Can You Save Harper’s Face in Black Ops 2? A Definitive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can avoid burning Harper’s face in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. This critical decision point occurs during the “Fallen Angel” mission. While the game presents a fiery obstacle, a careful and deliberate driving approach will ensure Harper escapes unscathed. The consequences of this seemingly small action have long-term impacts on the game’s narrative and, for completionists, contribute to achieving specific endings. Let’s delve into the specifics of how to save Harper’s face and explore its implications.
Avoiding the Fire: A Step-by-Step Guide
The pivotal moment arises when Mason is driving a vehicle, and your drone crashes. Shortly afterward, the screen dramatically slows down, signaling an imminent danger. This is the burning pipe, where a wrong turn can lead to a disfiguring facial injury for Harper. To prevent this, you need to stay as far right as possible while approaching the burning wreckage.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Recognize the Warning: Be attentive to the slowed-down gameplay as the visual cue for the impending hazard.
- Maintain Right-Hand Bias: As you regain control after the drone crash, immediately steer to the right side of the road.
- Follow the Right Path: The road will bend slightly to the left as you approach, but stay committed to your right-hand trajectory. This will create enough distance between your vehicle and the burning pipe to avoid the fire completely.
- Focus on a Clean Escape: Your priority should be to navigate around the hazard without clipping the fire. This requires precision, but it is definitely attainable.
By adhering to these steps, you will successfully steer clear of the flames, ensuring Harper’s face remains intact. This might seem like a trivial decision at first, but its repercussions are significant.
The Significance of Saving Harper’s Face
Avoiding the fire doesn’t just save Harper from a cosmetic injury. It’s a key factor influencing the game’s ending. In Black Ops 2, the choices you make impact the storyline drastically. Getting Harper burned contributes to what is often considered one of the “worst” endings of the game. This ending is characterized by a more bleak and undesirable outcome compared to other possible scenarios.
Specifically, this detail plays a role in the conditions needed to achieve the Pyrrhic Victory ending, which is not a good one for the characters in the game. This is why making the correct driving choice is not just about avoiding a burn, but a strategic decision impacting the overall story.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To provide further clarity on this crucial aspect and related questions, let’s address the most common queries:
1. What happens if Harper’s face is burned?
If you choose to drive on the left side at the end of the “Fallen Angel” mission, Harper will receive a significant facial burn, which will persist throughout the remainder of the story. This decision is a major factor in achieving a darker ending in Black Ops 2.
2. Does saving Harper’s face affect the game’s ending?
Yes, saving Harper’s face is crucial for avoiding the Pyrrhic Victory ending, which is generally considered the “worst” outcome. Keeping him uninjured contributes to achieving a better overall ending.
3. Can you save Chloe in Black Ops 2?
Yes, Chloe can be saved. The most reliable method involves ensuring that both Farid and DeFalco survive the missions “Achilles’ Veil” and “Karma,” respectively. If both are alive during the attack on the USS Obama, DeFalco will knock Karma unconscious, and Farid will then kill DeFalco, resulting in Karma’s survival. Completing “Strike Force” missions is also essential for her survival.
4. What happens if you kill Harper instead of Farid?
If you kill Harper instead of Farid, Farid will be alive to protect Karma during the attack on the USS Obama. Therefore, while Farid still dies, it’s considered a better sacrifice for the greater good.
5. How many endings does Black Ops 2 have?
There are multiple endings in Black Ops 2, influenced by a variety of choices the player makes. These range from “best” to “worst,” depending on the criteria you’re evaluating and the outcomes for the characters. It’s generally agreed there are 8 different endings you could potentially get.
6. Is it better to shoot Harper or Menendez?
It is generally considered better to shoot Harper. Saving Farid results in him taking a bullet for Karma during the USS Obama attack. On the other hand, capturing Menendez is seen as the ideal course of action, in terms of the game’s story.
7. What is the canon ending for Black Ops 2?
The canon ending is where Section executes Menendez, leading to a global insurrection incited by a posthumously uploaded video. This ending is the bridge to Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
8. Can you capture DeFalco in Black Ops 2?
Yes, you can capture DeFalco. If you successfully reach the hangar exit in time, you’ll be able to confront and shoot him, preventing his escape.
9. What happens if Farid dies?
If Farid dies, Salazar kills him. However, Section still confronts Menendez in Haiti. If Chloe survives to the end, Farid’s sacrifice helps save the USS Obama from destruction.
10. What is the “best” ending in Black Ops 2?
The best ending typically involves capturing Menendez rather than killing him. Capturing him prevents the global insurrection and results in Menendez being imprisoned with his plans foiled.
11. What was Harper’s rank in Black Ops 2?
Harper was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. He was also a member of Seal Team Six and the Joint Special Operations Command (J.S.O.C.).
12. Can you resist killing Kravchenko?
Yes, during the “Old Wounds” mission, you must resist killing Kravchenko when the button prompt appears. This is a pivotal moment that will influence the game. Doing so also helps when interrogating Noriega in the mission “Suffer with me” to unlock an achievement.
13. Should I shoot Menendez or capture him?
You should always choose to capture Menendez, not kill him. Killing him triggers a video instructing followers of Cordis Die to carry out his plan for revenge, leading to further chaos and destruction.
14. Can you stop DeFalco from escaping?
Yes, you can stop DeFalco from escaping in the “Karma” mission. A well-timed sniper shot can kill him, ending the mission prematurely, or you can chase him down and engage him in a shootout.
15. What is the worst ending in Black Ops 2?
The Pyrrhic Victory ending is generally regarded as the worst ending. You achieve this by getting Harper’s face burned, killing DeFalco in Karma, failing to resist and killing Kravchenko in Old Wounds, recovering the Celerium device in Celerium, searching the compound thoroughly in Time and Fate, discovering Zhao’s secret meeting details in Fallen Angel and rescuing Woods in Pyrrhic Victory.
Conclusion
In Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, your choices matter profoundly. Saving Harper’s face during the “Fallen Angel” mission is just one example of how a small action can ripple into the narrative’s broader outcome. By carefully driving and maintaining a rightward position, you can avoid his burn and, more significantly, improve your chances of achieving a more favorable ending. These details enhance replayability and make Black Ops 2 a fascinating and choice-driven experience.