Do You Obey Adler or Not? Navigating Choices in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

The question of whether to obey Russell Adler in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is central to the game’s narrative, impacting both the gameplay and the overall story outcome. The answer is not as straightforward as a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather a complex decision that depends on the player’s desired experience and ending. Let’s break down the consequences of obeying or disobeying Adler and explore the implications of this choice.

The Core Dilemma: Obedience vs. Disobedience

At its heart, the choice of obeying or disobeying Adler revolves around trust, control, and the player’s agency within the game. Adler, presented as a seasoned CIA operative, often gives commands and instructions that feel very directive. Disobeying Adler frequently leads to unique challenges, unlocks hidden trophies/achievements, and steers the narrative toward a different, often darker, path. Conversely, obeying Adler aligns you with the “good” ending and the traditional narrative flow, though it does not completely alleviate suspicion or unease.

Disobeying Adler: The Path of Rebellion

Choosing to disobey Adler throughout the game, especially during the crucial “Identity Crisis” mission, opens up several possibilities:

• Unique Gameplay Challenges: Repeatedly disobeying Adler often leads to navigating more challenging environments. You might need to find alternative routes, complete objectives out of the established order, and face tougher enemy encounters.
• “The Red Door” Trophy/Achievement: In the final stretch of the “Identity Crisis” level, consistently disobeying Adler unlocks “The Red Door” trophy or achievement. This is a direct reward for challenging Adler’s authority.
• Alternative Story Branch: By disobeying Adler at key moments, you subtly move down a path that challenges the game’s accepted narrative. It adds an element of mystery and makes you think twice about Adler’s character.

The allure of disobeying Adler lies in its potential to reveal more about the game’s mysteries and uncover hidden story elements.

Obeying Adler: Following the Established Order

Opting to obey Adler generally keeps you on the more linear path of the narrative:

• Guided Mission Flow: Obeying Adler ensures a smoother gameplay experience. You follow his instructions, completing the missions in the way that the developers initially intended.
• The “Good” Ending: A crucial decision hinges on your honesty with Adler. Specifically, if you tell the truth about Perseus’s location, you are on the path to the “good” ending.
• Collaboration with the Team: By obeying Adler, you maintain a cooperative relationship with your squad and work towards the goal of stopping Perseus.

However, this linear path can make you ponder if you are a puppet in Adler’s plan, ultimately making you think about what is best in the situation.

The Truth and Lies: The Crossroads

The pivotal decision of whether to lie to Adler or tell him the truth occurs during the “Identity Crisis” mission. This moment has a profound effect on the ending you receive.

• Telling the Truth (Solovetsky): Revealing that Perseus is located in Solovetsky will lead you to the canonical “good” ending where you are tasked with invading a monastery to stop the broadcast of the nuclear detonation signal.
• Lying to Adler (Duga): Lying about Perseus’s location, stating he is at Duga, will bring you down a darker path with the “bad” ending.

This choice is not just about avoiding a negative consequence; it affects the entire tone of the concluding act of the game. Lying to Adler immediately changes the stakes and throws a spotlight on the true intentions of your character.

Adler’s True Nature: Anti-Villain or Something More?

Russell Adler is not a straightforward hero. He is presented as an anti-villainous deuteragonist, a character who does not hesitate to make morally gray decisions to achieve his objectives. The game makes it apparent that even if you chose to obey Adler, he is still considered to be a “monster” and has a “dark charisma”. This highlights the complicated nature of Cold War politics.

Is Adler Good or Bad?

Ultimately, the game leaves it up to the player to interpret Adler’s nature. He’s not purely evil, but his methods and motivations can make him feel less than trustworthy, this leads us to believe the answer is up to individual interpretations.

The Ambiguity of Trust

The game creates a feeling of unease. Even if you choose to follow Adler’s directions, the underlying sense of distrust and the constant surveillance from the character make one question his true goals and intentions. Adler is not beyond suspicion, even if you chose to side with him during critical choices.

The Final Outcome: Canon vs. Alternate Endings

The canon ending, generally accepted by the community, involves Bell siding with Adler and successfully stopping Perseus’s plan, ultimately getting the “good” ending. However, even this ending leaves a sense of unease due to the fact that Adler is shown drawing his gun on Bell. The game does a fantastic job of showing that no choice is truly a “good” choice, and that each choice has its price.

The alternate, “bad” ending comes if you choose to lie to Adler, with him finding out and executing you. Choosing to betray Adler leads to a darker narrative and highlights the destructive nature of the Cold War conflict. Regardless of the choice, the game succeeds at making you think.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about obeying or disobeying Adler, to further explore the complexities of the game:

1. What happens if you obey all of Adler’s instructions?

   • Obeying all instructions will generally lead to a more linear gameplay experience and places you firmly on the path towards the “good” ending.

2. What is “The Red Door” achievement and how do you get it?

   • “The Red Door” trophy/achievement is unlocked by repeatedly disobeying Adler’s instructions during the “Identity Crisis” mission, in the final stretch.

3. Should I lie to Adler or tell him the truth about Perseus’s location?

   • To achieve the “good” ending, you should tell the truth and state Perseus is located in Solovetsky. Lying (Duga) leads to the “bad” ending.

4. Is Adler a good guy or a bad guy in Cold War?

   • Adler is best described as an anti-villain. He has questionable morals and actions but serves a perceived good, even if they are done with bad intentions.

5. What is the canonical ending for Cold War?

   • The generally accepted canon ending involves Bell siding with Adler and stopping Perseus.

6. Is Bell a Russian agent?

• Bell is believed to be of Russian origin and served as Perseus’s right-hand, making him a potential asset.

1. Who is the real villain in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War?

   • Perseus is considered the primary antagonist, with a primary focus on triggering a nuclear attack.

2. What happens if you betray Adler in Cold War?

   • Betraying Adler by choosing to lie (Duga) will lead you to the bad ending. The betrayal itself occurs when it becomes obvious that you did not choose the truth.

3. Why did Adler kill Bell in the “bad” ending?

   • Adler kills Bell in the “bad” ending because Bell reveals their allegiance to Perseus, confirming Adler’s distrust and suspicions of Bell.

4. Can you stop Perseus from detonating the nukes?

   • Yes, if you side with Adler and tell him the truth, you can stop Perseus’s plan and get the “good” ending.

5. What is the best psychological profile in Cold War?

   • Many players find “Violent Tendencies” (increased bullet damage) and “Survivor” (increased health) to be effective psychological profiles.

6. How do you get the best ending in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War?

   • To get the “best” ending, you must side with Adler and tell the truth about Perseus’s location.

7. Is Adler still alive after Black Ops Cold War?

   • Yes, Adler is still alive at the end of Cold War, while Bell is killed.

8. Is Adler a Soviet spy?

   • The game strongly implies that Adler is not a Soviet spy, although he has a history of working with them. He is an American operative who is willing to bend the rules.

9. Does Adler appear in any other Call of Duty titles?

   • Adler appears as the secondary antagonist in the 1984 storyline in Call of Duty: Warzone and the overarching antagonist of the Call of Duty: Mobile comics.

Conclusion

The decision of whether to obey Adler or not in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a nuanced one. It is ultimately up to the player to decide what makes for the most intriguing narrative. The game succeeds at creating an atmosphere of mistrust and ambiguity, adding another layer to the Cold War setting. Both options provide different experiences, but each leaves the player to ponder what is right and what is wrong. This makes the game more engaging and leads players to continue pondering the choices and their consequences long after the credits roll.