Dear reader, if you‘ve enjoyed Alex Mason‘s complex backstory and motivations in past Black Ops games, you may be wondering why he takes a backseat in the latest entry Cold War. As an invested Call of Duty fan and gaming analyst, I‘ve looked closely at this pivotal character change. Here‘s my inside perspective on why Mason steps aside as protagonist, and the implications for the Black Ops universe.
Mason‘s Popularity Made His Sidelining a Bold Move
Alex Mason, brilliantly voiced by Sam Worthington, has been a fan favorite character ever since his introduction in 2010‘s blockbuster Call of Duty: Black Ops. With over 26.2 million copies sold globally, the huge success of Black Ops cemented Mason as an iconic Call of Duty protagonist.
Given this popularity, Mason‘s minimized role in Cold War‘s storyline represents a major shift. Developer Treyarch knew Mason‘s reputation, yet still opted to bring in a new playable character with Bell. Reducing the screen time of such an established lead character was a risky decision given Mason‘s fame amongst the series‘ loyal fans.
Shifting the Focus to New Characters Over Veterans
In interviews, Cold War‘s developers have spoken about their vision to introduce fresh characters like Bell, Woods, and Hudson. As creative director Dan Vondrak explained, "We wanted to tell a different kind of story from the previous Black Ops game, with a new cast of characters that players could relate to."
This desire for original protagonists meant Mason naturally stepped back into a secondary role. Vondrak acknowledged Mason‘s popularity, but wanted Cold War‘s narrative to focus on the untold origins of other Black Ops agents. Ultimately, Treyarch‘s priority was crafting a compelling new story not retreading the same old ground.
Mason‘s Complex Backstory Still Looms Large
Despite his limited screen time, Mason‘s intricate backstory remains relevant in Cold War. The game makes multiple references to his brainwashing by Soviet General Dragovich, even if it‘s no longer the central plot point. This acknowledgement of Mason‘s traumatic past experiences helps maintain narrative consistency with the first Black Ops game.
Through radio conversations, we get hints that Mason remains psychologically scarred by his Soviet manipulation. Bell is understandably perplexed by Mason‘s fragmented ramblings about past mind control experiments. These unsettling exchanges illustrate Mason is the same troubled character from before, even if his story takes a backseat.
Mason and Bell – Echoes of a Shared Trauma
The relationship between Mason and new protagonist Bell contains thought-provoking parallels…
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