Highlights
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was well-received for its single-player campaign, which introduced impactful choices that affected the narrative, emotions, mechanics, and structure of the game.
- The choices in Black Ops Cold War, such as saving a teammate and deciding to tell the truth or lie, made players feel the gravity of their decisions and provided unique outcomes for the final mission.
- It is suggested that the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 should implement a similar choice system to enhance the high stakes and impactful story moments that are expected in the game.
The Call of Duty franchise has had a very successful, but very divisive last few years. While 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare breathed some much-needed life into the franchise, many fans would argue that what's come since has been a bit of a mixed bag. Call of Duty: Vanguard had some interesting ideas, and the return to a WW2 setting is something fans have repeatedly stated they wanted, but the execution of it all left a lot to be desired. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was a great game on launch, but the lack of updates for a good while there really hampered its reception over time. But while it wasn't without its own criticisms, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was generally considered to be one of the stronger entries in recent years.
Released just a year after Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War received fairly favorable reviews across the board, from both fans and critics. Another entry developed by Treyarch - and the other four studios credited with assisting it - Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had the same usual seal of quality most of the series has, and was jam-packed with content. But by far the most praise Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War received was for its single-player campaign, with one mechanic that should definitely carry over to the upcoming, rumored Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
The Case for Modern Warfare 3 to Carry Over Black Ops Cold War's Choices
For the first time in franchise history, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War introduced choices into its campaign that genuinely mattered. Across its surprisingly good campaign, Black Ops Cold War throws a handful of unique choices at the player, with two being absolutely pivotal to the story. The first of these choices occurs right at the end of the "End of the Line" mission, requiring the player to choose to save either Lazar or Park, with the chosen character then appearing throughout the rest of the game. The second big choice in Black Ops Cold War comes right at the end of the game, where players are given the option to lie to Adler or tell him the truth, with each option giving players a completely different final mission.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's choices work so well because they don't just have an impact on the narrative, the player's emotions, or the game's actual mechanics and structure, but all of the above simultaneously. Having to choose which teammate lives and die is not only impactful in the moment, but seeing the survivor throughout the rest of the campaign only serves to cement the gravity of that choice repeatedly. And choosing whether to tell Adler the truth or lie not only charges the emotional stakes of the final mission, but gives players a completely distinct finale with unique set pieces and story beats. Admittedly, not all of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's choices are as important as these two, but the illusion of choice is still an interesting mechanic to explore with the franchise.
If any next entry in the Call of Duty franchise needs Black Ops Cold War's choice system, it's the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Not officially announced yet but heavily rumored, and with more leaks dropping every second, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will probably end up being this year's entry. Allegedly following on from the events of last year's Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3's campaign will probably see the stakes reach an all-time high, with Makarov now entering the picture.
Where there are high stakes, there are also likely going to be some big story moments, and potentially even some big character deaths. And the best way to make those story moments and deaths feel even more impactful is by putting them directly in the player's hands, asking them to choose who lives and dies, and other pivotal decisions that could greatly impact Modern Warfare 3's narrative, and mission structure, just like they did in Black Ops Cold War.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.