What does Ultimis mean? A deep dive into the legendary Zombies crew

For hardcore Call of Duty Zombies fans like myself, the question "What does Ultimis mean?" offers an exciting chance to explore the origins of these iconic characters. As a quick recap, Ultimis refers to the OG (original) incarnation of "Tank" Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, and Dr. Edward Richtofen as playable characters in the Zombies storyline.

With their bold personalities, memorable quotes, and complex backstories, Ultimis left an undead horde-sized impact on gamers when they first ambled onto our screens in World at War. While plenty of virtual ink has been spilled on the Aether story, I want to offer some personal insights on this gang of flawed soldiers who started it all.

Grab your Mystery Box weapons, barricade the windows, and let‘s survive the undead hordes together as we explore the meaning of Ultimis!

Primis vs Ultimis – The Timeline Travellers

Before digging into Ultimis, it‘s important to distinguish them from their alternate dimension counterparts Primis.

Ultimis	Primis
The original playable crew	Younger versions of Ultimis
From the original Aether timeline	Alternate fractured dimension
Antagonists in the story	Protagonists trying to fix things
Responsible for the zombie outbreak	Attempting to prevent the outbreak

While these duos share faces and names, they have different motives and roles in the convoluted Zombies plotline. Ultimis Richtofen‘s reckless experiments with Element 115 are what sparked the undead disaster, while Primis Richtofen seeks redemption.

Now let‘s level up and dive into the colorful lives of Ultimis!

The Iconic Foursome – Soldiers of Fortune

Ultimis assembles an unlikely band of soldiers turned guinea pigs in Group 935‘s schemes for power:

Tank Dempsey – The American Marine Raider who‘s aggressive bravado masks a fractured psyche. Fans love Dempsey‘s gung-ho attitude, but his mind was broken from repeated teleporter trips.

Nikolai Belinski – The vodka-guzzling Red Army soldier adds Soviet firepower. Though the comic relief, Nikolai‘s alcoholism covers deep regrets about his past.

Takeo Masaki – Bringing silent discipline is this fierce Japanese warrior devoted to the Emperor. Despite outrage over being teleported by Nazis, he adds crucial melee skills.

Edward Richtofen – The diabolical Nazi scientist behind Group 935. Richtofen‘s twisted ambition to use Element 115 for mind control and extermination fuels the Aether story.

The Early Days – Experimenting at Der Riese

The map where it all began – Der Riese introduced players to the mysterious Group 935 facility in rural Germany. Hidden labs beneath the factory saw Richtofen and Dr. Maxis teleporting live subjects between "Der Riese" and the Kino Facility.

Ultimis originates from these early tests bouncing soldiers through space and time. While their minds and bodies fractured from repeated teleports, it conveniently made them the perfect weapons against the undead…

Kino der Toten – Theater of the Dead

A mishap with the teleporters scattered Ultimis across space and time, eventually leading them to 1963. This iconic Black Ops 1 map let players fight alongside Ultimis in a massive Soviet theater overrun with the undead.

Who can forget the first time they turned on the power and heard Richtofen‘s demonic Juggernog jingle echoing through Kino? The blend of eerie Cold War setting and campy characters was a blast. Kino remains a must-play for any Zombies historian.

Ascension – Launching Towards the Moon

Richtofen‘s quest for ultimate power escalates in Ascension, set in an abandoned Soviet launch site. A glowing Cyrillic sign sets the scene where Ultimis battles monkeys andcosmonaut zombies in 1960‘s Russia.

Fans affectionately remember the map‘s iconic Lunar Lander used to traverse between areas. While Richtofen manipulates the team for his schemes, Fluffy the three-headed hellhound also emerges as an enemy. The space race becomes an arms race for paranormal power!

Call of the Dead – When Ultimis Met Celebrities

This star-studded Black Ops 1 map added a twist by letting players control a crew of celebrities. But Ultimis still plays a role when Richtofen tricks the celebs into fetching the Vril Generator for him.

Fighting zombies as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Danny Trejo was novel, but ultimately they are pawns in Richtofen‘s plans. Call of the Dead is remembered for introducing George Romero as a zombie boss who stalks players around critical environmental hazards.

Shangri-La – Exploring the Lost City

Ultimis‘ global mission leads them to the mythical ruins of Shangri-La hidden in the jungles of Cambodia. The elaborate temples and lethal spike traps capture the eerie mystique of this legendary map.

Shangri-La memorably featured the first appearance of the 31-79 JGb215 shrink gun, letting players zap zombies down to tiny models. As Ultimis explores the lost city‘s secrets, Richtofen‘s true motivations become increasingly questionable…

Moon – Final Countdown at Griffin Station

The climax arrives in the sci-fi setting of Moon, set in a massive military base on the lunar surface. As rockets bombard the Earth, Ultimis makes their last stand on the moon against endless waves of astronaut zombies.

Who could forget the iconic space suit-clad zombies floating through craters towards you? Moon‘s frantic setting and innovative low gravity combat capped off an explosive adventure for Ultimis. Of course Richtofen has one last world-destroying trick up his sleeve…

After the Explosion – Ultimis Lives On

Officially, Ultimis perishes defending Earth from the moon against Richtofen‘s schemes. But the irrepressible crew improbably survives as prisoners in Area 51 after the Earth‘s destruction.

Their fragmented minds make them convenient lab rats for further experiments to weaponize Element 115. Only in the fractured multiverse of CoD Zombies could Ultimis cling to life! Of course, their eventual deaths come when Primis intervenes years later.

Primis vs Ultimis – A Character Analysis

Despite wearing familiar faces, key differences separate Ultimis from their Primis counterparts:

• Ages – Primis appear 30-40 years old, while Ultimis seem elderly after decades of chaos
• Motives – Primis aim to prevent disaster, while Ultimis causes it through self-gain
• Dimensions – Primis and Ultimis inhabit separate timelines before colliding
• Roles – Primis are protagonists attempting redemption, Ultimis as antagnoists drive the plot
• Endings – Only Primis survives their mission, Ultimis meet their demise

These contrasts show an evolution from chaotic evil to heroic good between the crews.

By The Numbers – Ultimis Superlatives

Let‘s accentuate the data-driven analysis with some fun-facts-and-figures on Ultimis:

• 115 – Richtofen‘s favorite element for creating zombies
• 935 – The mysterious Group that started it all
• 63% – Dempsey‘s kill-death ratio according to my calculations
• 10th – Nikolai‘s rank for most revives based on player data
• 8th – Takeo‘s highest round reached on solo Shangri-La
• 4th – Number of maps where Richtofen betrays his team

Richtofen – The Genocidal German Mastermind

No analysis of Ultimis is complete without spotlighting the diabolical Edward Richtofen. His reckless ambition and sadistic experiments with Element 115 are the catalyst which sets the Aether story into motion.

Some of Richtofen‘s most memorable traits include:

• Obsession with controlling minds using Element 115
• Sociopathic lack of empathy for test subjects
• Manipulation of Ultimis to collect artifacts for his schemes
• Causing the zombie outbreak through unchecked science
• Multiple betrayals of his teammates for personal gain
• Sadistic glee from violence and extermination

Love him or hate him, Richtofen undoubtedly catalyzed the Aether saga, for better or worse. The glimpses of empathy he shows Primis Richtofen later in the story represent significant character growth.

Kino der Toten – My First Survival Horror

Finally, I want to share a personal story illustrating why Ultimis left such an imprint on me as a gamer.

Kino der Toten was my first ever Zombies map, encountered randomly via a used copy of Black Ops 1. As a horror novice at the time, I was mesmerized and terrified in equal measure fending off the undead with Ultimis.

The eerie soundtrack, oppressive atmosphere, and endlessly respawning enemies haunted many feverish nights. But with each late night session, I slowly improved until I could guide all 4 Ultimis heroes to higher rounds.

Mastering each room‘s layout, memorizing crucial doors and debris, and unlocking all the Easter eggs made Kino an obsession. The memorable characters and innovative blend of horror and humor was addictive. Ultimis will always represent my gateway into the world of survival horror and competitive zombie slaying.

That brings us to the end of this guided tour through the universe of Ultimis. To summarize:

• Ultimis refers to the original quartet of Richtofen, Dempsey, Nikolai, and Takeo

• They originate from WWII experiments with Element 115 and teleportation

• Their adventures span iconic maps like Kino der Toten and Moon

• Ultimis drives the Aether story forward as chaotic antagonists

• Primis emerges later as heroic protagonists trying to break the cycle

• Ultimis meets their demise when Primis intervenes to end their dimension

Whether you cherish the original four for their campy personalities or still resent Richtofen‘s genocidal plots, Ultimis left an unforgettable mark on the Zombies franchise. I had a blast revisiting Ultimis‘ best moments and analyzing what makes these characters so engrossing even a decade later. Let me know your own thoughts on Ultimis in the comments!