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How Does Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War End? Exploring Every Finale

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features a narrative with branching paths, leading to three distinct endings: one considered the “Good Ending,” and two variations of a “Bad Ending.” The culmination of the game depends on the critical choice made during the interrogation sequence with Adler regarding Perseus’s planned attack. Let’s delve into each ending in detail, along with crucial information that influences the game’s finale.

The Three Endings of Cold War

The core narrative revolves around stopping Perseus, a shadowy figure orchestrating a global crisis. The climax hinges on whether the protagonist, Bell, betrays the team or helps them avert disaster. This pivotal decision determines which ending players will experience.

The Good Ending: Averting Nuclear Catastrophe

To achieve the “Good Ending,” players must choose to tell Adler the truth during the interrogation. Specifically, Bell needs to reveal that Perseus intends to activate the “Greenlight” nukes from Solovetsky, a location within the USSR.

This truthful revelation leads to the final mission, “The Final Countdown.” In this mission, the team storms the Solovetsky monastery, where Perseus plans to broadcast the detonation signal. Successfully navigating the monastery, overcoming enemy forces, and destroying Perseus’s transmitter equipment are crucial to preventing the launch.

The ending scene shows the team reflecting on their experiences as they have saved the world. They stand over a cliff when Adler kills Bell to ensure they can’t be used again to bring down the world.

Bad Ending #1: Duga Betrayal – Immediate Elimination

One of the “Bad Endings” occurs if Bell lies to Adler, claiming that Perseus’s base of operations is at Duga. If the player hasn’t tipped off Perseus using the radio beforehand, Adler and the team will realize the deception immediately upon arriving at Duga. Adler will execute Bell on the spot, perceiving them as a traitor. This ending is abrupt and leaves the player with a sense of failure, as Perseus succeeds in his mission unopposed.

Bad Ending #2: Duga Betrayal – Nuclear Detonation

The second variation of the “Bad Ending” also begins with Bell misleading Adler and the team to Duga. However, in this scenario, Bell uses the radio opportunity to warn Perseus about the impending arrival of Adler’s team.

Upon arriving at Duga, while the team still suspects Bell is involved, there is now a larger plan in motion. The team gets ambushed, the Greenlight nukes are activated, and the nuclear arsenal explodes across Europe, and much of the population is wiped out. This ending is far more dramatic and catastrophic, showcasing the devastating consequences of Bell’s betrayal. Adler ends up killing Bell to ensure they can’t be used again to bring down the world.

Factors Influencing the Endings

Several factors play a role in shaping the final outcome of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War:

Truth or Lie: The most critical factor is the choice made during the interrogation sequence: whether to reveal the true location of Perseus’s operation (Solovetsky) or provide a false location (Duga).
Radio Usage: If the player chooses to lie and direct the team to Duga, using the radio to warn Perseus amplifies the impact of the deception.
Dialogue Choices: While the main ending is dictated by the Truth or Lie choice, certain dialogue options throughout the campaign subtly influence the player’s relationship with Adler and the team, potentially impacting the tone and intensity of the final confrontation.
Perseus’s Plan: The reveal that Perseus’s plan involves detonating the “Greenlight” arsenal of nukes across Europe sets the stage for the high-stakes decision the player must make, adding weight to the consequences of their choice.

FAQs About Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Endings

1. How many missions are there in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features a campaign consisting of approximately 15 missions, depending on player choices and branching paths.

2. What is the final mission called in the “Good Ending” scenario?

The final mission in the “Good Ending” scenario is called “The Final Countdown.”

3. Is Adler a villain in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War?

While Adler is a complex character with morally ambiguous methods, he is considered the anti-villainous deuteragonist of the game. He is willing to make tough choices to protect his country, even if it means sacrificing others.

4. What is “Project Greenlight” in the context of the game?

“Project Greenlight” refers to a United States nuclear weapons program that Perseus aims to control and detonate to destabilize the world order.

5. How did Adler get his facial scar?

According to Adler, he got his scar while jumping off rooftops during a pursuit of a Soviet agent, and a utility pole damaged his face.

6. Why is Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War considered a controversial game?

While opinions vary, some criticisms include the limited number of maps at launch, skill-based matchmaking issues, and a perceived focus on battle royale game modes over traditional multiplayer. Some might find the game controversial due to violence.

7. Which ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is considered canon?

While not officially confirmed, the “Good Ending” is generally considered the canon ending because it does not contradict the established timeline and events of subsequent Black Ops games.

8. What happens if Bell disobeys Adler during the “Break on Through” mission?

If Bell repeatedly disobeys Adler’s instructions during the “Break on Through” mission, they experience hallucinations and eventually reach a point where they must make a significant choice with uncertain consequences.

9. Was Bell brainwashed by the CIA?

Yes, Bell was originally a member of Perseus’s organization and was brainwashed by the CIA to help them stop Perseus. This brainwashing is a crucial plot point that drives the narrative.

10. What are the implications of the “Bad Ending” where Perseus detonates the Greenlight nukes?

In this ending, Perseus’s plan succeeds, leading to widespread nuclear devastation and the destabilization of Europe. It represents the worst possible outcome of the Cold War conflict.

11. What is the significance of the location Solovetsky in the game?

Solovetsky is the location of a monastery in the USSR where Perseus plans to activate the Greenlight nukes. It serves as the central battleground for the “Good Ending” mission, “The Final Countdown.”

12. Does the game offer any indication that Bell is deceiving Adler before the final interrogation?

While there are subtle dialogue choices and actions that might hint at Bell’s true allegiance, the game largely keeps the player guessing until the final interrogation sequence.

13. What is the role of Perseus in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War?

Perseus is not merely an individual but a larger organization, a shadowy network of spies and operatives seeking to disrupt the global balance of power.

14. Is Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War historically accurate?

While the game is based on historical events and settings, it takes liberties with the narrative and incorporates fictional elements for dramatic effect, drawing inspiration from Tom Clancy-esque thrillers and action movies.

15. What choices can I make throughout the game to improve my relationship with Adler?

While you can make various choices throughout the game to improve your relationship with Adler, these have no impact on the Good Ending, because Adler kills Bell whether or not you saved the world.

The ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War offers a variety of outcomes, ranging from the world being saved to the Greenlight nukes detonating across Europe. The players have the opportunity to decide which ending their actions lead to.

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