As Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War release inches closer, Activision has left some breadcrumbs for the eager community. In a recent blog post, Raven’s Senior Creative Director Dan Vondrak details three campaign missions. The press release also includes “fly-through” videos to give you a sense of the setting for each mission.
The title of the missions are: Nowhere Left to Run, Fracture Jaw and Desperate Measures. And the missions include everything from a rooftop chase across Amsterdam, a recollection of an encounter within Vietnam, and infiltrating the KGB headquarters. Everything you’re about to read is directly from the developer.
“Nowhere Left To Run”
It all begins in a grungy tavern within Amsterdam almost two weeks after New Year’s Day, 1981.
A massive break in a CIA investigation led three operators to this otherwise seedy watering hole, one whose jukebox is always tuned to the latest hits despite the lack of turnover to its décor or its top-shelf bottles on offer. After a meeting with their source, the checks are cleared and they exit past the local bargoers to the alleyways, gearing up to capture the first of two key players to an ongoing hostage crisis.
After a rooftop chase with multiple fast-paced shootouts, the mission shifts gears as the three men confirm that their second, and final, target is at the Trabzon Airfield in Turkey. Although they prepare for another takedown under the cover of night, they come prepared with an unconventional weapon just in case the DZ goes hot.
Raven’s Senior Creative Director Dan Vondrak says this: “Nowhere Left to Run is a great example of how we wanted to pay homage to the original Black Ops in a few ways that fans will recognize, but also give newcomers a great first taste of what Black Ops is all about without needing any previous experience with the series. This first mission really serves as a great way to bring back Woods and Mason as well as introduce one of our new heroes, Russell Adler.”
“Fracture Jaw”
Who is this threat that can alter the course of this global struggle? As one of the operators recall from their time fighting in the Vietnam War, it’s none other than Perseus, a mysterious Soviet spy that some people believe never even existed.
Despite this figure being written off as myth, players will relive a first encounter with Perseus during the Campaign’s second mission, “Fracture Jaw,” set within the Vietnam War. Through this flashback, the team will uncover clues needed to track down Perseus, as the overarching theme of deception is deeply rooted within this past war and the current operation.
“Narratively, these two pieces fit together perfectly as the team has to try and relive their past and unblur the lines between truth and deception,” Vondrak said. “It was great being able to push the big war feeling in these levels, from flying helicopters to being a soldier on the ground fighting through jungles and rice paddies.”
In signature Black Ops fashion, this Campaign will feature multiple flashbacks like “Fracture Jaw” that add another layer of context to the overarching story. Through these recollections, this CIA team – and of course, the player – will gain the insight needed to uncover the truth behind Perseus.
“One of my favorite levels is one of the later Vietnam missions,” Vondrak added, “as we really pushed to give the player more freedom and control. It’s easily the most unique mission we’ve ever made.”
“Desperate Measures”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that’s what this mission is all about,” Vondrak explained. “After tracking down several leads in the hunt for Perseus, the team find themselves faced with the unthinkable: they must go behind the Iron Curtain – into the heart of the Soviet Union – and infiltrate the KGB headquarters.”
This status comes with access to an incredible peek into the world of the KGB, along with the opportunity to “obtain” information out of their “fellow agents.” However, one odd move or awkward discussion could lead to your cover being completely blown, compromising the mission and turning it into an all-out fight for survival.
“We really wanted the player to experience something different with this level, give them more freedom and control over how they complete their objective,” Vondrak said. “You are given multiple ways to complete your objective, hiding in plain sight as you walk through the hallways of the famous Lubyanka building. You have the freedom to talk to a variety of people and explore the building – ultimately culminating in an action-packed finish to the mission.”
As you can see, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is starting to look like a very intriguing campaign so far. We can’t wait to get our hands on it and when we do we will be sure to do a review. Stay tuned.