imperialist Japanese soldier. In the context of the real life atrocities committed by the soldiers of this time, I will only be mentioning him where he is lore relevant due to the association with the real life associations.
I do not condone any of these horrific crimes, and I will bring respect to the families torn apart by keeping mention where it is only needed.
This version is deceased.
Primis Takeo is a WW1 samurai. Loyal to his emperor, or so until later in the story. From a war-torn man in the midst of a battlefield to a rugged and traumatized soldier among 3 comrades on different nations. This version will be the most mentioned for respect for victims of real life inspired character, lore, and storywriting.
This version is currently deceased.
And finally, BO7 Takeo. There really isn't much of a canon crew name for this new version, so I just refer to him by BO7 since this is where he is revealed. His origins as of right now are currently a mystery, and he seems to be based off 1451 Feudal Japan.
From games BO2 to BO3, the storyline follows the protagonist, Richtofen. Stranded with 3 strangers from different nations on the battlefield of WW1 Northern France. The games don't really state what Richtofen's plan was originally, but he's kind of the German science guy and all.
After completing the easter egg for Origins in BO2, the next map to follow is The Giant in BO3. (This is a remake of an older map called Der Riese) We watch as Richtofen (Primis) kills off his older self. (Ultimis) This is revealed to us as the goals for the next 3 maps for the characters. Why is this so special? It is the major character development for one of the most underrated, underappreciated characters in Call of Duty.
Of course, after The Giant is Der Eisendrache. This map is about Dempsey. Moving on ... the next map is Zetsubou no Shima. 絶望の島. (Island of Despair)
Possibly one of the most unsettling maps, an isolated island of mutation and plantation. In this area holds a research unit called "Unit 9". (As far as I am aware, this is possibly a reference to the well known Unit 731.) A facility running experiments, human and plant experiments.
Before Primis, the most we knew of Ultimis Takeo was a guy who was deeply loyal. A man under what I perceive to be religious abuse or trauma in some sort of way in a severely stressful situation.
In the original timeline, we know that he was given up to the research lab Group 935 as "punishment" for disapproving of what he found on this island. However, this timeline where the map takes place takes a darker route, surrendering to these experiments.
I dare argue, this is no "shock value". This is the formation of the psychological breakdown of a soldier in war. Similarily to the "shell-shocked" phenomenon recorded in WW1, the detailing of a trauma response in extreme pressure.
For a character beloved even if not popular for a decade or so, to be torn apart from the meaning of his life to why he has come this far.
In Zetsubou no Shima, such a map captures that lost feeling. A world of desolate horror with spiders, spores... This is purposely designed to unsettle the viewer, and it's perfect. The images of what you were not supposed to see is horrendous.
Alongside lots of hints to possible sexual abuse which would fit quite well as symbolism in flowers, numerous of the scenes shown in the teaser for this map have possibly the most beautiful attention to detail and environment I think I've ever seen. Open cages, arachnid beasts, heavy shadows.
The emotion especially is captured in the final cutscene after beating Takeo's boss fight. After taming a monster of torment, the result is simply a man who has lost all will of life. In a moment of self reflection, once Ultimis Takeo reveals to his younger self the reality of who is behind this, that climax has truly hit its peak. A flow of emotion so strong and overwhelming, questioning the path that he had devoted all for. Desparation is highlighted, even some of that loss seems to affect Richtofen in the scene. There's actually a quote from him too that supports this. "When I died, I felt nothing. When Dempsey died, I felt something. When Takeo died, I knew I had to save them."
This blending of a game known for a typical world war campaign with a story that highlights the horrors of real life religious abuse, allegories in sexual abuse, the psychological torment. I cannot find a unique statement to evaluate why I am enamored with such a story.
I have found myself on some sort of sorrow, resonating with the sort of position of being the side character. On a level of a reader versus a character, I think I truly find my own values and treatmeant shared. While I do not share the trauma of these, I see myself able to recognize a world that has found its favorite and I simply take a breath.
There is a level of passion that I find behind this that I have never felt before. Maybe it is a combination of the world I grew to know, or the experiences I hold that shape my knowledge. But I want to share my analysis with anyone who may also like this game, anyone who is willing to understand my interests and talk to me about them.
On the surface is a fruity German scientist, a fat drunk Soviet communist, a little dumb but fun American marine, and the Japanese warrior that might be autistic.
In the waters tells a story of bonds and what humanity seems to find struggle in bringing attention to.
Brooke, Vex, whatever you know me as.
With regards and love for Treyarch Studios
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