How Many Endings Are There in CoD Cold War? A Deep Dive
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features three distinct endings, each branching from key decisions made by the player throughout the campaign. These endings are not just superficial variations, but rather represent significant changes in the game’s narrative and the fate of its characters. Understanding these different conclusions is crucial for fully appreciating the game’s story and the weight of your choices. The three endings include a “good” ending, and two different versions of a “bad” ending. This article will guide you through the specifics of each ending, how to achieve them, and address some of the common questions players have about the game’s conclusion.
The Three Endings Explained
The endings in Black Ops Cold War pivot on a critical choice near the end of the game: whether to tell Adler the truth about Perseus’s location or lie and send the team to a decoy location. This single decision drastically alters the narrative’s final act and leads to one of the three available conclusions.
The Good Ending: Foiling Perseus and Saving Millions
This ending is triggered by choosing to tell Adler the truth about Perseus’s true location, which is the Solovetsky Monastery. By doing so, you will unlock the final mission: “The Final Countdown.” In this mission, you and your team invade the monastery, disrupting Perseus’s plan to activate Project Greenlight, a network of nukes set to detonate across Europe. Successfully completing this mission prevents the nuclear detonations and saves millions of lives, thus earning the game’s “good” ending. This is considered the most ideal and rewarding ending as it showcases the player’s success in preventing global catastrophe.
Bad Ending Variation 1: Betrayal and Nuclear Detonation
This version of the bad ending occurs when you lie to Adler, stating that Perseus is located at Duga. This deception leads to the final mission, “Ashes to Ashes,” and a different narrative climax. Furthermore, if you do not use the radio to signal to Perseus regarding your deception, Adler and the team will understand you’ve betrayed them and will likely kill you in the process. In this scenario, you betray your team and choose to side with Perseus. This culminates in Perseus succeeding in detonating the nukes, bringing about the devastating consequences that were feared throughout the campaign. In this scenario, Bell is left alive to witness the chaos unfold.
Bad Ending Variation 2: Adler’s Justice
This ending also results from lying to Adler and leading the team to Duga. However, this variation occurs if you also use the radio to signal Perseus that you are leading your team into a trap. This outcome is the most grim of the three. When the team realizes they were lead on a wild goose chase, Adler, upon questioning Bell about the deception, confronts Bell about their true allegiance to Perseus and, subsequently, kills Bell on the spot. Perseus is still successful in detonating the nukes but this time, Bell is killed for their deception and is not left to witness the aftermath. In essence, the mission fails, Perseus wins, and you are executed for your betrayal. This is often considered to be the “worst” ending of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most common questions players have regarding the endings in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War:
1. How do I get the good ending in Cold War?
To achieve the good ending, you must tell Adler the truth when he asks for Perseus’s location. This will trigger the “The Final Countdown” mission.
2. What is the bad ending in CoD Cold War?
There are two variations of the bad ending. Both involve lying to Adler, and can involve your character being killed by Adler or the nukes being detonated.
3. What happens if I lie to Adler?
Lying to Adler sends the team to Duga instead of Solovetsky and triggers a bad ending, where either Adler executes you or the nukes are detonated.
4. Should I betray Adler in Cold War?
Betraying Adler leads to one of the two bad endings. If you aim for the good ending, you should not betray Adler.
5. How do you get the secret ending in Cold War?
There isn’t a secret ending per se, but rather, the good ending is achieved through telling the truth, while there are two variations for the bad ending, all hinging on the Duga or Solovetsky choice.
6. Which ending is better in CoD Cold War?
The “good” ending is generally considered the better ending because it involves stopping Project Greenlight and saving countless lives.
7. Why did Adler shoot Bell?
Adler shoots Bell in one of the bad endings because he knows Bell was brainwashed and is secretly loyal to Perseus. The player’s decision to lie confirms this suspicion.
8. What happens if you disobey Adler?
Disobeying Adler in earlier missions can unlock achievements or trophies, but the key choice for the ending is whether you lie or tell the truth about Perseus’s location.
9. Is Adler a good guy?
Adler is more of an anti-hero rather than a pure good guy. He’s ruthless but dedicated to his mission.
10. What is Project Greenlight?
Project Greenlight is a network of nuclear warheads planted across Europe that Perseus plans to detonate, inflicting massive destruction.
11. Is Bell brainwashed in Cold War?
Yes, Bell has been brainwashed and this is a key element in the plot that impacts all the endings.
12. What happens if you secure Park or Lazar?
This choice has minor consequences on the campaign but it’s believed that securing Park is the non-canon route, as Park is a selectable Operator in multiplayer.
13. Who survives the ending of Cold War?
The fates of Bell and Adler are ambiguous in some endings, particularly the bad ending. They could potentially have killed each other, however in the other variations, one is always left alive.
14. What is the significance of the “Red Door”?
The Red Door is a recurring element in the game that represents brainwashing and manipulation. Repeatedly disobeying Adler during a specific mission can trigger an achievement related to the Red Door.
15. How do my early choices affect the endings?
While the ending is mainly influenced by the final location decision, certain earlier actions, like disobeying Adler and saving Park or Lazar, can add depth to the overall gameplay experience, but they don’t drastically affect the ending.
In conclusion, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War offers three distinct endings that allow for varying results based on a player’s choices. The final selection between truth and deception truly defines the narrative arc and provides players with a tangible conclusion to their individual playthroughs. These impactful choices and their resulting diverse endings add significantly to the game’s replayability.