The Duga Deception: Unraveling the Consequences of Lying to Adler in Black Ops Cold War
So, you chose to deceive Adler and point him towards Duga in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. What exactly unfolds as a result of this pivotal decision? Buckle up, agent, because the consequences are significant and lead to one of the game’s darker endings. By lying to Adler and stating that Perseus is at Duga, you set in motion a chain of events that ultimately results in betrayal, possible nuclear devastation, and a grim fate for your character, Bell.
Lying to Adler about Perseus’s location leads to your team heading to Duga. After being pulled from the medical cart where the team believes you are healing, you are able to go to the safe house. From there, you have a 30 second timer where you can radio the Russians. If you don’t and you have failed to set up an ambush, Adler will figure out your deception and execute you.
The Ripple Effect of Deception
The immediate aftermath of your lie involves being prepped for a mission to Duga. Adler and the team, believing you are on their side, trust your intel. This provides you with a unique opportunity to exploit their trust and further Perseus’s agenda.
Seizing the Opportunity: Contacting Perseus
Crucially, after lying to Adler, you gain access to a radio within the safe house with only 30 seconds to act. This is your chance to inform Perseus of the team’s impending arrival at Duga, essentially setting up an ambush. If you fail to do this step you will be killed by Adler.
The Ambush at Duga: A Bloody Confrontation
If you successfully warn Perseus, the stage is set for a brutal ambush. Adler and his team walk into a trap, facing a prepared enemy force. This confrontation is a direct result of your deception and shifts the balance of power dramatically.
Betrayal Revealed: The Darkest Outcome
Ultimately, even with an ambush set up, the truth of your allegiance will be revealed. During the mission at Duga, Adler confronts Bell, the player character, about the lie. This triggers a cutscene where Bell confesses to their loyalty to Perseus. Enraged and betrayed, Adler executes Bell, leaving the player’s body for Perseus to find.
Nuclear Devastation: Perseus’s Victory
The ultimate consequence of choosing the Duga lie is that Perseus succeeds in his plan to detonate nuclear weapons across Europe. With Adler’s team diverted to the wrong location and subsequently weakened by the ambush, Perseus faces significantly less resistance. This leads to a catastrophic outcome, marking the “bad” or “darkest” ending of the game.
The Significance of Choice
Choosing to lie to Adler is not simply a matter of selecting a different mission. It’s a fundamental decision that alters the entire narrative trajectory of Black Ops Cold War. This choice showcases the impact of player agency and the consequences of deception within the game’s story. For those interested in how games facilitate learning and explore complex moral choices, resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org offer valuable insights. The Games Learning Society explores how games can impact learning and behavior.
FAQs: Unpacking the Duga Deception
What exactly happens if I tell Adler Perseus is at Duga?
You initiate the “bad” ending. You tell Perseus where Adler is going. Adler and the team head to Duga. If you set up an ambush with Perseus’s help by using the radio after lying, Adler and the team are ambushed. Regardless, your true allegiance is revealed, Adler executes you, and Perseus succeeds in detonating the nukes.
Is lying to Adler the only way to get the bad ending?
Yes, choosing to lie about Perseus’s location is the primary trigger for the bad ending in Black Ops Cold War.
Can I change my mind after lying to Adler?
No. Once you commit to the lie during the interrogation, you are locked into the sequence of events that lead to the bad ending. There is no turning back.
Does my psychological profile affect the outcome of lying to Adler?
No, your psychological profile choices do not directly influence the overarching narrative outcomes. They primarily impact gameplay elements like damage output or flinch resistance.
If I set up the ambush at Duga, does Adler still kill me?
Yes, even if you successfully set up the ambush, Adler will still eventually discover your betrayal and execute Bell as you remained loyal to Perseus.
Is the Duga ending considered the canon ending?
No, the good ending, where you tell the truth and stop Perseus, is generally considered the canon ending due to its consistency with subsequent Black Ops games.
What happens if I don’t radio Perseus after lying about Duga?
Adler will discover your betrayal and execute you before you even reach Duga.
Does the difficulty level affect the Duga ending?
No, the difficulty level does not change the narrative outcomes. The ending is determined by your choices during key dialogue sequences.
Can I save Bell if I choose the Duga ending?
No, the Duga ending always results in Bell’s death at the hands of Adler.
How does the Duga ending impact the other characters?
It results in the failure of their mission, the detonation of nuclear weapons, and likely, the deaths of millions.
Is there a post-credits scene in the Duga ending?
No, there is no specific post-credits scene associated with the Duga ending.
How does this reflect the complex relationship between Adler and Bell?
Adler has to make a decision about whether Bell is still a liability and executes them because they see them as a liability.
Why did Adler brainwash Bell?
Bell had info that could be used to benefit the CIA, and with the crimes that Bell likely committed under Perseus, Adler was justified in brainwashing him to get the info needed to stop Perseus.
Does Bell get his memories back?
As the story continues, Bell experiences fragmented memories and hallucinations that reveal his true identity and allegiance to Perseus. These flashbacks gradually uncover the truth about Bell‘s past, his involvement with Perseus, and the events that led to his reprogramming by Adler.
What if you tell Adler Solovetsky?
If you decide to tell Adler the truth, you automatically get the good ending after doing one last mission: The Final Countdown. You’ll arrive at Solovetsky as planned and stop the nukes, though Perseus will escape.