The originalCall of Duty: Warzoneis coming to an end, asCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2andWarzone 2.0are right around the corner. Activision and Raven Software are clearly hoping to go out with a bang, and for better or worse, the final Season is one of the most memorable yet. Not only is an energy riflefromCall of Duty: Advanced Warfarecoming to the game, but several villains from other universes and timelines are joining the roster of Operators.
While Raul Menendez may be stealing the spotlight due to his popularity, Rorke is a memorable and surprising addition. Following the divisive reception toCall of Duty: Ghosts back in 2013, Infinity Ward and Activision have rarely referenced the game or its universe, with the only acknowledgements coming through anInfinite WarfareZombies map and someVanguardcosmetics. ThoughGhostsfans may be happy to finally see the series get some love through Rorke’s surprise appearance, hisCall of Duty: Warzonedebut doubles as a reminder thatGhosts’ cliffhanger remains unresolved.
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Call of Duty: Ghosts’ Odd Legacy
To be fair,Call of Duty: Ghostswas a flawed game, providing a reasonable enough explanation for why it never received a sequel. Multiplayer’s Field Orders were unbalanced, maps were confusingly large, and odd decisions with killstreaks like the SAT COM left fans annoyed. A bland color palette and distinct lack of personality did not help matters, with many fans quickly sharing that they missed the glory days of theModern Warfarefranchise.
Despite these problems,Call of Duty: Ghostshad its fans. Alongside love forthe underrated Extinction modeand appreciation for weapons like the Honey Badger, the campaign plays a key role in this cult classic status. Some rocky performances aside, the characters and the concept of the Ghosts interested fans, with the dog companion Riley unsurprisingly being a hit. Rorke was a strong villain, too, and his story singlehandedly elevated the campaign.
Left behind by his comrades, the former leader of the Ghosts was tortured and brainwashed. Using this abandonment as a motivator,Rorke begins hunting down and killing members of the Ghosts. At the end of the campaign, he is seemingly killed himself, with Rorke shot point-blank in the chest by the game’s protagonist Logan. However, he somehow survives being shot, dragging Logan away from his brother Hesh so that he can be tortured in the same way Rorke was - leading to the creation of another Ghost Killer.
What makes this ending so odd, aside from Rorke surviving the gunshot and leaving Hesh alive, is that it is one of the only entries in the series to end on a cliffhanger. Perhaps Activision, as well asInfinity Wardand the otherCall of Dutydevelopers, learned fromCall of Duty: Ghosts, as this cliffhanger all-but-guaranteed a follow-up story that never came. With other one-and-doneCall of Dutygames likeAdvanced Warfare,Infinite Warfare,WW2, andVanguard, the stories were wrapped up nicely by the time the credits rolled. As such, the frustration aroundGhostsand its ending is not present within those games' fan bases.
Bringing back Rorke forCall of Duty: Warzone’s final Seasonis not only strange from a narrative perspective, but it is odd to seeCall of Duty: Ghostshonored after it has been ignored for so long. Having Rorke randomly appear inWarzonewhen his own story remains unfinished is certainly unexpected, and it could once again spark discussions aboutCall of Duty: Ghosts 2. However, a sequel happening is highly unlikely, so all Rorke’s cameo will likely do is remindGhostsfans of what could have been.
Call of Duty: Warzoneis available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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