Do I Shoot Harper? A Deep Dive into Black Ops 2’s Crucial Choice
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The question of whether to shoot Harper in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is one of the most agonizing choices the game throws at players. It’s not just a simple binary decision; it’s a moral quandary with far-reaching consequences affecting character fates, plot threads, and even the overall ending. So, should you shoot Harper? In short, the “better” decision from a narrative perspective, focusing on minimizing overall character deaths and working towards a more positive ending, is to NOT shoot Harper. By shooting Menendez instead, you sacrifice Farid, who later dies taking a bullet for Karma, but you ensure Harper remains alive, even if wounded. Choosing to shoot Harper sacrifices him but allows Farid to live longer, although that survival is also short-lived. The complexities of these intertwined fates are what make this choice so significant. Choosing to shoot Harper isn’t inherently the “wrong” choice – that is for the player to decide – but it leads down a path where more of your squad and allies ultimately perish during the course of the story. It’s a tough call, but here’s the breakdown to help you decide.
Understanding the Choice: The Core Dilemma
The decision point arrives during the mission “Achilles’ Veil.” Menendez orders Farid to prove his loyalty by killing Harper. Harper, recognizing the gravity of the situation, screams for Farid to shoot him. At this moment, you, as the player, are forced to choose. You can:
- Shoot Harper: You execute Harper, sparing Farid for now.
- Shoot Menendez: You shoot Menendez, allowing him to escape, but Farid dies in the exchange.
This choice has immediate and cascading effects.
Consequences of Shooting Harper
If you choose to shoot Harper, several things happen:
- Farid lives, for now. You ensure Farid doesn’t have to carry out Menendez’s order and he lives through this initial encounter.
- Harper dies. He is executed on the spot.
- Salazar is captured. After killing Harper, Salazar is taken into custody and, if all Strike Force missions are completed, will survive.
- Farid later dies saving Karma during the USS Obama mission. This is arguably the “better cause” that the article is referencing, but it still results in Farid’s death.
Consequences of Shooting Menendez
If you choose to shoot Menendez, several things unfold:
- Farid dies. Menendez kills Farid immediately with an Executioner revolver during the gun fight.
- Harper survives, although he’s severely wounded. He is extracted and does not participate in the remainder of the mission.
- Chloe Lynch dies. When either Salazar or DeFalco shoot up the bridge of the USS Obama, they kill Chloe. This happens because with Farid dead, he isn’t able to protect her.
The Ripple Effect: Long-Term Implications
The initial choice is only the beginning. The impact of your decision echoes throughout the rest of the game.
The Fate of Farid
Whether you shoot Harper or not, Farid does not survive the entirety of the game. He will either be killed in the scene where you have the choice or later during the mission on the USS Obama. He dies while attempting to protect either Karma or Chloe.
The Fate of Harper
If you don’t shoot Harper, he survives, albeit severely wounded and unable to participate in the rest of the campaign. He is evacuated via medevac to the USS Barack Obama and is not seen again.
The Fate of Chloe
Chloe’s fate is intertwined with Farid’s. If Farid is dead due to you shooting Menendez, Chloe will die on the bridge of the USS Obama when Salazar or Defalco shoots it up. If Farid lives due to you shooting Harper, then Chloe will survive, and so will Farid until the attack on the USS Obama.
The “Best” Ending and Menendez
The game’s “best” ending focuses on capturing Menendez, not killing him. This is achieved during the mission “Judgement Day.” If you kill him, a video of his instructions will be released resulting in a global insurrection. By capturing him instead, you prevent this escalation and work towards a more controlled resolution of the conflict. This is also where choices made throughout the game come to bear as your character’s actions determine if the best ending is attainable.
Final Thoughts
The “Do I shoot Harper?” question is not simply about choosing one character over another. It’s about understanding the web of consequences that each decision creates. The most impactful thing to remember is that choosing to shoot Harper will cause a chain of events that are more fatal for all characters involved. Shooting Menendez allows Harper to live, but sacrifices Farid and Chloe, as well as more deaths across the world. While the “best” ending involves capturing Menendez, the moral dilemmas that this choice brings are part of what make Black Ops 2 so memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I shoot Harper in Black Ops 2?
If you shoot Harper, you will kill him. Farid will live through this initial encounter. He will, however, later be killed on the USS Obama. Salazar will be taken into custody and will survive the story if you completed all of the Strike Force missions.
2. What happens if I shoot Menendez instead of Harper?
If you shoot Menendez instead of Harper, Farid is killed in the initial encounter. Harper will survive, but will be wounded and extracted via medevac to the USS Barack Obama. Chloe will die when the bridge of the USS Obama is shot up.
3. Can Harper survive in Black Ops 2?
Yes, Harper can survive. If you shoot Menendez, Harper will live and be evacuated back to the USS Barack Obama. He is wounded and is not present for the remainder of the mission.
4. Does Farid survive if I shoot Harper?
Farid survives the initial scene if you shoot Harper, but will be killed during the USS Obama mission while protecting Karma or Chloe, either by Defalco or Salazar.
5. Does Farid survive if I shoot Menendez?
No, Farid does not survive if you shoot Menendez. He will die immediately during the gun fight by Menendez.
6. What is the “best” ending in Black Ops 2?
The “best” ending involves capturing Menendez during the mission “Judgement Day.” Doing so will prevent the global insurrection. To maximize your chances of getting the “best” ending, you should aim to make choices throughout the game that benefit the U.S. and do not put characters lives in danger.
7. What is the worst ending in Black Ops 2?
The worst ending, “Pyrrhic Victory” is achieved by failing to thoroughly search the compound in Time and Fate, discover Zhao’s secret meeting in Fallen Angel, and fail to secure Karma and kill Defalco. Having Harper’s face burned also contributes to the worst ending.
8. What happens to Salazar if you kill Harper?
If Harper is killed, Salazar will be taken into custody. If you’ve completed all Strike Force missions, Salazar will survive the game.
9. Can you save Karma in Black Ops 2?
Yes, Karma can survive if she is saved in “Second Chance.” This allows her to be knocked unconscious by Defalco, instead of being shot and killed on the USS Obama.
10. Can you capture DeFalco in Black Ops 2?
Yes, DeFalco can be caught at the exit of the hangar. He is unable to be captured, but is killed at the end of the encounter. If he survives “Colossus”, he will reappear again during the “Achilles Veil” mission.
11. What is the canon ending of Black Ops 2?
The canon ending of Black Ops 2 is the one where Menendez is killed. This sets the stage for Call of Duty: Black Ops III. It’s important to note that while this is the canonical ending, it’s not necessarily the “best” ending from a narrative standpoint.
12. Can you avoid Harper’s face getting burned in Black Ops 2?
Yes, you can avoid Harper’s face getting burned in the “Fallen Angel” mission. During the driving sequence, stay to the far right of the road after your drone crashes.
13. Did Menendez know Farid was a spy?
Yes, it’s heavily implied that Menendez knew Farid was a mole, possibly through deduction or information provided by Salazar.
14. Why does Menendez seek revenge?
Menendez seeks revenge primarily for the death of his sister, Josephina. Her death, coupled with the assassination of his father, fuels his hatred and desire for vengeance.
15. What happens when you capture Menendez?
When you capture Menendez, he is imprisoned. A Celerium worm infects power plants near the prison, leading to his escape, which results in him going to the Vault and ultimately killing Woods. This part of the story is what sets up for the canonical outcome.