Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features an excellent Zombies offering and some steadily improving multiplayer, both of which have led to the game’s wildly impressive sales success. While these two modes often garner the most attention from the Call of Duty fanbase, the campaign of the latest Black Ops title is strong in its own right. Raven Software did a fine job creating this singleplayer content, with unique features standing out and new characters like Adler and Park making an impact. Still, the campaign was not perfect.
Intriguingly, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War could see one of the campaign’s only big flaws rectified by pulling from Star Wars Battlefront 2. While Star Wars Battlefront 2’s launch struggles were well documented, its campaign also failed to blow fans away. A decent offering and nothing more, the story mode felt unfinished — and that is because it was. Star Wars Battlefront 2 received a free DLC called Resurrection, adding three new missions and fresh cutscenes that properly closed off the story. Making the campaign better and providing closure, it would be great to see this format applied to other FPS campaigns. Currently, there is no better candidate for story DLC than Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
For all its storytelling strengths and fresh features, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s campaign concludes with a truly anticlimactic finale. While the concept of two different final missions is interesting, the evil ending is too brief and over the top to be taken seriously. On the flip side, the good, canon ending is rushed, with players stopping Perseus’ plans and nothing more. In both endings, the villain is on the loose, with an unnecessary cliffhanger bringing a lack of closure that has never been seen in a Call of Duty campaign before. With every other story mode having a conclusive ending that ties up loose ends, this one leaving so many is confusing.
The campaign ending with such a whimper is a shame, as Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War introduced several features that should be used in future Call of Duty campaigns. Optional dialogue built up the supporting cast, puzzle-filled side missions fit with the theme and made intel useful, and memorable missions like Break on Through elevated the game’s big twist. Add on the aspects of player choice seen in the game’s levels and there is a lot to love about the campaign, yet for many, these endings are what truly sticks. They leave far too much untold, and it is hard for players not to feel like the mission was only partially accomplished once the credits begin to roll.
For a time, it seemed like multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone would be used to conclude the Perseus arc, though that is seeming less likely as time goes on. The focus is turning more toward Stitch and his war with Adler, and while Perseus may be pulling the strings, there is a good chance that the villain is not properly dealt with in the seasonal cutscenes, either. This would truly be a shame, though if Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War were to pull from Star Wars Battlefront 2, a post-launch story expansion could finally wrap up this plot point in a significant way.
One of the problems with the evil ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is that players know it cannot possibly be true. With Bell killing off characters like Mason and Woods, both of which are integral to later moments in the Black Ops timeline, there is no option for suspension of disbelief. The result is a moment that, while a fun option, is essentially meaningless. That said, a story DLC could expand on this ending, showing what happens next as Perseus and Bell begin their global conquest.
While this ending would still not be canon, building from it could at least make it more meaningful. A story DLC that sees Bell bringing down the CIA and spreading the rule of the Soviet Union would be absurd and interesting, and Raven could continue pulling apart the Black Ops universe in an interesting way. If the studio wanted to tell a more serious version of this evil story, retconning the original ending by removing Woods and Mason could create a scenario where this narrative could be canon. After all, Park/Lazar and Adler are not seen after Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, something that makes the only immersion-breaking issue the deaths of Mason and Woods.
Games like Mass Effect 3 have shown that even the worst endings can be improved upon with smart additions and retcons, and while this option makes less sense for DLC, it is hard to deny that it would be interesting to see.
On the off chance that a campaign expansion for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War did happen, though, throwing it away on a non-canon ending would not make much sense. Instead, building from the good ending would be far more meaningful. With Bell dead, this mini campaign could see players controlling Adler, playing out the events that lead to Perseus’ death. Adler could die taking down the villain, explaining his lack of a role in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s storyline.
Speaking of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, this DLC could show the events leading up to that game’s campaign. After all, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ends two years before Black Ops 2 begins. This means that the expansion for the campaign can touch on Alex Mason’s temporary retirement and the start of Woods’ blood feud with Menendez. Properly connecting the two games, players could see Woods’ capture play out, creating a seamless transition between Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.
If Menendez were to get involved in this storyline, the villain could become a playable Operator as well. After all, the Menendez household on the Cartel map is full of references to the character, his father, and his sister. Zombies Outbreak intel hints at the character being active as a cartel leader, and the expansion can show the beginnings of his ascent to power. A special reward for completing the expansion, having the ability to play as the character would be exciting for many longtime fans, as Raul Menendez is widely regarded as one of the best villains that the Call of Duty series has ever seen.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s campaign is good, but it could become one of the greats through the addition of story DLC. Closure could be provided regarding the escape of Perseus, while a smooth transition into Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 could make the game more meaningful. While Star Wars Battlefront 2 is an odd game for the Call of Duty series to look at for inspiration, it provides the perfect solution for fixing the game’s lackluster finale.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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