The Dark Path: What Happens If You Lie to Adler in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War?
If you choose to lie to Adler during the pivotal interrogation sequence in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, you trigger a dramatic shift in the game’s narrative, veering away from the “good” ending path and plunging you into a darker, more ambiguous conclusion. Specifically, lying to Adler changes the final mission from “The Final Countdown” to “Ashes to Ashes.” This is more than just a name change; it significantly alters the circumstances, objectives, and ultimately, the ending of your playthrough. It represents a betrayal, leading to a vastly different final confrontation and a starkly different fate for many of the characters involved. Instead of attempting to stop Perseus’s plan at Solovetsky, you facilitate it, effectively becoming an unwilling pawn in a much larger, more destructive game.
The Shift from “Final Countdown” to “Ashes to Ashes”
The mission title change signifies a profound narrative shift. When you tell Adler the truth, the game proceeds towards “The Final Countdown,” where your objective is to stop the nukes by invading the monastery at Solovetsky. Although Perseus escapes, this path is considered the “good” ending because you successfully avert global nuclear catastrophe. However, when you deceive Adler, the mission changes to “Ashes to Ashes.” In this dark alternate reality, you are not working to prevent the nuclear launch, but rather to assist Perseus, unknowingly or otherwise.
The Implications of the “Ashes to Ashes” Mission
The “Ashes to Ashes” mission presents a far more complex and morally ambiguous scenario. The core gameplay mechanics might remain familiar, but the context is completely altered. Your actions directly contribute to the success of Perseus’s plan, which could potentially cause massive devastation. The mission’s conclusion is largely dependent on the choices you make during its course, making it a very malleable path for the end of the game. This is vastly different from the clear-cut goal of “The Final Countdown,” and this ambiguity can lead to various outcomes, some of which can be extremely dark.
Disobeying Adler and “The Red Door” Achievement
Beyond just lying, repeated disobedience towards Adler also impacts the game. Throughout the mission leading to the final choice, you have several opportunities to follow Adler’s orders or choose your own path. If you choose to disobey Adler at every opportunity, you are rewarded with the “The Red Door” Trophy/Achievement. This achievement highlights your consistent defiance and further emphasizes the game’s focus on player choice. However, be aware that this consistent defiance often sets you up for the most negative outcome of the game.
The “Bad” Ending and the Fate of Bell
The consequences of lying to Adler culminate in what many refer to as the “darkest ending” in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. This path involves a betrayal of your team and the potential for catastrophic outcomes on a global scale. The very end of this darker ending sees Adler executing Bell, leaving their body for Perseus to find, thus completing the betrayal. This is the stark opposite of the game’s canon ending, where Bell sides with Adler to stop Perseus and averts global catastrophe.
The “bad” ending is a powerful reminder of how deeply player choices can affect the narrative and the characters in the game. The path of deception and betrayal leaves a lasting impression on the player. It showcases the game’s commitment to consequences, and it stands in contrast to the “good” ending’s clear path towards a successful outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main difference between telling the truth and lying to Adler?
Telling the truth to Adler leads to the mission “The Final Countdown,” where you aim to stop Perseus from launching the nukes. Lying leads to “Ashes to Ashes,” where you become a tool for Perseus, potentially contributing to global devastation.
2. Does lying to Adler make the game harder?
Lying doesn’t necessarily make the game harder in terms of gameplay difficulty, but it does lead to a much darker and morally ambiguous narrative path. It changes the mission objectives and the context, not the core combat.
3. Can you still win if you lie to Adler?
Technically, you can “win” the game by finishing “Ashes to Ashes,” but the ending is far from a victory in the traditional sense. It’s a morally ambiguous conclusion with potential for significant negative consequences.
4. What is the significance of the “Red Door” achievement?
The “Red Door” achievement is awarded for consistently disobeying Adler’s instructions. It highlights the game’s focus on player choice and how decisions can drastically alter the narrative path and even the ending.
5. Is Adler a good or bad guy in Cold War?
Adler is an anti-villainous character, whose motivations are rooted in stopping Perseus, but his methods are questionable. While he is on the “good” side in general, he is far from a clear-cut hero and does many morally questionable things.
6. Does Bell survive if you lie to Adler?
In the darkest ending of the game, where you lie to Adler and end up doing the “Ashes to Ashes” mission, Bell is executed by Adler.
7. Who is Perseus?
Perseus is a mysterious Soviet agent who serves as the main antagonist in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. His primary goal is to undermine Western powers.
8. Why does Adler kill Bell?
Adler kills Bell because he knows Bell has been brainwashed and cannot fully be trusted. Adler sees Bell as a threat to the mission, and ultimately, he is right as the deception leads to the darker path.
9. What is the canon ending of Cold War?
The consensus is that the canon ending involves Bell telling Adler the truth and stopping Perseus’s plan. This leads to the “good” ending of the game.
10. Is Adler a Russian spy?
Adler is not a Russian spy in the game. The article reference to historical figure “Adler” being a spy is not the same character as the game’s Adler.
11. Can you save both Park and Lazar?
No, you cannot save both Park and Lazar. The game seems to have deemed saving Park as the non-canon ending and thus the path most players would experience.
12. What are the best psychological profiles in Cold War?
Some of the best profiles include: Violent Tendencies (increased bullet damage), Survivor (increased health), and Calm Under Pressure (reduced flinch).
13. Does lying to Adler affect other aspects of the game besides the ending?
The primary effect of lying to Adler is on the final mission and the ending. It does not dramatically change the earlier gameplay or story.
14. What happens if you choose to always obey Adler?
Consistently obeying Adler leads you down the “good” path of the game and sets you up for the “Final Countdown” ending.
15. What is the most significant thing about lying to Adler?
The most significant thing about lying to Adler is how it fundamentally changes the narrative and your role in it. It alters your objectives and leads to a very different and darker final experience for the player.