Which ending is canon in Cold War?

Which Ending is Canon in Cold War?

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (BOCW) franchise has always been known for its engaging storylines, multiple endings, and emotional rollercoasters. Released in 2020, the game’s latest iteration in the series, BOCW, has not let down fans in this department either. With its dynamic story and multiple endings, it’s natural for gamers to wonder which ending is considered canon. In this article, we’ll dig deeper into the BOCW’s story and the three endings it offers to give you a comprehensive analysis and answer to this query.

The Three Endings

Before diving into the canon ending debate, it’s essential to introduce the three endings present in the game. Each of these endings has a slightly different storyline, character outcome, and plot development:

• Good Ending
In this ending, Grimsdottir doesn’t betray Adler, Bell does not reveal her affiliation with Perseus to Adler, and Adler discovers Bell’s betrayal, culminating in a massive standoff.

• Bad Ending
In this scenario, Grimsdottir betrays Adler, Bellos reveals her true allegiances to Perseus, and Adler, wounded, is captured and humiliated by Perseus agents.

• Alleged "Caterpillar" Ending
However, some players argue there is a fourth ending that deviates from the narrative significantly. This alleged Caterpillar Ending, or Bad Ending variations, is not an explicit, in-game choice or option but rather an Easter egg or glitch discovered within the game’s storyline (refer to the last game section).

What Make Each Ending Unique?

While the endings might vary, each has a distinguishing narrative thread:

• Good Ending: Stache is saved, Lefse is avenged, and Operation Phoenix is successful, albeit at a high cost (some characters die), reflecting the moral compass stache exhibits and ensuring the percy is defeated.
  Character outcomes vary (Alfred Adler, Bellos, and Watson being exceptions), and there seems no clear winner.

Why Adler is a Turning Point

Alfador Adler serves a critical role in these variations as his character embodies and develops the moral stakes inherent within the narrative:

 He is **Perceval's** mole for many years, hiding amongst Perseus as  Stache.
 Adler is the key to breaking PERCY's plans. Failure (or success, technically, in the good or Caterpillar endings) brings immense consequences.
 Additionally, Adler's development has profound implications for Perceval's motivations. Should Stache (Grimsdottir) learn more about Adler, Grimsdottir starts exploring the **"Grifter's"** possible alliances in the world.

• Bad Ending: A bleak, dark turn comes for the team characters get captured.
  Here is a table illustrating and summing up these critical variations:

• The Impact
When considering the BOCW’s story as the most important aspect of Cold War, the game leans heavily towards the Good Ending due to its connection. Bell’s betrayal can alter Perseus’s ambitions within the world.
There is no consensus of all endings with most content creators, journalists in these articles.

With each ending, specific morals become apparent. In the Good Ending, sacrifice plays crucial. In the Bad Ending, failure leads to despotism.
Ultimately, the Good Ending emphasizes courage, sacrifice, dedication.

The Debate Ensues

Gamers disagree as to which ending should dominate BOCW. An apparent "Good-Bad" debate rumbles between fans of Operation Cold War, highlighting questions about what actually serves as the main Cold War story.

While analyzing different endings, remember several other factors. Consider game history, Carmack’s statement about non-narrative relevance as of 2017 game code.

These events raise questions about Perceval’s goals (1): Why are Bell or Adler not simply enemies in this version, then? This uncertainty emphasizes importance of exploring various meanings (2).

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was later incorporated into the series (as a direct sequency), in conjunction with the events leading before Call of Duty: WW II. To support Call of Duty: black Ops 2 story progression (1) after playing the Black Ops trilogy for the 10-game title.

Game Insights & Conclusions

If players are concerned with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s plot connections between the series**,

1. A better outcome for Bell will most certainly be more logical

There is no final official consensus on which ending
is considered "standard."

What About an Endgame?
No conclusion is explicitly mentioned.

So, if fans would like to make
• a game continuation to the end end (1) for them or
• and/or for fans not accepting the other "alternative" ending as is

How about Bell’s Death

At end of Cold War Call of Duty, Cold-War Bell dies during standoff when Adler discovers that persey is not alone Adler
in final duel: Adler is in
It is also interesting Bell **dies with or
with this alternative

Caterpillar
The game could never show this because we played an alternative path there would be a single definitive version.
Here then
a potential plot gap for an in Endgame

Aspects here are more detailed based
on in our opinion.