Unlocking the Truth: How to Get the Secret Ending in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The gripping narrative of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War offers players a branching storyline with significant consequences based on their choices. While the game features three primary endings, it’s the “good” ending that most closely aligns with a sense of resolution and also holds the key to unlocking the game’s most nuanced and arguably “secret” outcome, though it’s more accurately described as the canon ending. This specific ending, while not hidden behind complex requirements, is achieved by consistently telling the truth during key interrogation sequences with Adler. Specifically, this involves revealing Perseus’ location at the Solovetsky Monastery. This path leads to the mission “The Final Countdown,” where you and your team will assault the monastery to stop Perseus’s destructive plan. It’s not about finding a hidden code or completing a convoluted side quest; it’s about making the right narrative choices, specifically opting for truthfulness over deceit.
Understanding the Endings
Before diving deeper, it’s essential to understand the spectrum of endings in Black Ops Cold War:
- The Good Ending (Canon Ending): This ending is achieved by being truthful to Adler throughout the interrogation sequences. This leads to “The Final Countdown” mission, where you and your team storm the Solovetsky Monastery, aiming to thwart Perseus’ plan to trigger nuclear weapons across Europe. The final moments of this ending are ambiguous, showing Adler and Bell aiming their guns at each other. This ending is generally accepted as the canon path due to the events in the subsequent storyline.
- The Bad Endings: There are two variations of the bad ending. These endings are triggered by lying to Adler about Perseus’ location. This choice leads to the mission “Ashes to Ashes,” where events unfold differently based on further choices. One version could involve Bell siding with Perseus, leading to a disastrous outcome where Europe is targeted by nuclear weapons. The other version still leads to potential conflicts with Adler based on your choices during the mission.
The “secret” element arises from the ambiguity surrounding the canon ending and the unresolved tension between Bell and Adler. While it’s not hidden in a technical sense, the implications of that ending and its connection to the wider Black Ops narrative make it a focal point for players.
The Path to “The Final Countdown”
To reach this specific ending, you need to focus on your responses to Adler during interrogations:
- Truth is Key: During the moments when Adler is questioning Bell about their memories and connections to Perseus, it’s essential to select the truth options. This means providing honest answers even when they seem risky or damaging.
- Reveal the Location: The crucial moment comes when you’re asked about Perseus’s base. Here, you must reveal that Perseus is located at the Solovetsky Monastery. This decision, while seemingly simple, fundamentally alters the course of the game’s final act.
- Commit to the Choice: Once you’ve chosen the truth, your path is locked. The game will then transition to “The Final Countdown” mission.
- Execute the Mission: During this mission, you’ll be tasked with infiltrating the monastery. Successfully completing this mission is paramount to unlocking the “good” ending and experiencing the ambiguous final scene.
Why this ending is important?
- Canon Alignment: This ending is often cited as the canon ending because it aligns with the events that follow in the wider Call of Duty storyline, particularly in the Cold War multiplayer narrative.
- Character Ambiguity: This ending also leaves the fates of Bell and Adler unresolved. The final scene hints at a potential betrayal, creating a complex dynamic that fuels discussions among players.
- Narrative Depth: The ambiguity and moral gray areas of the canon ending offer a more profound narrative experience compared to the more clear-cut, albeit devastating, bad endings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many endings are there in Black Ops Cold War?
There are three main endings in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War: One good ending that’s typically regarded as canon, and two variations of a bad ending.
What is the code for the safehouse gate?
The code to unlock the safehouse gate is 112263.
Is there a secret code in the Cold War campaign?
While 112263 is a key code, there aren’t any “secret” codes in the traditional sense. The narrative choices you make are the true keys to unlocking different outcomes.
What happens if you lie to Adler?
Lying to Adler leads to the “Ashes to Ashes” mission, which has its own branching paths and can result in a more negative outcome.
What is the poison code in Cold War?
The poison cabinet code is 16-75-60.
Who is the main villain in Cold War?
The primary antagonist is Perseus, a shadowy figure attempting to destabilize the world with nuclear weapons.
Who survived, Bell or Adler?
While Adler survived the encounter at the monastery, the fate of Bell remains unknown. The ending shows both of them pointing their weapons at each other.
Is Adler a good guy?
Adler is more of an anti-villainous character. While his methods are questionable, his goals align with preventing global catastrophe. He’s also presented as the overarching antagonist of the Call of Duty: Mobile comics.
Why did Adler shoot Bell?
The game suggests that Adler intended to eliminate Bell due to their past as Perseus’ right hand and because Adler is wary of Bell’s brainwashing, believing that Bell is still a threat.
What is the canon ending for Cold War?
The canon ending is the one where Bell chooses to be truthful during the interrogations, leading to the “The Final Countdown” mission and the assault on the Solovetsky Monastery.
Who are the three suspects in Operation Red Circus?
The three suspects in Operation Red Circus are Bearded Lady, Strong Man, and Juggler. Through the evidence, players can discover that these are actually Jim Kreeger, Omar Abdel-Rahman, and the “Juggler” (a real individual) respectively, with further investigation required to pinpoint their true identities.
Should I secure Park or Lazar?
Choosing to save Park is generally considered the canon choice, as she appears as a playable operator in the multiplayer mode.
What happens if you ignore Adler?
Repeatedly disobeying Adler in the final stretch of the level awards the “The Red Door” Trophy/Achievement and causes the level to begin with Bell hearing Perseus’ warning. “Adler is lying to you, do not trust him”.
How did Adler get his scar?
Adler claims his scar was a result of jumping off rooftops while chasing a Soviet agent, where a utility pole got in the way.
What rank was Adler?
Adler reached the rank of Brigadier General.
By understanding the narrative choices and making the right decisions during the critical interrogation sequences with Adler, you can unlock the most nuanced and significant ending in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. This “secret” outcome, while not hidden in the traditional sense, offers players a richer and more engaging experience that connects to the broader narrative of the Black Ops universe. The truth, in this case, is the key.